Note: Responses to these
questions are based on the the Biodynamic Approach to craniosacral therapy
that is used by the practitioners and teachers listed on this web site.
Practitioners of other approaches would not necessarily have the same
responses to these questions.
Who
can benefit from Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy?
Is
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy safe for children?
Is
BCST safe during pregnancy?
Are
"manipulations" involved in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy?
How
can I benefit from BCST?
How
does it work?
What
symptoms respond best to BCST?
How
many sessions will I need?
Why
do I fall asleep during my sessions?
Does
insurance cover BCST?
Who
can benefit from BCST ? return to top
Everyone potentially can benefit, though with some, the improvement
may be more dramatic than with others. Because BCST builds health in
the brain and nervous system, it is effective in assisting the prevention
of chronic conditions, including the problems of aging, stiffness, dryness,
memory loss, inflammation, immune imbalances. BCST also addresses injuries,
even those that occurred long ago and that we had no idea were still
affecting us. Birth trauma commonly affects one throughout life unless
addressed, for example. And how many of us have not had a head or tailbone
injury from sports, falls, violence, or auto accidents? Even recovery
from minor surgeries, including dental work, which can create strains
and anesthesia residues, can be supported by BCST. The beauty of the
biodynamic approach is that it strengthens our whole system and creates
a safe environment, so that the body can show these unresolved issues,
and the BCST practitioner can facilitate a resolution. Our inner Intelligence
is capable, when skillfully supported, of presenting the strains one
at a time, in priority order, in a way that does not overwhelm the system
but makes it increasingly stronger. We do not need to remember or relive
our traumas in order to benefit from their resolution.
Is
BCST safe for children? return to top
Children respond well to BCST because it is gentle, non-invasive, and
effective in ways they can intuitively recognize. Even small children
quickly get used to the work as they develop trust in their practitioner.
Pre-verbal children may actually direct the practitioner’s hands
to areas of discomfort. Children easily show the dynamics of their experience
through movement and sounds. Much subtle work can be done by the practitioner
during "playtime" in which the child is observed and assisted
in completing unresolved challenges. Parents are often astounded at
the way a crabby, hyperactive, or miserable child will fall into deep
relaxation or sleep during treatment. The challenge, of course, is the
busy toddler who won't lie still. Here the parent can help out by holding
the child as the practitioner makes even brief contacts on the spine,
head, and sacrum. A little goes a long way with a child. Whatever can
be resolved during infancy or childhood, often in only a few sessions,
can potentially prevent decades of medical and psychological treatment
later on. Resolution of misaligned forces makes us less accident-prone,
because we are not "off-balance".
Is
BCST safe during pregnancy? return to top
BCST is not only safe but recommended during pregnancy, as it calms
the nervous system of both mother and child, encouraging emotional bonding
which can otherwise be short-circuited due to pre-natal and birth stresses
and trauma. The Biodynamic approach can contact the Primal Midline of
the infant's delicate nervous system - the midline that holds our Originality,
the state of perfection that enables us to be less affected by negative
influences from our genetics. Also, although the growing prenate is
highly conscious, s/he does not know the difference between mother's
thoughts and feelings and its own, so when Mom's system is soothed and
balanced during pregnancy, baby gains huge benefits.
Are
there manipulations involved? return to top
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is distinguished by its minimal reliance
on manipulations of any kind. If the various CS methods could be characterized
and compared based on this criterion, the Biodynamic style would be
placed at the non-manipulative end of the spectrum. In the Biodynamic
approach, the healing process comes from within the client, not from
the outside from the practitioner, and the hand contacts are based on
listening and following/reflecting the client's process rather than
pushing or manipulating the client towards a theoretical ideal state.
How can I benefit from BCST?
return to top
The therapy may surprise you with benefits you hadn't known were possible,
including resolution of symptoms that you had no idea were related to
the cranial system or to each other. You may feel lighter, with a sense
of more spaciousness within yourself. You may notice more ease in relationships
or ability to focus. You may stand straighter or breathe more easily
and deeply. Pains may decrease and emotional boundaries may be easier
to maintain. It is likely that you will feel deeply relaxed and centered.
Because each person is unique, it is impossible for us to say exactly
what benefit you will feel, or how long it will take you to feel it,
but the above comments are quite common. An example is Rollin Becker,
DO, spoke of a client who presented a specific symptom but got up from
the session with a great urge to go home, clean the house and put things
in order; none of these impulses were on the original agenda. In retrospect
they did seem to relate to the presenting condition.
How does it work? return
to top
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is focused around creating a safe atmosphere
or space for the client, holding appropriate practitioner boundaries
and using a very gentle touch. The practitioner listens deeply to the
fluctuations of the cerebrospinal fluid within the craniosacral system.
The fluctuation of the cerebrospinal fluid creates a variety of tides
within the system. As the practitioner — from a place of stillness
— listens to these internal tides, the client's system begins
to access its own inner resources ….perhaps a little like finding
keys to previously locked doors. The cerebrospinal fluid — as
it bathes and protects the brain and spinal cord — carries an
intelligence and potency, which becomes mixed with other bodily fluids
via the dural membranes. BCST therapists learn to listen deeply to the
system, tapping into its inherent intelligence, focusing on the system
remembering its original blueprint of health. The therapist encourages
the client's system to access its resources, offering new choices and
possibilities for the system at every level. Training, then, includes
deep perceptual and centering skills as well as extensive study of the
anatomy, physiology, and inherent motion of the craniosacral system.
What
kind of symptoms respond best to BCST?
Anecdotal evidence shows BCST may be helpful in addressing such situations
as impingement of cranial nerves or spinal nerves, left-right imbalances,
head injuries, confusion, feelings of compression or pressure, anxiety,
depression, circulatory disorders, organ dysfunctions, learning difficulties,
neuro-endocrine problems, TMJ and dental problems, and trauma of all
kinds — birth, falls, accidents and other injuries, physical,
sexual or emotional abuse, PTSD, loss/grief, surgery, anesthesia, among
others. BCST is also excellent as a preventive therapy because it can
facilitate the resolution of imbalances within a patient/client's system
that s/he may not be consciously aware of.
How
many sessions will I need? return to top
This depends on what your goals are, what symptoms you suffer from,
and how readily your system responds to this therapy. As a general rule,
three to ten sessions will have a significant impact on most people's
health, and in some cases only one session can make a dramatic difference.
Often, clients receive regular sessions for longer periods of time,
followed by an occasional tune-up to maintain health.
Why
do I "fall asleep" during my sessions? return
to top
It is common for people to doze off or at least appear to sleep during
portions of a craniosacral session. There are times when a deep, meditative
state of consciousness is contacted, when the mind gets out of the way
to allow the system to reorganize in some profound way. If your system
is tired, you’ll relax and rest, which is deeply healing in itself.
Does
insurance cover BCST? return to top
Insurance coverage varies with providers and also may depend on the
health condition for which you are seeking assistance. Ask your local
craniosacral practitioner what the requirements might be, and what strategies
may be effective in securing coverage. Additionally, your primary care
physician and insurance agent are important resources for obtaining
coverage.
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