Somatic Touch with Intention Creates a Unique Environment for Healing|CST

by SharonHartnett | Apr 6, 2026 | change, Craniosacral Therapy, Healthy Body, mind body & spirit, mindfulness, Traum Informed Therapy, upledger institute

Trusting Your Body Again

By Sharon Hartnett, Diplomate Craniosacral Therapist, Worthington — serving the Columbus, Ohio area

Healing is all about receiving gentle, caring input into a system that has been disrupted.

We’re animals with highly complex, centralized brains and spinal cords. As humans we have the added benefit of myelinated axons for fast transmission of information from brain to body and body to brain. Electrical impulses, when strong enough, carry that information with the help of chemical neurotransmitters to the axon terminals. We are superhighways of light and frequency, processing all the time. Our brains and spines stay very busy in response. Given the right circumstances, they can be switched back on to speed the healing process.

When we run into pain or trauma, this efficient system often breaks down — the sympathetic nervous system over-activates and the parasympathetic is held back. That can lead to intense anxiety, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, exhaustion, and structural brain changes that favor a fear response over logical, present-moment processing.

When a threat is overwhelming, the nervous system may shut down altogether. That brings numbness, dissociation (detachment from the body and emotions), and feelings of being trapped or powerless. The brain can lose its ability to regulate emotion well. I write more about trauma-informed, body-centered healing on its own page.

This is why craniosacral therapy takes such a gentle, patient approach. Using very light touch and specific techniques, we rebuild a deeply trusting relationship with the body. The signals that were shut down or stuck in patterns of dysregulation can be reprogrammed, so to speak, by restoring trust in the mind-body connection. By correcting restrictions and blockages, craniosacral therapy supports the natural, rhythmic flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which cushions the brain and spinal cord, delivers nutrients, and removes waste. I explain the mechanics in What Does Craniosacral Therapy Do?

The best way to free up and nourish the body is presence, in a non-invasive approach. We want to normalize the mind-body through its own inner intelligence by creating a safe environment to relax, de-stress, and come back to Self with ease. Our bodies most often know what needs to be done, and they change accordingly once they shift from fear to ease.

During sessions, some people don’t feel very much. Others feel quite a bit. Either way, as the peaceful melding connection deepens, the nervous system begins to reorganize. Some people get up off the table deeply relaxed. I’ve often heard people say they haven’t felt such ease in years. The one thing I ask is patience — deep healing unfolds gradually.

When the body is rested and at ease, it heals from long-term trauma more easily.

The combination of trust and gentleness, backed by real skill, creates a secure environment that fundamentally transforms the healing process — letting the nervous system shift from high alert to rest, which is essential for repairing body and mind.

Ready to feel better? I’m Sharon Hartnett, a Diplomate-Certified Craniosacral Therapist (CST-D) through the Upledger Institute, with about 30 years of experience listening to the body and helping it heal. My office is in Worthington, Ohio, and I serve the greater Columbus area.

If you’re curious whether this gentle work is right for you, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. Call or text me at (614) 653-8111.

Learn more about craniosacral therapy in Columbus, read answers to common questions about craniosacral therapy, or find out how to choose the best craniosacral therapist for you.

Click Here to find out more about Sharon

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. Medication and behavioral tools help many people, but some are also looking for a more natural way to settle the nervous system and feel grounded in daily life. That’s what I offer in my Worthington office, serving the Columbus area.

What Is Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on approach that works with the body’s deepest rhythms. Using a very light touch, I listen 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. If you’d like the fuller picture, I explain it in How Does Craniosacral Therapy Work?

Why This Matters for ADHD

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

Calming the nervous system. Gentle touch signals safety, helping the body shift from constant 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 reach this calm state on their own.

This is the same nervous-system work I describe in Craniosacral Therapy for Brain Health — ADHD simply calls for a particularly patient, steady touch.

What People Experience

Clients often leave a session feeling deeply relaxed and clear-headed. Some describe it as if the mental “static” has quieted, so thoughts come through one at a time instead of all at once. Parents tell me their children seem calmer and more settled afterward, which can make daily routines, homework, and transitions easier. Children and teens do well with this work because the touch is so light, and parents are always welcome in the room.

Is It a Standalone Treatment?

No. 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 body and mind an extra layer of ease and integration. For many families it pairs well with body-centered somatic work.

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. It’s about helping your system find its natural rhythm, so you can move through the world with more clarity and peace.

Ready to feel better? I’m Sharon Hartnett, a Diplomate-Certified Craniosacral Therapist (CST-D) through the Upledger Institute, with about 30 years of experience listening to the body and helping it heal. My office is in Worthington, Ohio, and I serve the greater Columbus area.

If you’re curious whether this gentle work is right for you or your child, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. Call or text me at (614) 653-8111.

Learn more about craniosacral therapy in Columbus, read answers to common questions about craniosacral therapy, or find out how to choose the best craniosacral therapist for you.

Deep Healing Shifts That Unfold Gradually with Craniosacral Therapy in Columbus

by SharonHartnett | Jun 22, 2025 | change, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, healing, healthy

Healing Is an Inside Job — It Expands Over Time, Usually Through Slow Change

Don’t Rush Healing. It Won’t Work. Healing Takes Time.

Do you expect immediate healing results? Welcome to the club. I’ve seen so many people come into my office expecting a lot from the first session. Often they’ve tried many healing modalities and nothing worked. Understandably, they’re disappointed, and they’ve learned to give up quickly.

The thing is, healing does work. The body has its own ability to self-correct, and it often comes back to equilibrium. The best time to begin a healing process is the moment something goes awry — act right away. That can mean rest, seeing a physician, seeing a craniosacral therapist, eating well. Whatever is needed to balance the body and move it closer to health and wellbeing.

The longer a person waits, the more the mind-body-spirit starts putting band-aids on the experience. Compensations begin. The intricate webbing of life, and the fascia along with every other internal system, reorganizes in a more sporadic, challenging way. That’s how chronic pain takes root.

With craniosacral therapy, the work is subtle. Some people don’t feel much in the first session. One reason is that pain or past experience keeps the mind from feeling deeply into an old habit or injury. It takes time for a relationship to develop and for healing to unfold — often many sessions. I explain what’s actually happening in those quiet sessions in What Does Craniosacral Therapy Do?

The gentleness, and being listened to through the body, may be a new experience. People may need to open to being held and supported. That sounds like it should be easy, but for many it isn’t. So many people live with anxiety; they don’t feel centered, safe, or secure with new sensations and feelings. What most of us need is to slow down, be heard, and have our bodies supported compassionately and with skill. That is the doorway into discovering our own healing abilities. I write more about that doorway in The Healing Power of Touch.

I like to remind people: it often took years, or a severe accident, to arrive at chronic or acute pain. It takes time to heal, too. Be patient with yourself. Breathe through it. Be kind to you, and be patient with the healing work you choose. It takes time to shift gears and wind down into healing mode.

I recommend at least four sessions just to see how your process shows itself. And remember, it doesn’t have to be painful, aggressive work that changes you. Sometimes it’s the opposite of anything you’ve experienced before.

As a craniosacral therapist, somatic healer, and energy healer for more than 30 years, I can honestly say there is an easier path. It isn’t always easy to navigate until you surrender into your own intention to heal. Your commitment is needed. You have to let the greater good direct your process. Like I said, it’s an inside job — but it isn’t meant to be done alone.

Ready to feel better? I’m Sharon Hartnett, a Diplomate-Certified Craniosacral Therapist (CST-D) through the Upledger Institute, with about 30 years of experience listening to the body and helping it heal. My office is in Worthington, Ohio, and I serve the greater Columbus area.

If you’re curious whether this gentle work is right for you, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. Call or text me at (614) 653-8111.

Learn more about craniosacral therapy in Columbus, read answers to common questions about craniosacral therapy, or find out how to choose the best craniosacral therapist for you.

How Pain and Fear Can Lead to Healing and Wholeness

by SharonHartnett | Jun 15, 2025 | change, Craniosacral Therapy, healing, healthy, Healthy Body, Spiritual Healing, trauma, upledger institute

It’s easy to push pain and fear aside—but when we turn toward them with compassion, we open the door to true healing.

Pain gets a bad rap. Truly, it does. But so does fear.
Who wants to voluntarily feel either of those?

The truth is, both are messengers—part of our inner guidance system—and they play an important role in healing emotional pain and fear. These sensations are not signs of weakness. They are invitations into deeper awareness, vulnerability, and ultimately, transformation.

Pain: More Than Just “Ouch”

Most people think of pain as an unpleasant experience—and it is. It’s the nervous system’s way of saying, “Something isn’t right.” Whether the wound is physical, emotional, or even energetic, the message is the same: pay attention.

Pain is also deeply personal. No two people experience it the same way. But when we stop resisting it and begin to listen, pain becomes something more—it becomes a doorway. A chance to come home to the places in us that have been neglected or pushed away.

Fear: A Powerful Instinct That Can Be Healed

Fear often gets lumped in with weakness, but it’s actually one of our most ancient protectors. It’s rooted in survival. For humans—who are social animals—fear helps us detect danger, avoid harm, and stay connected.

But here’s the twist: when fear becomes chronic, it holds us hostage. Instead of protecting us, it keeps us stuck. That’s where emotional healing comes in—not by overriding fear, but by slowly and gently meeting it.

Healing Emotional Pain and Fear: A Path Through the Body

In my practice, I often support clients through craniosacral therapy and somatic healing—both gentle methods that invite the body to relax, unwind, and return to its natural rhythm.

When the body feels safe, it stops defending.
When it stops defending, it starts integrating.
And when integration happens, the healing begins.

Through this process, people begin to heal emotional pain and fear not by numbing or avoiding, but by allowing themselves to feel. Over time, they become more grounded, more whole, and more connected to their true selves.

You Don’t Have to Walk This Path Alone

Healing fear and pain isn’t linear. It unfolds in layers. Sometimes, it’s messy. Often, it’s uncomfortable. But it’s also real—and freeing.

If you’re in Columbus and you’re ready to explore what healing can feel like in a safe, nurturing environment, I’d be honored to walk with you.

Your body holds the wisdom.
Your fear holds the key.
Your pain holds the map.
Let’s listen together.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D
(614) 653-8111

To learn more about my craniosacral therapy services, visit my main page here.

Nothing Exists Alone: Embracing Connection as a Path to Wholeness

by SharonHartnett | May 19, 2025 | change, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, healing, healthy, Healthy Body, mindfulness

Through mindfulness and the recognition that everything exists with connection, we begin to heal. Not just ourselves. But also our relationships in the world around us.

When we become mindful of how everything lives in connection, the universe shifts into a deeper mutual place of compassion. Truly discovering that we are not isolated objects is a powerful realization. That’s something we could all use just about now.

It’s not so simple that we are just individuals moving through separate experiences. From the breath we take to the words we speak, our lives are constantly woven into a larger web of interdependence. From the quantum level to how the butterfly effects of one choice changes everything.

I bring this up because as a Craniosacral Therapist, working in Columbus, Ohio, I find that awakening to the bigger picture brings about deep healing, growth and evolution.

Because we are so ingrained to believe in separatness and individuality, we forget that there is more richness in inter-dependence and mutual help and support. Yes, we have a sense of independence, but we are also here in mutuality and connection.

When I work with clients, often I feel that there seems to be a “part” that is dysfunctional. yet as my hands listen, and notice- the other fluids, tissues and systems come into play in the healing process. Nothing can heal in separation or parts. What seems like a problem is actually an expression of something waiting to change and move toward connection, Mostly, I manually wait for the deeper inner intelligence of the body to reconnect and remember the innate wholensss that lives in everything. Other times, the client may speak about past experiences of trauma that are ripe enough to heal. I trust whatever happens to bring the “pieces” back together into the present.

There is always more to us than we ever imagined. To self-realize and discover the value of reaching beyond is a compassionate and wise way to live and grow. Not only for our own personal journeys, but also knowing that each choice we make ripples across the Universe. We all matter. Everything we do counts. Being mindful changes everything.

To learn more about Mindfulness and Connection, check out: www.hakomi.com

To find out more about Craniosacral Therapy, check out: www.upledger.com

Sharon Hartnett CST-d

614 653-8111

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com