How Can Craniosacral Therapy Help?
This week we’ll be introducing you to our resident Craniosacral Therapist, Jean McDonald. We will give you an insight into how Jean works and how she may be able to help you.
Jean qualified as a Craniosacral therapist in 2009 and is a registered member of the Irish Association of Craniosacral Therapists. She works with Children and Adults.
What is craniosacral therapy?
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a light-touch hands-on therapy that enhances the body’s natural capacity for healing. For 30 years CST has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of physiological issues associated with pain and loss of biomechanical, systemic and emotional function/wellbeing. CST is useful both as a primary treatment method and in combination with other traditional (physiotherapy) or complementary (massage) therapeutic techniques.
As a Craniosacral Therapy practitioner Jean will essentially encourage the body to release restrictions that it has been unable to overcome on its own. Rather than deciding how these changes should be made, Jean will follow the body’s response as to how to proceed. Following this gentle approach helps ensure the method is safe and effective.
Some of the conditions addressed by CST are sleep disturbances, recurrent infections, ear infections and hearing issues, stabismus, asthma, allergies/food sensitivities, eczema, movement disorders, learning problems, dyslexia, dyspraxia, behavioural and mood problems, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and seizures.
What happens on my first visit?
Before the Treatment
If this is your first appointment, Jean will work through your medical history and your expectations from this Craniosacral Therapy treatment.
You will then lie down comfortably – fully-clothed.
If it is your child (under 16) or infant, you will be required to be present during the entire treatment.
There is plenty of room in The elbowroom clinic rooms and indeed, Jean will often have Mum, Dad, and their baby/child all in the room together.
Jean will then use a light touch (about the pressure of a small coin) – beginning at the feet – to assess where restrictions and other related problems exist in your body. Once this is completed, Jean will then continue to work through other parts of your body.
During the Treatment
Most people feel a general sense of relaxation (in fact most people fall asleep early in the treatment). Some people also feel heat, cold or a stretching of tissues in particular parts of the body.
The treatment completes after 30 -to 45 minutes for infants, children, and adults.
Following the Treatment
Some people report that they feel as if somebody had moved things about in their body. You will normally feel tired after the treatment, but after a short rest and a glass of water, you will be well capable of driving.
Most people require 4-5 treatments with a break of 1-2 weeks between these initial treatments.
However, term maintenance treatments may be required for longstanding problems or the management of particular conditions. Although it is difficult to generalise – and each individual situation needs to be assessed on its own merits.
Following the initial session, Jean will be in a much better position to specify a suitable programme of treatment for your individual situation.
A Dublin GP on Craniosacral Therapy with Jean:
I’ll never forget how my Baby responded in the Womb, dancing and moving throughout the session in a state of relaxation felt by both Woman and Baby.
I found myself enriched by Craniosacral (CST) it was more nourishing than food, more reassuring than talk, more grounding than sleep.
And when things are difficult with Colic and other problems CST somehow releases tensions.
For me and my family, CST has been a rich source of wellbeing and Jean is a most excellent Practitioner.
Mary Egan G.P.
To book a consultation with Jean or any of our therapists please call 01 677 9859 or email info@the-elbowroom.com.