MY BACKGROUND

 

 

My history with craniosacral therapy is one of being unsure of what it was and wary to try it, then being blown away by how it worked when I did try it, to finding out what it didn't work for, and becoming dedicated to giving clients the truth about what it does work for.

 

My first encounter with cranial work came from a visit to a cranial osteopath. I had an old knee injury that resulted in chronic irritation and pain whenever I used it for extended periods of time. A friend recommended I see an osteopath, which I dismissed for a long time not knowing what it was, and assuming it was some type of bone specialist. After much frustration, not being able to stand at all after a 10 hour catering shift the day before, I found a cranial osteopath online and made an appointment. In the session itself, I was blown away by what I experienced. After an hour of manual therapy, I felt renewed. I felt a level of relaxation and fluidity in my system that had seemed unachievable to me before.

 

As impressive as it was for my overall sense of regulation and wellbeing, it did not fix the problem with my knee*.

 

I trained in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) with the Body Intelligence school under Ged Sumner, Ryan Haliford, and Marianne D'amore among other experienced practitioners in the field of BCST. I expanded my understanding of trauma by studying the cutting-edge research in the field with the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM). My background in somatic therapy modalities was enriched through several courses on pre-and-perinatal somatic psychology with the PPN Center based in Charlottesville from leaders in the field, Kate White and Ray Castellino.

 

My mission is to use science to inform the mystical experiences shared by bodyworkers and develop the most effective interventions. To this end I work to stay current on emerging research and literature, explore what adjacent fields have to offer, and approach each client with an open and curious mind, directed towards the goal of creating positive outcomes for your needs. Althought most people will experience some benefits from BCST, the therapy produces better results in certain conditions over others. An important part of my practice is assessing to what extent BCST is likely to help you with your individual prorities and concerns and letting you know if you may find better results from other avenues of treatment.

 

*In the resulting years, I discovered the continued knee irritation was caused by a combination of factors: 1) poor body mechanics due to long-term use of modern footwear, such that even when I switched to minimalist sandals, the poor mechanics of my left foot and leg persisted because the muscles had "forgotten" how to properly activate. The solution to this was wearing flip-flops, which necessitate the toes grab on to the sandal while allowing the back of the foot to lift off the sandal for unimpeded natural range of motion. 2) connective tissue laxity caused by a chronic lack of readily available magnesium. The solution to this was adding magnesium drops to my drinking water throughout the day. (To read more about magnesium, click here.) 3) lack of strength in lower body, particularly the "back body", and thighs. The solution to this was commuting using a bike, and training in the Afro-Brazillian martial art, Capoeira. Capoeira focuses on natural, dynamic movements, strengthening through full range-of-motion, and a low center of gravity. It engages the entire back of the body.