CranioSacral Therapy FAQ

Our CranioSacral Therapy FAQ page contains questions our clients commonly ask us before their first visit. Please call or email us if you have additional questions.


Should I do anything special to prepare for my first CranioSacral Therapy visit?

There is nothing different that you must do the day of your CranioSacral Therapy session. However, following these tips may help your experience to be more enjoyable.

1. Drink plenty of water. Tight muscles become dehydrated. Giving your body more fluid will help your muscles to soften faster during your session.

2. Eat regular meals. An empty stomach may prove to be distracting during your CranioSacral Therapy session.

3. If your CranioSacral Therapy session is to be combined with Swedish Massage, omit shaving when bathing the day of your session. Razor burn and nicks are not serious, but they may pose as a minor distraction. Don't worry. Your therapist is concerned with your health issues, not body hair.

What should I expect during my first CranioSacral Therapy visit?

Since our practice focuses on massage and other healing therapies, you can expect to enter a quiet, relaxing environment, free of the odors and noises associated with a salon. After you have completed a Confidential Health History Form, your therapist will take you to a private room to discuss your current conditions and preferences so that your session will be more individualized. Expressing your concerns at this time (areas to avoid, draping, room temperature) will enable you to be more relaxed during the CranioSacral Therapy session.

What should I wear during a CranioSacral Therapy session?

Clients are fully clothed during a CranioSacral Therapy session. You will be asked to remove your belt and shoes so that you may rest more comfortably. If the CranioSacral session is to be combined with Swedish Massage, you will be asked to remove more clothing. Bear in mind that at Hands On Healing Arts all clients are required to wear underwear or shorts. You are welcome to wear additional clothing if doing so will make you feel more comfortable. You will also be draped with a sheet and/or blanket.

What happens during a CranioSacral Therapy session?

CranioSacral Therapy is received while the client is lying in the supine position or face-up. The therapist will be seated during most of the session. She may ask you to lift your body slightly so that she may place one hand under your body while the other is on top. During the session your therapist will not be massaging tissue. Instead, she will be focusing on the subtle movement created by your central nervous system, the CranioSacral rhythm that can be felt throughout your body. Although the therapist will evaluate and treat at different areas of the body, most of the session will be conducted with the therapist's hands placed in various positions on your head.

What does CranioSacral Therapy feel like?

The CranioSacral Therapist will apply soft pressure (roughly the weight of a nickel), slowly increasing as your body unwinds. She will mirror your CranioSacral rhythm, gently nudging and "inviting" the rhythm to expand where restrictions are found. Both the pressure and movement should feel soft and supportive. Since the focus is on relaxing the central nervous system rather than muscles, it may not feel as though much is happening, yet you will become very relaxed. Most clients reach a deep, meditative state and fall asleep. Sometimes clients become so relaxed that they snore when they thought they were awake!

What happens after a CranioSacral Therapy session?

Since CranioSacral Therapy is so relaxing, you should take your time rising and moving about for the first few minutes after a session. You may resume your normal level of activity, but listen to your body and take time to sit or lie down during the rest of the day if necessary.

When will I notice changes after a CranioSacral Therapy session?

Aside from falling asleep, the changes that have occurred during a CranioSacral Therapy session may not be obvious until you stand up and begin moving. If you are seeking relief from a long-term condition, you are likely to notice more changes over the next 48 hours as your body reorganizes. Some stubborn cases require more visits. Be prepared to try up to four weekly visits before you rule-out CranioSacral Therapy as a viable part of your treatment plan.

How often should I receive CranioSacral Therapy?

The frequency of visits is determined on a case-by-case basis. For some clients one visit will permanently release the constraints causing the target condition. Others find that periodic CranioSacral Therapy sessions, three to ten a year, aid in keeping chronic symptoms manageable.