Table of contents
- What is craniosacral body psychotherapy
- How does body psychotherapy work?
- What happens during body psychotherapy?
- What is special about the craniosacral approach compared to other body psychotherapeutic methods?
- When is craniosacral body therapy used?
- FAQ: Other frequently asked questions about craniosacral therapy
1. What is craniosacral body psychotherapy?
Craniosacral body psychotherapy is an integral part of craniosacral osteopathy. It is based on the core idea that body, mind and emotions form an inseparable unit that should be taken into account in treatment. This means that feelings, beliefs and small and large traumas are stored in the body and can lead to blockages, tension or illnesses. In the context of craniosacral therapy, these energetic blockages are referred to as energy cysts.
Through craniosacral therapy, these stuck memories in the body start moving again. When associations and memories that arise during bodywork are specifically addressed and processed in dialogue, this is called body psychotherapy. This form of therapy can be seen as another building block in the growing range of psychological short-term therapies. The holistic therapeutic approach can, for example, complement classic psychotherapy.
Craniosacral body psychotherapy and "SomatoEmotional Release" (SER)
The dissolution of the energy cysts stored in the tissue and the emotions associated with them is referred to as SomatoEmotional Release by Cranio founder John E. Upledger.
2. How does body psychotherapy work?
Not all issues that burden our psyche can be consciously recalled or verbalized. This is exactly where craniosacral body psychotherapy comes in: In craniosacral treatment, the work usually begins on an unconscious level.
Through the therapist's touch and conscious sensing, the body selects necessary and meaningful processes all by itself and sets them in motion. In the process, blockages can be released and emotions stored in the tissue can be released. Ultimately, this can activate the physiological and psychological self-healing powers. Issues that can be consciously processed in this way emerge from the unconscious and are dealt with through new, guided experiences and dialogue.
The connection between physical experience and the patient's emotional and cognitive awareness makes it possible to solve psychological issues or stressors in a holistic manner.
The way it works and the idea behind it are similar to the definition of trauma by psychologist Peter Levine, who assumes that the body's reaction to a traumatic event was not completed and thus remains stuck in the body, so to speak.
3. What happens during craniosacral body therapy?
All of the feelings we experience are linked to events, situations and thoughts, creating a complex network of memories and connections in the nervous system. This network acts as a kind of filter that determines how we interact with ourselves and our environment.
Our body perceives all stimuli - regardless of whether we are aware of our feelings or not. Conscious emotional perceptions arise when we link certain physical sensations with our memories and interpret and store them, usually unconsciously.
Postures or body perceptions can reflect and activate these connections. A certain posture that is accompanied by tension or discomfort can be an expression of a belief. These beliefs manifest themselves in our physiology - in muscles, ligaments, fascia, etc. Craniosacral body therapy can help to work on these beliefs and possibly resolve them.
In body psychotherapy, these stored memories may be awakened again and can be processed by the patient. Emerging images and memories are processed in supportive conversations. Psychosomatic symptoms can improve and body awareness can be strengthened. A more differentiated and relaxed feeling of one's own body in the here and now is promoted.
There are two possible interactions that can occur:
Body sensations as triggers that activate a network of information in the body: This means that a body sensation triggers the reaction to the original event. Body reactions as part of this activation: This means that other parts of the body may also react to the treatment.
4. What is special about the craniosacral approach compared to other body psychotherapy methods?
The craniosacral approach differs from other body psychotherapy methods in its gentle and subtle way of working. This method, like no other, enables very gentle access to beliefs stored unconsciously in the body, deeper memories or unprocessed traumas. The accompanying therapeutic conversation represents the transition between craniosacral therapy as holistic body therapy and craniosacral body psychotherapy. The transition can be fluid, but does not have to be - depending on the topic and the patient's needs.
This is what makes craniosacral body psychotherapy special:
- Gentle touch: The use of very gentle touch to sense and influence the craniosacral rhythm is a central feature of the therapy. This promotes deep relaxation and inner peace.
- Listen with your hands: The craniosacral rhythm shows the intensity of the respective process. The therapist thus has an indication of whether the patient is currently in an intensive processing phase, an inner "running away" or a deep relaxation phase.
- Holistic approach: The combination of physical treatment with supportive conversations can help to resolve issues and integrate them in the long term.
- Safe & quiet space: A craniosacral body psychotherapy session results from a craniosacral treatment when the patient feels safe and cared for.
- Deep and integrative work: The special way in which craniosacral therapy works as a method in body psychotherapy promotes the body's self-healing powers.
5. When is craniosacral body psychotherapy used?
The transition to body psychotherapy can be indicated during a regular craniosacral therapy session. During the course of the session, this will be a barely noticeable transition. Follow-up sessions can then be explicitly aimed at body psychotherapy.
Craniosacral body psychotherapy can also be used specifically as support and accompaniment to other psychotherapies. An agreement and collaboration with the treating therapist is a prerequisite for this.
Please inform me in advance about any existing therapy so that we can discuss it. Practices such as meditation, mindfulness, Taiji and Qigong can also effectively support craniosacral body psychotherapy. In these cases too, it is useful to talk about your existing or desired practice.
Craniosacral therapy for trauma
I do not explicitly offer craniosacral therapy as trauma therapy. However, if trauma reactions occur during a session, I will support you as best as possible. My further training in the area of trauma enables me to work in a trauma-sensitive manner. If you have experienced trauma, please inform me in advance so that I can adapt the treatment accordingly.
Although I am not currently working as a specialized trauma therapist, I am open to supplementing your therapeutic work with my approach. If desired, I am happy to work with your therapist so that you can receive the greatest possible support.
Through this collaboration, we can use the advantages of craniosacral therapy to gently release emotional and physical blockages and promote the healing process. My goal is to accompany you on your journey and to ensure holistic treatment with care and mindfulness.
Note on the Heilmittelwerbegesetz (§3 No. 1)
The treatment method presented is an alternative procedure that is not scientifically recognized. All information about possible properties, effects and indications is based on the experience and knowledge within this method itself.
6. FAQ
Overall, craniosacral treatment can balance the autonomic nervous system by converting sympathetic overstimulation into parasympathetic states. This supports a healthy ability to oscillate between parasympathetic and sympathetic states.
In the case of trauma as a fully developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or even in the case of minor trauma, cranio can be useful as a supplement to trauma therapy. Clear and open communication and trust between the practitioners (cranio therapist, psychotherapist) and the patient is necessary here. Not every trauma is identical and requires an individual holistic treatment approach. Touch can be helpful, but it can also be re-traumatizing. This must be clarified in advance. Building up trust and resources is necessary beforehand.
Yes, craniosacral therapy can trigger emotions, images and memories. The perception of an effect is often not limited to the area of the current touch.
Any therapy can "trigger" or uncover trauma. Carefully performed craniosacral therapy should not lead a patient anywhere that they cannot handle at the moment. There can therefore be a moment when you go through a traumatic experience with the therapist without retraumatizing (that would be cranio as good body psychotherapy). Since every therapist is only human, it can also lead to unintentional triggering of a trauma and possibly retraumatization. Open communication about a known trauma and responsible, sensitive handling of the topic of trauma by the therapist (further training, etc.) can minimize this risk, but cannot eliminate it.
There is a clearly described treatment approach for depression in the area of craniosacral body psychotherapy, as certain "tension patterns" occur frequently in depression. However, success cannot be guaranteed. Craniosacral treatment of depression, in contrast to depressive moods without psychosis as the cause, should only be carried out as a supplement to psychotherapy and, if possible, in consultation with the treating psychologist/psychiatrist. Moods, i.e. a depressive phase that can clearly be traced back to an event that occurred recently, can also be treated directly with craniosacral therapy. Here, too, success cannot be guaranteed.
Further information on therapeutic support: Would you like to find out more about craniosacral osteopathy as body psychotherapy and the treatment process? Then please contact me using the contact form. If you leave me your telephone number, I will be happy to call you back. Or make an appointment directly at my naturopathic practice on Fraunhoferstrasse. Please note that I only decide which treatment method is suitable after a detailed anamnesis.
Yours, Bernd Hußnätter