Frequently asked questions and policies
What is a biodynamic craniosacral therapy session like?
We'll begin our session by discussing how you're feeling and what you'd like to get out of the session. Then you'll lie on the table, fully clothed and face up, and we'll both take a few moments to settle in. When you let me know that you're ready for physical contact, I'll put my hands on your feet, ankles, shoulders, or other place to begin. We'll adjust the contact until you're completely comfortable. In this position, I'll be listening for the rhythms of the subtle movements of fluids, bones, and tissues in your body to settle and strengthen.
After a few minutes, as I sense where there is ease and restriction in your body, I may move to your back, belly, shoulders, head or other place that is calling for attention. Each time I move, I'll check in with you to be sure you feel fully comfortable and supported. There may be several such "holds" over the course of a session, and you can also let me know where you would find such gentle contact supportive.
Clients generally find these sessions deeply relaxing. You may feel sensations of warmth, tingling, or release in various parts of your body. Some folks like to verbally share what they are experiencing, and this can help deepen the work, but it's also ok to just sink deep into relaxation. Often people even fall asleep! Others feel gentle movements of emotion or find that things that have been troubling them soften over the course of the session.
Each session is different, and sometimes a session that feels very profound is followed by one where nothing much seems to happen. For this reason, we generally recommend a course of at least three sessions to begin addressing what is troubling you and assess the efficacy of the treatment for you.
How does craniosacral therapy work? What does it do?
Craniosacral therapy is based on the observation that all of the fluids, tissues, and bones in our body are interconnected, and they are in constant, very subtle motion. We believe that when those movements are in well-organized, coherent rhythms throughout our bodies, we feel better, and our bodies can naturally deal with whatever comes at us. But stress, injury, exhaustion, environmental toxins, and other impacts can disrupt these rhythms and create held places in the body.
As I tune into these movements and rhythms in your body during a session, they naturally settle and become stronger and more coherent. Your body can then release held places and access more resources for healing.
The process deeply relaxes and strengthens the autonomic nervous system, relieving the impacts of stress and anxiety. Over the course of several sessions, this can support your body to reset your nervous system baseline at a healthier, more responsive and less reactive level, supporting healthy change throughout your life.
We call it "craniosacral" therapy because the head (cranium), spine and pelvis (including the sacrum) are important organizing centers for these bodily rhythms, but the practice really works with the entire body.
What kinds of conditions is craniosacral therapy good for?
People seek craniosacral therapy for all kinds of physical and emotional healing. Because it deeply settles and rebalances the nervous system, helping the body let go of chronically held places and access resources for healing, it can be especially good for:
interrupting and resetting stress reactions to permit deep rest and replenish depleted energy
unraveling the neuromuscular tension and nerve hyperactivity that sustain chronic pain cycles
releasing the shock of accident, injury, dental work, or surgery
providing a somatic support to psychotherapeutic approaches to trauma healing
supporting recovery from headaches, back pain, digestive issues, anxiety, sleep disruptions, burnout, and other acute and chronic conditions.
What should I expect after a session? How should I care for myself afterwards?
Different folks respond to sessions differently, and you may feel differently after sessions on different days. Most often, though, people feel relaxed and refreshed. You may feel like you can move more easily and want to walk, stretch, or play. On the other hand, if you've been depleted, you may find yourself wanting to go home and nap.
However you feel, please try to drink plenty of water and give yourself as much rest as you need during the two to three days following a session.
If you can, plan to include at least a few minutes right after our session to take a short walk around the block or sit quietly with a drink of water in the waiting room to give your system time to integrate further before jumping into your car or rushing off to your next commitment.
Because this practice is oriented to your body's inherent health, you may experience strengthening signs of health before you experience a decrease in symptoms. This could include feeling more centered in your body, feeling less reactive, restless, or stressed, sleeping better, or feeling more deeply engaged with the people you care about. Taking a moment to notice and appreciate these experiences can help anchor them in your body and build a foundation for further healing.
Where can I park for my appointment?
Metered street parking is generally available in front of the building. The Masonic Street lot is also convenient to the building. Northampton municipal parking information is available here.
What should I wear to a session? Do I have to take my clothes off?
All craniosacral therapy sessions are conducted fully clothed. Please wear comfortable clothes that you can easily move in, so that you’ll be able to fully relax on the table. You will take off your shoes, and you may want to remove big jewelry, watches, glasses, or belts.
What is your cancelation policy? What happens if I get sick?
I ask that you give me a minimum of 24 hours notice if you need to cancel a session, so that I may offer your slot to someone else. You can cancel your appointment directly from the link in your confirmation email, or you can contact me directly. If you miss the 24-hour window, you will be responsible for the full fee for service, unless you are ill.
If you are getting sick with ANY illness, I encourage you to please cancel the session. If you are within the 24-hour cancellation window and you do not have Covid, you will have 14 days to make up your session without accruing a late cancellation fee. If you do have Covid, you will have up to 2 months to complete the session.
How soon should I book another session?
For those new to craniosacral therapy, we generally recommend beginning with a course of 3 sessions, weekly or biweekly, to give your system time to learn to settle and resource with the practice. After that, we can assess how the treatment is helping you and create a future rhythm for returning. Everyone responds differently, but in general, for acute or complex conditions, you may want to continue to return weekly or biweekly for several more sessions. For those recovering from stagnation, exhaustion, stress, or anxiety, monthly sessions may be helpful as your system aligns to a new baseline. Others choose to return for seasonal check-ins or whenever conditions in their lives suggest a “tune-up” would be nourishing.