What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on approach that works with the nervous system to support relaxation, balance, and the body’s natural ability to heal. Using light touch, the practitioner listens to subtle rhythms in the body and helps release areas of tension that may be contributing to pain, stress, or emotional overwhelm. Craniosacral Therapy was developed by an American Doctor of Osteopathy, Dr. Upledger, and it utilises a holistic health view and osteopathic principles.
Who is it good for?
People often seek Craniosacral Therapy for headaches, chronic pain, fatigue, sleep issues, anxiety, TMJ issues, or after periods of stress or trauma. The sessions are slow and non-invasive, you remain fully clothed and may notice sensations such as warmth, gentle movement, emotional release, or simply a sense of stillness. This makes the therapy suitable for people of all ages, especially those who feel sensitive, overwhelmed, or “stuck” in their nervous system. The work is always guided by your body’s responses, making it a collaborative and empowering process rather than something done to you.
How is Craniosacral therapy different from other manual therapies?
Rather than trying to fix or push the body, Craniosacral Therapy creates the conditions for the nervous system to settle and reorganise. Many people report feeling deeply relaxed, clearer, more grounded, or gently supported from the inside out. With a non-invasive, science-based approach, Craniosacral Therapy affects the Central Nervous System by improving the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. By doing so, it directly affects other body systems (e.g., digestive system, respiratory system, lymphatic), and improves the function of your immune system.
A neutral space is created by the therapist for your body to unwind, and re-connect to a deeper sense of self. It’s important to note that there are no religious/spiritual associations in this method.
Sessions are typically quiet and deeply restful. You remain fully clothed and may notice sensations such as warmth, gentle movement, emotional release, or simply a sense of stillness. The work is always guided by your body’s responses, making it a collaborative and empowering process rather than something done to you.
What to expect after a Craniosacral Therapy session?
- A sense of lightness and space in your body, less pain/restrictions and a deep relaxation
- Feeling more ‘quite’ on the inside, more grounded, and less on ‘edge’
- You may even fall asleep during a session and feel more rested afterwards
- You may feel a gentle tiredness in your body and the need to rest – great signs that your nervous system is integrating the work
- You may feel emotional softness, a need for reflection and a slower pace
- You might feel a sense of resilience and an uplifted mood
The benefits of Craniosacral Therapy over time:
- Better sleep quality, reduced pain, an improved immune system
- Improved resilience to stress and a more flexible nervous system – with the ability to adapt to life’s challenges and shift between emotional states
- A stronger sense of connection to yourself
- A greater sense of safety in your body; less reactivity, more steadiness in your everyday life
- Reduction in chronic pain, headaches, jaw or pelvic tension, and other stress-related symptoms
- A deeper awareness of your body’s needs and signals – allowing for prevention and an improved ability to self-regulate and build resilience
What is a functional, regulated nervous system?
A functional, regulated nervous system is one that can respond to life and then return to balance. It allows you to shift smoothly or without too much difficulty between states of rest, connection, focus, and protection, being able to feel a variety of emotions with the capacity to hold space for them.
What is a dysregulated nervous system?
A dysregulated or dysfunctional nervous system is one that has lost flexibility and has difficulty returning to balance after stress. Instead of moving fluidly between activation and rest, the body becomes stuck in patterns of fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown — even when there is no immediate danger. Over time, this can cause chronic anxiety, overwhelm, emotional numbness, fatigue, pain, sleep problems, digestive issues and a sense of disconnection. It’s important to remember that your nervous system is trying to protect you based on how it dealt with stress in the past, and dysregulation is an old adaptation pattern, not a personal failure or an issue to fix. Rebuilding safety, capacity, and trust in the present moment is possible.
