BCST/CST or Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is a form of “energetic” or presence based therapy that works through calming or activating the Central Nervous System (CNS) in order to bring it closer to a dynamic balance (homeostasis). With time it can help the CNS re-learn how to self-regulate on its own, leading to more appropriate emotional responses to both external and internal environmental stimuli (like stress, depression, even fun). It’s something I do as a stand alone session or integrated into my Rolfing work, depending on client needs.
Some of the conditions that may be benefited by BCST:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- anxiety
- autism
- back pain
- brain injury
- central nervous system disorders
- chronic fatigue
- chronic pain
- colic
- concussion
- dementia
- fibromyalgia
- immune system disorders
- learning disabilities
- migraines
- neck pain
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- scoliosis
- spinal cord injury
- stress
On the table as a recipient, BCST is performed fully clothed with the practitioner mostly holding the head, feet, sacrum, or other areas; often with little to no movement. Most recipients fall asleep while their system goes into a healing (parasympathetic state) and feel like they’ve had an incredibly relaxing nap. Or, it can be a matter of experiencing some very strange and relaxing phenomena such as involuntary twitching, memories, colors, sounds, release of pent up emotion or traumatic energy, phantom limb movement, and other hard to describe body sensations, as the various parts of the mind and body communicate and repair, coming into a better relationship to the self, and through better self-organization/integration.