Craniosacral Therapy for ADHD:Gentle Treatment that enhances Focus

by SharonHartnett | Jul 12, 2025 | craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, upledger institute

Focus with Craniosacral Therapy Columbus

Finding Calm and Focus: How Craniosacral Therapy Supports People with ADHD

Living with ADHD can feel like your mind and body are always on the go. Thoughts race ahead, focus slips away, and it’s hard to find a moment of true calm. While medication and behavioral tools help many people, some seek a more natural way to settle their nervous system and feel grounded in daily life.

What is Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that works with the body’s deepest rhythms. Using a light touch, the therapist listens to subtle motions in the tissues and fluids around the brain and spinal cord, helping release tension and restore balance to the central nervous system.

Why Does This Matter for ADHD?

ADHD isn’t just about attention; it’s also about how the nervous system regulates itself. Many people with ADHD feel restless inside, as if their body can’t fully settle. Craniosacral Therapy helps by:

Calming the nervous system. Gentle touch signals safety, helping shift from a constant state of alertness into deeper relaxation.
Releasing hidden tension. The body often holds tightness in the head, neck, and spine that adds to mental overwhelm.
Creating grounded presence. Sessions bring a sense of stillness and connection, making it easier to focus and feel centered.
Supporting self-regulation. Over time, people find it easier to access this calm state on their own.

What Do People Experience?

Clients often leave a session feeling deeply relaxed and clear-headed. Some describe it as if the mental “static” has quieted, allowing thoughts to come through one at a time instead of all at once. Parents notice their children feel calmer and more settled, which can make daily routines, homework, and transitions feel easier.

Is It a Standalone Treatment?

Craniosacral Therapy isn’t a replacement for medical care or other therapies. It’s a supportive practice that works alongside what you’re already doing, giving your body and mind an extra layer of ease and integration.

A Final Thought

ADHD can make life feel scattered and overwhelming. Craniosacral Therapy offers a gentle pathway back to stillness. It’s not about changing who you are, but about helping your system find its natural rhythm so you can move through the world with more clarity and peace.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

614 653-8111

Serving the Columbus ARea

How to Calm the ADHD Mind

by SharonHartnett | Oct 31, 2024 | Craniosacral Therapy, healing, healthy

How ADHD can be better treated with Craniosacral Therapy

ADHD is best diagnosed by a physician. Although, for those of us who have it, we probably have a good idea that we are challenged, have a difficult time with organizing, and can sometimes feel anxious or feel very self-judgmental.

ADHD can look different among different groups of people. Men have been studied more thoroughly, for example, than women. One symptom in particular that can present differently between the genders is hyperactivity. Some act out, but often women may feel more of an inner stress, and overwhelm. So it’s good to find an experienced professional to determine what is the best protocol for you to make life easier. Personally, I enjoy listening to Dr. Amen talk about the brain’s function, and how he treats ADHD. Very evidenced based.

Also, I have found that Craniosacral Therapy can be very helpful in treating ADHD as well. At first, sometimes a person on the table feels very stimulated. Closing the eyes and feeling inward may take some time. However hard this can be initially, eventually they do to quiet and learn to enjoy lying down and receiving. As they begin to trust the therapist, and allow the experience to unfold, they begin to learn how to drop down into stillness. This is very soothing to the mind and of course the body.

Craniosacral Therapy is very gentle. It is focused on the interconnectiveness of the nervous system. By relieving stress there, through working with the fluids in the craniosacral system, clients often feel more focused, sleep better, and feel better emotionally.

In my practice, I enjoy working with people who deal with ADHD and the challenges that come along with it. I understand it. I have seen positive results. It’s also a nice way to help the brain and body to relax without medication.

If you are looking for overall wellbeing, Craniosacral Therapy ought to be one of your first stops. It’s natural and powerfully effective in helping to regulate ADHD stress.

Find peace in your life.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D
703 509-1792
www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

How to Create a Healthy Space for Noise Overwhelm

by SharonHartnett | Sep 27, 2024 | Craniosacral Therapy, healing, meditation, mindfulness, upledger institute

Are you Feeling the Overwhelm of Loud Noises in Social Situations?

Have you heard of the term “neurodivergent”? For people who feel as if they think and feel differently, I think it’s a good topic to explore for self-understanding. The differences of neurodivergent experiences land anywhere from ADHD, to sensory sensitivities, to autism and other mental health conditions. However, the topic I want to speak about today primarily is the overwhelm of loud noises for some people with neurodivergent thinking. I think it’s important to find a way to acclimate and still join into social interactions. Overwhelm can take us away from people and activities we enjoy. So how do we deal with loud noise when we are sensitive to it?

Each of us is unique in how our brain works. How we learn, how we process, and funtion does’t have to fit into a “typical” model. In the past, and even still now, when a person is different, it can be looked down upon or. seen as problematic. But more often, now adays, there is a fresher acceptance and understanding of people who think out of the box with the concept of neurodiversity. More and more, we want to include, embrace and find the strengths inside each individual. The healthier outlook is to celebrate our differences.

In particular, for neurodivergent people who feel awkward in social situations, they may need a little bit of help to know that their differences and vulnerabilities can also be understood as strengths. Researching this topic can bring relief in knowing that there is a new openness to consideration for diversity. I know, for myself, it took a long time as an adult to feel comfortable when there were a lot of people talking at once in a room. For example, I couldn’t think and the inside of my ears would actually start to hurt when I was in a loud crowded restaurant until I left and went outside. I felt like my ADHD has been healed for the most part, or maybe a better word would be integrated. Yet my brain disagreed. It still does when I am in a noisy area with many people speaking all at once. There have been times when I had felt anxious because I felt like I was the only one experiencing this. Now,understanding that how my brain operations is different yet normal has made me feel more comfortable in uncomfortable situations. So in my later years, I have learned to support myself, and others in helping to cope with loud noise. Especially people with ADHD since I know what it is like to be challenged this way and to move through to the other side.

Some of the things that I have found to be helpful with noise overwhelm are:

1. Wearing noise reduction/cancelling head phones in loud spaces. I can still hear what is going on in my enviroment, but the noise is subdued.

2. Meditation: One helpful meditation in specific is ringing a bell and following the sound with mindful focus. It helps the mind to release tension when other noises come into the space.

3. Craniosacral Therapy has helped my nervous system to feel more balanced and in ease. Especially when I can express my feelings in a safe environment from a mind body perspective. This can also help a person to feel more grounded and embodied. This helps my clients as well!

4. Developing the Witness. This is spending time stepping away from yourself in a neutral intention. Stay curious in your experience. Not being judgmental.

5. Realizing that the noise and ovewhelm is temporary. In most instances, one can leave and move into a more quiet place.

6. Don’t avoid sound because this can increase fear and stress. For example with tinnitus, begin to understand that the sound is unimportant so that. you don’t put your constant energy into negative thinking about the buzzing sounds. This isn’t normally an easy fix, by tinnitus can come and go for many people. Empowering the mind can support adaptability and relief.

7. Check in with an audiologist. Sometimes they can help, and sometimes not. But some centers do have helpful tools.

Having your brain operate differently doesn’t make a person bad or unhealthy. Being sensitive is just a different expression of being human. Seek courageous ways to face your challenges, but also find the right balance of self-care. Overwhelm does not have to be your life. Know that you are not alone, and that our differnces are what make us interesting.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

ADHD Help

by SharonHartnett | Mar 14, 2016 | Craniosacral Therapy, craniosacral, Massage, Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K, mind body & spirit

The percentage of drugs that children take for ADHD has gone up dramatically.

I have no judgement about this. Physicians are doing what they can to help children who feel inattentive, high energy and are having a difficult time integrating into mainstream daily life. Medications can help. Maybe there are some more integrative treatments as well.

ADHD can be challenging. On top of the child’s own inherent challenges, they often can face rejection by other children, teachers and their community as well.

So what else can be done to help our children?

How about trying a more natural approach that will support the best qualities of your child to shine ?

Craniosacral Therapy has been able to help lots of kids with ADHD to calm down and feel more centered. Personally, there is nothing better than having a child get up off the table and give me a big hug because they finally have a sense of peace and balance. If we can encourage the child to lay down and receive the work, the Central Nervous System often will feel some huge shifts. By working with the brain, spine, and surrounding tissues, we can assist the cerebrospinal fluid to function optionally, allowing the CNS to do its work more efficiently.

When one’s mind is busy, one of the best experiences can be to relax and feel quiet.

Here are some benefits CST can provide:

Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on technique that focuses on the craniosacral system—comprising the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It’s used to release tension and improve the functioning of the central nervous system. CST is often considered a complementary therapy and is sometimes suggested for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to help manage symptoms. While the evidence supporting its effectiveness for ADHD is limited and more research is needed, proponents believe that CST may help in the following ways:

1. Reducing Stress and Tension

Children with ADHD often experience heightened stress levels and may have difficulty relaxing. CST is thought to promote relaxation by gently releasing physical tension in the body, which could help improve emotional regulation and reduce hyperactivity.

2. Improving Focus and Attention

Some children with ADHD struggle with concentration and maintaining focus. CST may help improve the flow of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord, which in theory could support cognitive function, leading to better focus, clarity, and overall mental performance.

3. Enhancing Emotional Regulation

Children with ADHD often have difficulties with emotional control, including impulsivity and difficulty managing frustration. CST may help by promoting a sense of calm and balance, possibly improving emotional regulation over time.

4. Promoting Better Sleep

Sleep disturbances are common in children with ADHD, and poor sleep can exacerbate ADHD symptoms. By supporting relaxation and reducing physical tension, CST may improve sleep quality, which in turn could help with mood, attention, and behavior during the day.

5. Supporting Sensory Integration

Children with ADHD sometimes have sensory processing issues, such as being oversensitive to certain stimuli or having difficulty filtering out irrelevant sensory input. CST is thought to help normalize sensory processing, which may improve how a child responds to stimuli and help with focus and behavioral regulation.

6. Increasing Overall Calm and Self-Regulation

CST’s gentle techniques might help a child feel more grounded, leading to improved self-regulation, which is often a challenge for children with ADHD. By working with the body’s natural rhythms and promoting balance, CST can support overall well-being.

7. Addressing Underlying Physical Tension

Many children with ADHD have been shown to have heightened muscle tension, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and jaw. CST could help alleviate this physical tension, which may contribute to reduced anxiety and better mental and emotional functioning.

If you would like to try a Craniosacral Session, look at the Upledger site for a practitioner in your area. I’d recommend looking for someone who is certified to make sure they have a thorough understanding of the work.

If you have questions about how Craniosacral can help alleviate some of your child’s ADHD symptoms, I would love to chat.

Sharon Hartnett CST, SI, LMT

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

For more information on ADHD:

Trusting the Wisdom Within With Craniosacral

by SharonHartnett | Jul 21, 2014 | Massage, Massage License in Ohio: 33.007505-H-K, mind body & spirit, Structural Integration

One of the greatest things about Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is that this modality is all about trusting your own body’s wisdom to heal.

Yes it is important to find a Craniosacral Therapist who is knowledgeable and has good experience with your issues. However- the best session will be all about having faith in the process.

During a Craniosacral Session, the first thing your practitioner will do is listen to your body to find out where there might be dysfunctional patterns that lead to pain and other ailments. This is done by starting at the feet and moving up to the head in order to check for amplitude, symmetry and other qualities of the craniosacral rhythm throughout the body. Once the primary lesion is discovered, it is easy to go to that area and start the session for healing. The rest is about following the body’s response to the work.

During evaluation and thereafter, Craniosacral Therapy touch is gentle and non-invasive. There are very few contra-indications with CST, yet the effects are far reaching and profound in your healing process. The primary benefits that you will first feel are relief of pain, more flexibility and often more vitality. By working primarily with the Central Nervous System as the focus, a Craniosacral Therapist can dialogue with every other body system to support the integration of full body functioning. Often clients are unexpectingly surprised that there can be so much change in attitude, feeling and sensation after just a few session.

Craniosacral Therapy as taught by the Upledger Institute

If you would like to find out more about Craniosacral, please contact Sharon Hartnett for a free 15 minute telephone consultation: (614) 372-6598.

Craniosacral Therapy is a self-discovery process of remembering your own light! It’s always present.

Website: www.massageincolumbusohio.com

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