Patient Information

What is Cranio-Sacral Therapy?

Cranio-Sacral Therapy supports your body’s innate ability to balance, restore and heal itself, in addition to helping to reduce stress and build your underlying energy. The practitioner sense tensions in the body and helps to release them in a supported way. During or after a session you may feel calm, relaxed an energised, with increased clarity of mind and a feeling of well-being.

Cranio-Sacral Therapy is not intended as primary healthcare but to work alongside the relationship you have with your doctor.

What is a Registered Cranio-Sacral Therapist?

Registered practitioners are accredited by the Craniosacral Therapy Association (CSTA) UK and use the letters RCST after their names. They adhere to the CSTA’s Code of Ethics and requirements for continuing professional development.

Practitioners do not need to be registered with the CSTA in order to provide Cranio-Sacral Therapy. They do however, need to have the relevant qualification.

What should I except to happen during my first visit to Cranio-Sacral Therapist?

A calm approach and attention to individual needs are of primary importance. Your practitioner should make you feel at ease during your consultation and tell you what is happening throughout.

You should feel free to ask questions at any point during the consultation.

Your practitioner will take a written case history, listening with care to the reasons for your visit. This part of the session is important, both for gathering information and to establish a good understanding with your practitioner.

It is quite acceptable to bring a friend or relative along to the consultation if you prefer to do so. An adult or appointed representative should be present with a patient who is 16 years or younger.

The session typically lasts an hour, although this can vary. You remain clothed and will usually lie face up or on your side, or you maybe seated. The practitioner makes light contact with your head, the base of your spine and other areas, encouraging your body to relax and begin to make the changes it needs. As the body functions as a whole, the practitioner may focus on areas other where your symptoms occur.

What responses can I expect from Cranio-Sacral Therapy?

After a session there may be a short period of adjustment as part of the healing process, where you may become more aware of symptoms. It is advised that you do not undertake any form of physical strenuous activity for at least 12-24 hours.

Sometimes people report relief after only one or two sessions. For long-standing problems further sessions may be needed. Some people find they benefit from regular treatment over an extended period of time and say that, as well as noticing improvement in their physical or emotional symptoms, they feel that they have more awareness of their own needs and strengths, and their quality of has improved.

Your short and long-term plan will be discussed with the practitioner and a recommendation as to the recurrence of your treatments shall be advised. However, the practitioner will be led by the patient, and should more time between appointments be required this will be respected.