Common Questions About
Our Services
Craniosacral Therapy
What does a Craniosacral Therapy session look like?
A few days prior to your treatment, you will receive, and are required to fill out a brief client intake form. This forms helps your therapist prepare in advance for your session. She/he can find out a little more about you, your needs, and what you would like to receive from your session. It is important to list all health concerns and medication so the therapist can adapt the session to your specific needs without doing any harm.
During your first session your therapist will take a written case history, listening with care to the reasons for your visit. This part of the session is important, both for gathering information and to establish a good understanding with your therapist. It also helps your therapist to customize the session to meet your specific needs and helps her to meet or exceed your expectations.
Next, you will lay down on a warm, comfortable treatment table, fully clothed. Soft music and low lighting are often used to increase your state of relaxation.
Your therapist begins with a hands-on, overall assessment of the body. Gentle pressure techniques are used to feel for tension patterns or disruptive strain patterns in the body’s connective tissue, fascial system, and nervous system.
After the assessment, your therapist will begin treatment. Because the body functions as a whole, treatment may begin by focusing on areas other than where your symptoms occur; although those areas will be addressed as well. Gentle contact with the affected areas, held for a period of time, encourages and supports your body to relax and begin to make the corrections it needs. Although the work is subtle, it can be impactful in helping your muscles and organs to naturally relieve stress, and for structural areas to ease back into alignment.
During your treatment, an old memory might pop up that needs to be addressed. One could even have an emotional reaction, all positive signs of allowing what has been held within to come up and be released.
How do Craniosacral Therapy sessions work?
Can you recall a time when you felt nervous, anxious, or scared. That feeling is your nervous system being out of balance. Craniosacral Therapy can support and facilitate your nervous system to return to a state of relaxation. When your nervous system is in a calm, relaxed state, it will assist the body — the numerous bodily functions it has influence over — to self-correct and heal.
What may I experience after a session?
Each individual is unique and therefore responds differently to their therapeutic experience. Here are a few examples of what previous clients have experienced:
-
Relaxed. The feeling of relaxation should not be underestimated. Relaxation is vital and key to the body’s natural ability to heal and correct! The body cannot optimally do its job when it is in a state of hyper arousal, fight, flight, or freeze mode.
-
Feeling more energized and alive.
-
Decrease in pain and tension.
-
Enhanced ability to focus.
-
Functioning from a calmer inner state.
-
Improved self-awareness and quality of life.
-
Improved sleep quality.
-
Reduction in anxiety.
-
More Present in the here and now.
-
Improved healing of injured areas.
The following possible responses are actually positive signs, reflecting healthy shifts and improvements taking place in the body. These shifts and improvements can last for days after your session as your system goes through a reorganization process:
Immediate relief from a discomfort. Or, there could be a temporary increase in discomfort, even muscle soreness (usually a sign that a once-restricted area is receiving increased blood flow). The discomfort typically subsides within 24-48 hours.
Light-headed: This can be caused by increased energy flow, as areas that were once tense are released.
Giving yourself permission and space to fully experience these shifts, along with staying hydrated to flush out toxins is important to your body’s healing process. An Epsom salt bath may be helpful. If needed, please feel free to reach out to your therapist to discuss any concerns you may have.
Is Craniosacral therapy safe for everyone?
Possibly, but it’s best to err on the side of caution. Consult your physician before scheduling your treatment session if you have experienced any of the following:
-
Cerebral edema
-
Recent concussion
-
Blood clots
-
Aneurysm
-
Traumatic brain injury
-
Chiari malformation
How many therapeutic sessions will I need?
Each individual’s system is unique and responds differently to Craniosacral therapy. Some conditions may require one or two sessions. Others conditions may need additional treatment over a period of time, depending on underlying conditions and the length of time they have been there. Once the condition has been satisfactorily addressed, a maintenance schedule can be discussed with your therapist.
With Craniosacral therapy, one’s self awareness and ability to handle life’s challenging situations from a more relaxed state begins to grow. Being more grounded, and more relaxed can translate into the ability to handle life’s challenging situations with more grace and ease — more responsive, less reactive.
When should I not receive a treatment session?
There are a few conditions which would prevent you from scheduling a session. You should not book a session if you have a fever, cold/flu, or contagious skin infection.
There can be certain conditions where your therapist may need to adjust techniques, such as fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, avoiding areas completely if there is a cut or a burn. In some rare cases, it may be a good idea to get approval from your physician. Please consult with your therapist, if you have any doubt.
How long is a therapy session?
The session typically lasts an hour. The first few minutes are to discuss what you would like to receive from your session, followed by approximately 50 minutes on the treatment table, ending with about 5 minutes to integrate the work and to provide valuable feedback.
Is Craniosacral Therapy the same as massage?
No, although your therapist may apply massage therapy techniques, if needed. In a CST session, you remain fully clothed.
Is craniosacral therapy (CST) covered by insurance?
For the most part, CST is not covered by most insurances. An out-of-pocket payment is required prior to treatment.
How early should I arrive for my session?
It's nice to arrive at least five minutes early. This will allow you time to use the restroom, and time to get settled in and relaxed.
What do I do during a treatment?
Please make yourself as comfortable as possible. Your comfort is key to the effectiveness of the session. The more comfortable and relaxed you feel, the more this will allow for the vital flow of energy, nutrients, blood, and other fluids throughout your system. Also, it provides a precious opportunity for your nervous system to do what it knows how to do best, self-heal.
If your therapist wants you to change your position, she/he will either move you or will ask you to what is needed. Otherwise, feel free to adjust your position, to make yourself more comfortable.
Many people close their eyes and relax completely during a session; others prefer to talk. It’s up to you. It is your session, and whatever feels natural to you is the best way to relax. However, the nervous system is more relaxed when we are quiet.
Please let your therapist know immediately if you have any questions or if she can do anything to make your experience more comforting.
Can I talk during my session?
Sure, if you'd like to. The most important thing to remember is that this treatment is all about you relaxing and enjoying the experience. Many therapists discourage talking in the hope you will relax more, let your mind float freely, and ease into a state of, “Ahhhh.” In many instances, people may feel more relaxed starting off talking, and as the treatment progresses, enter into a quiet state.
It's very important that if you need to speak up, please do so. If anything at all is making you feel uncomfortable, please let your therapist know immediately so that adjustments can be made to your liking. Also, let your therapist know if you get too warm or too cold, if the room is too bright, or the touch needs to be adjusted. Remember, if something is not working for you, speak up! It's OK, and your feedback is warmly welcomed.
Am I expected to tip my therapist?
Tips are not expected, but welcomed. It is always appreciated to receive the compliment of a “thank you for good service.”
Cancellations and late arrivals:
A 24-hour cancellation notice is required, or you will be responsible for full payment of your scheduled session. If you are late for your appointment time, your treatment will be reduced in order to finish on time for the next schedule guest. The usual fee for the treatment will remain the same. Thank you for your understanding.
It is understandable that things happen that are beyond your control. Please let your therapist know what happened as soon as possible.
Waters @ Creekside, Elements of Wellness, 2900 Bristol St., Bldg J, #103, Costa Mesa CA 92626 714-794-2640 Client Intake Form
Welcome, my name is Sharon.
I’m glad you’re here.
I want to help.
If you are feeling stressed, tense, in pain, or in need of support to recover from trauma, or perhaps you just want some rest and relaxation time, I would like to help you. I am certified in Craniosacral Therapy, Reiki, and Tension/Trauma Release Exercises often referred to as TRE. I can also offer you a 15-minute spot treatment massage.
My clients say they have experienced relief from physical discomforts, such as headaches, neck and back pain. Others say they leave feeling more embodied, relaxed, and feel a state of inner calm to better handle life’s challenges.
I practice these therapies from my hands and heart to yours, from a state of compassion. I know what it feels like to suffer from these conditions, and I’ve experienced the negative effects they’ve had on my body, mind, and Spirit.
(714) 794-2640
Call or text me to schedule your appointment and start feeling better! I also offer a free, 10-minute phone consultation to see if you feel I am the right therapist to meet your needs.
.jpeg)
Professional Services
Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy or “CST” is a gentle form of bodywork developed by Dr. John E. Upledger, an Osteopathic physician. CST uses light touch and holds which activate your body’s own balancing and healing process. CST calms and relaxes your nervous system which in turn affects all other systems of your body. It does this by helping release tension patterns which can enable your body to function more optimally, promoting well-being, and strengthening its resistance to disease. This makes CST ideally suited to assist with treating a large number of unwanted, stress-related conditions.
Your CST session is held in a peaceful, relaxed setting. Fully-clothed, you rest on a comfortable, heated treatment table. After taking into consideration your goals, I perform a short, whole-body evaluation, looking for what could be the “source,” of your symptom(s). Gentle techniques are applied to encourage your body and mind to let go of tense restrictions thereby restoring balance and healthy function.
What you experience is unique to you. Some clients say they feel a sense of relaxation they have not known for quite some time. Others experience feeling relief from their symptoms. Still others describe being, “out of their busy mind,” and “re-connected with their body;” able to go back into the world and handle life from a more embodied, relaxed state of Being.
Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises
Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises, often referred to as TRE, are a simple set of movements that assist your body in releasing deep muscular patterns of stress, tension, and trauma. TRE safely activates a natural reflex mechanism of shaking or vibrating, called a neurogenic tremor. TRE exercises safely activate a natural reflex mechanism of shaking or vibrating that releases muscular tension, calming down the nervous system. When this muscular shaking/vibrating mechanism is activated in a safe and controlled environment, the body is encouraged to return back to a state of balance.
Reiki Energy Therapy
Reiki is an ancient energy healing technique that promotes relaxation and reduces stress and anxiety through gentle touch. Reiki is the Universal vital life force energy that flows through all living things. Practitioners access this energy and allow it to flow to your body to support healing. When your body is relaxed, your energy can flow more freely, stress levels can reduce, and immune function is enhanced, strengthening your resistance to disease.
Private
Your 60-Minute Session Provides:
Complete Body &
Energy Assessment
Facilitate Release
of Tension
Relaxed Body &
Relaxed Mind
Healing Space &
Feedback
What Can You Expect From A Session?
Your session takes place in a quiet, private setting. Prior to treatment, I listen to what is most important to you, addressing any questions you may have. Next, I apply gentle techniques to facilitate the release of tension and stress. This turns on the relaxation response, where your nervous system can naturally self-correct and heal.