Craniosacral Therapy

The Approach







The human body is an intricate set of systems that interact with each other as a functional whole. The nervous, muscular, skeletal, digestive, respiratory, reproductive, excretory, hormonal, and vascular systems each have distinct characteristics and properties. Yet none of these systems are separate entities. Within the body there is also a system that is amazingly pervasive and versatile: the connective tissue. In effect, the connective tissue is a system that totally interconnects all parts of the body at each level from the anatomical to the microscopic. Connective tissues can be found within every single organelle, within every cell, and within every tissue of the body (and interestingly the modern understanding of the properties of connective tissue has many parallels with the oriental concept of Qi, or energy). Simply speaking, there are three main layers of connective tissue. A superficial layer that envelopes the muscular system, a deep layer that envelops the viscera and cardiovascular systems and finally, a Dural Mater layer that envelops the nervous system inside the cranium and the spine. By integrating the following therapies, tension or lesions within all three layers can be found and released by encouraging the body’s own healing properties, whilst dealing with the emotional blockages through SomatoEmotional Release.











“We do store memory in the brain,



but by far,



the deeper, older messages are stored in the body and must be accessed through the body.



Your body is your sub-conscious mind, and you can’t heal it by talk alone”.







‘Molecules of Emotion’ by Candace B. Pert, PH.D



Research Professor



Department of Physiology & Biophysics



Georgetown University Medical Centre















CranioSacral Therapy







What is CranioSacral Therapy?







CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, but profound form of treatment that works at the deepest levels of the human system.







How does it work?







Underlying the more obvious body rhythms, such as those of breathing and the heart, exists a more subtle pulsation. The Cerebrospinal Fluid, which surrounds and bathes the Central Nervous System within the Dural Mater, continually fluctuates in a tide-like manner. The CranioSacral Rhythm, as this pulsation is known, is expressed by all the tissues of the body in response to underlying fluid and energetic dynamics. The bones of the cranium and the sacrum, at the base of the spine, constantly move in response to this pulsation: Hence the name CranioSacral Therapy.







CranioSacral therapy uses similar techniques found in Psychotherapy, Shamanism and Healing. The result is an all-round form of treatment that is based on a firm understanding of Anatomy and Physiology, and yet enjoys an added depth of wisdom and sensitivity essential for dealing with the deeper needs of the body.







What is a CranioSacral Session Like?







With the client wearing loose clothing, the therapist is able to identify areas of restriction and trauma by detecting disturbances in the CranioSacral Rhythm. Using gentle touch to reflect back to the body how it is holding on to restrictive patterns the therapist encourages the tissues to take up the energetic potency they had before the restrictions occurred. Thus our intrinsic capacity for healthy functioning is restored.















“…Emotion’s exist in the body as informational chemicals, the neuropeptides and receptors, and they also exist in another realm, the one we experience as feeling, inspiration, and love – beyond the physical.



The emotions move back & forth, flowing freely between both places and, in that sense, they connect the physical and non-physical…



We know that the way health occurs in the physical body has to do with the flow of the biochemicals of emotion.



My work has taught me that there is a physical reality to the emotions”







‘Molecules of Emotion’ by Candace B. Pert, PH.D



Research Professor



Department of Physiology & Biophysics



Georgetown University Medical Centre











SomatoEmotional Release







What is SomatoEmotional Release?







SomatoEmotional Release is a therapeutic process developed by Dr. John Upledger during CranioSacral Sessions, the objective of which is to rid your mind and body of the residual effects of past injuries and negative experiences.







How Does SomatoEmotional Release Work?







From the beginning of the development of the therapeutic process, the patient's body seems to be of "two" minds. Part of the patient wants to maintain the status quo. After all, life is present and the body is working even though that work may be inefficient and painful. Why risk a change? Another part of the patient strives for the improvement that means the energy cyst (or injury/illness) must be dissipated, thus ridding the body of the need for adaptation and discomfort.



During the therapeutic process of SomatoEmotional Release the therapist acts as a facilitator in cooperation with the part of the person that wants to get rid of the abnormal energy cyst formation (or injury/illness). In order to do this the therapist encourages the positive aspects of their body-mind and discourages the negative aspects. This helps express the energy cyst from the individual’s body by facilitating the body's memory of the injury and thus ending the suppression.



This facilitation is accomplished by touching the individual, tuning into what their positive body wants to do and assisting in the process. The usual result is that the body assumes the positions it was in when the external injury forces were imposed upon it. As this occurs there is a feeling that the tissues of the body relax as the energy cyst is expelled. Heat can also be felt radiating from the area that had been retaining the injury.







What to Expect…







During the therapeutic session the release of the energy cyst frequently results in a re-experiencing of the pain, fear, anguish, anger, resentment, etc. that was attendant with the original incident. This re-experiencing of the negative aspects of the original injury is a very good sign that the treatment has released, at least a part of - if not all of, the retained problem. When this type of reaction occurs you should not try to suppress the pains and emotion. You should concentrate on the memory and try to re-experience it to the fullest extent possible. Once you are very familiar with the whole incident we must then eradicate the attendant destructive negativity and convert it to the positive energy.











FOOTNOTE







An aspect of our practice that we really enjoy is dual practitioner sessions working intensely with clients who wish to discover and explore the patterns that underlie their symptoms, rather than simply trying to make those symptoms go away. This ultimately involves a journey into feelings, belief systems, hopes and fears, and loves and hates, led by and achieved through the clients own inner knowledge. We generally see clients more-or-less on a weekly basis, most often for several sessions in a row. This weekly approach provides an opportunity to more deeply explore the fundamental causes and core patterns that underlie symptoms and makes possible deeper and more permanent shifts in the body than is the case with less frequent visits. Depending upon each person’s individual situation and the issues they are trying to resolve, the number of sessions may range from as few as 2 to, for some people, 20 or more. Essentially we will continue to work until you tell us we are done.







This combined therapy approach is not for everyone. Exploring the therapies in this way requires a high level of commitment, both to working on your health and to engaging with your personal process. It puts more responsibility for the results on you as the client. The possible rewards, however, are great. By delving deeply into the patterns that underlie your symptoms, and working to understand and shift those patterns, it is possible through this integrated therapy approach to make transformative changes in your life.















Therapist Information







Martyn Chilvers







I am an Integrated Therapist having trained in CranioSacral Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang (a Taoist abdominal Massage studied in Thailand under Master Mantak Chia), Visceral Manipulation, Acupuncture and Chinese Physiotherapy (both part-studied in China). Primarily though, I use CranioSacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation and SomatoEmotional Release. Originally my background was in Sports Science and P.E. I have a BSc (Hons) in Sport Science, P.E. and Recreational Management from Loughborough University, a BSc in Oriental Medicine from the American Liberty University and am an ex-Royal Marine Physical Training Officer.











Heather Roberts-Chilvers







I originally trained in Swedish massage. I developed a fascination with CranioSacral work in 2003 after receiving a treatment myself. I was amazed at how such a gentle touch could so wonderfully relieve the pain I was having with a severe bout of Hay fever. I started to study the science of the therapy and enrolled on my first course. I was impressed with the thorough teaching and the equal expectation of sound anatomical knowledge. I realised it was this lasting release of tension that I was instinctively looking for in my massage clients. My cranial training has been in London, Hong Kong and Singapore. I studied paediatrics with Nina Chernick, a specialist in CranioSacral therapy and its uses in treating newborns and children. I have a real joy in working with this age group.



(I should add here that the Hay fever never returned after that initial treatment and I was so impressed with the therapist that I married him!)







For additional and personal information please contact: martynchilvers@hotmail.com or

heathersamroberts@hotmail.com