Frequently Asked Questions

The intention of BCST is to re-establish a relationship between the potency of the Breath of Life and those body-mind states which have become compromised. BCST focuses on sensing the expression of the Inherent Health which is always present even in situations of extreme dis-ease.

Both Craniosacral Therapy and BCST originate from the early twentieth century teachings of William Garner Sutherland, DO. Initially, because he was an osteopath, Sutherland used biomechanical methods to test his hypotheses about the subtle workings within the brain and spinal cord. Likewise, he used biomechanical language to describe his findings. Building on Sutherland’s osteopathic foundation, John Upledger, DO pioneered an approach to the work which he called CranioSacral Therapy. Since the 1970’s Dr Upledger has taught this biomechanical form of CST to thousands of people all over the world through the Upledger Institute. Those of us who are not osteopaths owe a debt of gratitude to Dr Upledger for his vision and courage in making Craniosacral therapy more widely available.

The Biodynamic approach to CST is rooted in a transformative experience that Dr. Sutherland had in 1945. While at the bedside of a dying patient Sutherland had a direct experience of what he called the Breath of Life, a dynamic stillness, and immediately understood that this unerring potency, or life force, could be completely relied upon to initiate and carry out the process of healing. He then understood that actual knowledge is acquired from direct experience of the Breath of Life rather than from analysis and motion testing, or biomechanics. Since the mid 1980’s Franklyn Sills, of the Karuna Institute in Devon England, has been the guiding force in the ongoing development of Craniosacral Biodynamics.

If you are old enough to ask this question you have undoubtedly experienced some form of challenge to your optimum functioning. For many people the process of birth itself is an event  which sets the stage for a variety of health concerns. Consequently, anyone can benefit from this modality, however, those with chronic debilitating conditions are most often well served. Individuals who experience any form of existential uncertainty also find BCST to be of great value.

Improved ability to focus, better range of motion, increased energy and concentration are some common results. Clients often remark that they feel taller after a session and more at home within themselves than ever before.

BCST is accomplished entirely by engaging the clients own healing resources from within, consequently external manipulation is rarely employed and never with force.

In the hands of a skilled practitioner, BCST is perhaps the safest, least invasive and one of the most effective forms of treatment possible for babies and young children. Because the work is so gentle, infants and children usually respond quickly and favorably.

It is not only safe during pregnancy but also highly indicated because it brings about deep relaxation for both mother and baby.

The American Cancer Society understands that Craniosacral Therapy can be beneficial for cancer patients, including those with mesothelioma, a form of cancer, when used in harmony with conventional cancer treatment methods like chemotherapy. Craniosacral Therapy is said to alleviate pain and headaches, restore a sense of balance and calm, and may even promote immune system function. For more information about malignant mesothelioma and supplementary content on complementary therapies for cancer patients, please visit Mesothelioma.com

It is important to note that BCST is not a symptom oriented modality, however, symptoms do frequently diminish, or disappear entirely, with this elegant holistic approach to restoring health. Below is a list of conditions that are often positively addressed through BCST.

Cognitive Difficulties – Attention disorders, Dyslexia, Memory loss, Neurological disorders

Emotional Imbalances – Anxiety,Depression, Eating Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD, Relationship issues, Shock, Stress, Trauma, Work related issues

Life Transitions -Divorce, Grief, Job change, Releasing old patterns, Relocation, Spiritual emergence, Welcoming new experiences

Physical Disorders -Accidents, Body trauma, Chronic fatigue, Chronic pain, Digestive problems, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Immune system disorders, Injuries, Joint & muscle pain, Migraine syndrome, Motor co-ordination impairments, Repetitive motion injury, Temporomandibular joint syndrome – TMJ

Your initial session begins with a consultation in which we begin to make sense of your history and establish a plan for meeting your therapeutic needs and goals. Each session includes a brief consultation to see what is currently affecting your quality of life.

Sessions begin with looking for your resources (what is right with you) rather than looking for symptoms (what is wrong with you). Physiologically, I sense the subtle movement of cerebrospinal fluid as it is reflected in the bones, tissues and membranes of your body. I deeply listen to the story your body is holding. Together, we work with what presents itself bringing our informed attention to each layer, until the roots of the story are revealed. Balance and wholeness are the inevitable result.

Note: While BCST is hands-on bodywork it is not a massage and does not require the removal of your clothing. You will want to wear something comfortable for lying down on a session table, although, I may work with you seated or standing depending on what position best meets your needs.

The initial session takes about 90 minutes as we discuss your health history in sufficient detail. Subsequent sessions generally last one hour.

Every person is unique and every situation is different so there is no prescribed number of recommended sessions. However, it is usually clear by the end of the fourth session whether BCST is likely to produce the desired results.

A therapeutic goal is a continuously shifting target. We are never the same today as we were yesterday, or as we will be tomorrow. However, setting a goal can be important in providing a means of determining progress. First, I will encourage you to define what being healed, or whole, means to you. I may ask you to think about what is missing in your life that was previously available. I may ask you what you would like to experience from the session. We work together to translate these ideas into tangible goals. Specifically a goal might look like 70% less pain, a full 8 hours of sleep in a night, taking a full day each week for creative projects or the ability to interact with a family member without becoming anxious or overwhelmed. Goals will be very unique to your circumstances.

Life is a great mystery. Who I am, and who you are, is an expression of something neither of us can ever know completely. It is my experience that we are all whole and complete regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves at any given moment. As a BCST practitioner, my intention is to be fully present to what is arising, as it can be perceived, and to allow everything to be exactly as it is, without forming any judgment and without attempting to change anything. Acknowledging that we all experience pain and suffering on occasion and  desire a return to a state of well being as quickly as possible, my understanding of “Health as an inherent reality” is the ground from which I approach every client and every treatment session. We work in partnership to bring ourselves into alignment with the Inherent Health which is always present.

Ridgway is in southwest Colorado halfway between Grand Junction and Durango at the intersection of Highway 62 and Highway 550. My office is in Ridgway’s old school house at the corner of Amelia Street and Highway 62.