What is Cranio Sacral Therapy? (CST)

  CST is a manual treatment of light touch that treats and releases tensions deep in the body.  These deep tensions may occur anywhere in the body and can be released through light tough thus feeling the nervous system of pain and dysfunction.  In turn, the body then is able to self heal and pain is eliminated, resistance to disease is improved, and general health and well being is achieved. At the HLC, Susan Varsames is the treating therapist.  She is trained by the Upledger Institute, and has taken Introduction to CST, CSTI, CSTII, Somato-Emotional Release, Introduction to Lymph Drainage, and Bio Aquatics (for Dolphin Assisted Therapy in the Bahamas).

How does this treatment work?

  CST recognizes the cranio sacral rhythm in the body.  Your brain and spinal cord are encased in two porous membranes filled with cerebrospinal fluid called the dura mater and the pia mater.  This fluid protects the bran and spinal cord from physically touching the bone matter of the skull and the vertebrae and it hydrates all organs as well as clears them from toxins.  This fluid has a rhythm of it's own that has a filling and an emptying phase.  The symmetry, quality, amplitude, and rate of this movement is evaluated at several situations in the body to determine problem areas.  If there is tension in the system, the flow fluid is decreased and the system does not work efficiently to hydrate and clear the organs.  By feeling and monitoring the flow of the cranio sacral fluid throughout the nervous system, the nervous system, the therapist can use gentle touch to locate the problem areas and release any compromised areas.  In addition, the sutures of the skull can easily become compressed after a physical assault such as a blow to the head, forcep delivery, or even vigorous dental treatments.  These compressions disrupt the meninges, or the connective tissue of the central nervous system.  This affects brain function.  For example, compression of the right temporoparietal suture is associated with dyselxia; compression on the left is associated with dyscalculia (trouble calculating).  Compression of the occipital condyles is associated with hyperkinetic behavior and difficulties attending and concentrating.

What does a session look like?  What is the cost?

  The patient is fully clothes on a massage table, face up. The touch is very gentle, with the weight of the touch at about 5 grams (like the weight of a nickel on your skin).  Sometimes, children are treated in their homes while sleeping if they cannot stay on a table for several minutes at a time.  Usually, no matter how busy a child is, they enjoy the sessions and are relaxed enough to stay still on the massage table for 30-45 minutes.  Most sessions are 60-75 minutes, especially for older children and adults.  A full treatment session is $100.

What conditions does CST address?

ADD/ADHD                                    Learning Disabilities
Autism                                               Stress
Migraines                                          TMJ
Chronic Fatigue                                Scoliosis
Chronic Pain                                     Tinnitus
Motor Coordination Concerns
Injuries
...and many other conditions

How do I make an appointment?

  Call the center at 914-793-9100 and we will be happy to assist you