Restoring Balance: Nervous System Support Through Craniosacral Therapy

Suzan D. Walker LMT 104331
Nov 1
8 min read

Updated: Nov 3

Person receiving a relaxing head massage on a pillow. Close-up of hands gently holding their head. Calm atmosphere with neutral tones.

Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a slow, subtle, and deeply restorative modality that helps heal the body, bringing the nervous system back into balance and creating space for the body, mind, and spirit to restore. Whether you are recovering from surgery, processing trauma, navigating menopause, supporting fertility, or seeking nervous-system regulation, this therapy invites the body to return to its natural rhythm and balance.

Post-Operative Applications

After surgery the body often protects itself by tightening surrounding tissues. Muscles, fascia, and the deeper structures may compensate and create patterns of tension that remain long after the surgical site has healed. Craniosacral therapy and gentle massage can help ease these patterns so they do not become long-term restrictions. This work also assists with circulation and lymphatic movement, helping reduce swelling and supporting the natural healing process.

The nervous system often stays in a heightened stress response after surgery. Craniosacral therapy helps guide it back toward a calmer state, allowing the body to redirect energy toward repair. Scar tissue and adhesions may also soften over time, improving movement and comfort. Many clients report that lingering discomfort eases once the nervous system begins to reset and unwind.

Fertility and Conception

The nervous system influences reproductive health more than many people realize. Stress, emotional strain, and physical tension can all impact hormonal balance, blood flow, and fertility. Craniosacral therapy helps calm the autonomic nervous system so the body can shift out of stress mode and function more efficiently. Releasing restrictions around the pelvis and surrounding structures may improve circulation and relieve tension affecting reproductive organs.

There is growing interest in how nervous system regulation can support fertility. In high-stress environments, including military populations, infertility rates have been found to be higher than average. Helping the body calm and unwind may open new possibilities for those who are trying to conceive.

Perimenopause and Menopause

Hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can affect sleep, mood, stress levels, and overall comfort. Craniosacral therapy encourages the nervous system to settle, which may help the body adjust more smoothly to these transitions. Many women find that sessions support better sleep, ease anxiety, reduce tension, and create a general sense of internal balance during this transformative time.

Healing Trauma

Trauma can be stored in the body long after the event has passed. The nervous system may remain guarded, braced, or hyperaware. Craniosacral therapy offers a safe, gentle way for the nervous system to soften these protective patterns. Because the touch is so light, the body does not feel threatened. It can gradually release tension, fear, or old emotional patterns at its own pace.

This therapy is not meant to retraumatize or force memories. It supports the body's natural ability to release what it is ready to let go of. It may gently support emotional healing in conjunction with talk therapy or other modalities.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

CST can also be helpful for individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries. This work uses gentle traction and light contact to ease restrictions in the dura mater, the protective connective tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. By supporting the mobility of these tissues and encouraging healthy lymphatic flow, the body can begin to reduce inflammation and release pressure patterns that often remain after head trauma. During a session, the nervous system may also reveal or release energy cysts that formed at the time of injury. As these unwind and soften, many people notice improved clarity, reduced headaches, a quieter mind, and a greater sense of neurological balance.

Support for Those in the BDSM Lifestyle

People in the BDSM lifestyle often experience heightened nervous-system states, intense stimulation, or deep emotional release. CST can help restore equilibrium afterward. It supports grounding, eases strain on the muscles and fascia, and helps calm the nervous system. Many individuals find that this work helps them reconnect with their bodies and emotions in a balanced, restorative way.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Craniosacral therapy can also support gentle regulation of the vagus nerve, which plays a major role in calming the autonomic nervous system. By easing tension around the cranial base and along the pathways connected to the vagus nerve, the body may shift into a more relaxed, restorative state. This can influence breathing, digestion, inflammation, and overall nervous-system balance. If you are interested in learning more about vagus nerve regulation and its connection to craniosacral therapy, I will be writing a separate paper dedicated entirely to that topic.

What to Expect and Important Information Before Booking

Craniosacral therapy is a very slow, gentle, and progressive modality. For first-time clients, it is highly recommended to book at least a two-hour session. Once your body begins to unwind and the cranial rhythm starts expressing more freely, a one-hour session is often not enough time. By the time the cranial rhythm begins resetting, the session is nearly over. A two-hour session provides sufficient time for the nervous system to relax, release tension, and reorganize. After your initial visit, ninety-minute sessions are typically ideal for continued work.

This therapy is a kind of unwinding of the nervous system. It works with the natural ebb and flow of your cranial rhythm and allows the body to reset at its own pace. Think of your cranial rhythm as a pendulum. Once you recognized and feel your own craniosacral rhythm you will feel the swaying of it.

It is essential to hydrate before and after your session and use the restroom beforehand, as craniosacral therapy works with the nervous and lymphatic systems. Occasionally, clients may need a brief restroom break during or after the session.

Emotional release is also normal. The body may release fear, sadness, or tension that has been stored. You may not remember the original trauma, and that is completely fine. The intention is not to retraumatize but to allow the body to let go gently.

Occasionally, past injuries, rashes, and physical traumas resurface. This is a normal part of the process, similar to how emotional issues are released.

It is natural for the body to move. You might sway, shift, flinch, or experience minor arm or leg movements as the nervous system reacts. This is a normal part of the process.

Some clients enjoy incorporating craniosacral therapy into their regular massage sessions. Others may combine craniosacral therapy with other forms of massage therapy. These combinations can enhance the therapeutic experience and provide more comprehensive support. For best results, especially for first-time work, a ninety-minute to two-hour appointment is highly recommended.

How Craniosacral Therapy Is Performed

A typical session generally moves from the head down toward the sacral area, although depending on your needs and what your body guides me, I may begin at the sacrum and work upward. The direction is guided by intuition, clinical understanding, and what Dr. Upledger referred to as the inner physician, the part of you that knows what it needs. I take cues from your inner physician throughout the session.

Craniosacral therapy uses extremely light pressure, no more than five grams, which is about the weight of a nickel. Much of the work involves gentle contact, subtle traction, and supportive holding patterns that allow the cranial rhythm to express and unwind naturally. During the session, the cranial rhythm may reset, which helps release tension, facilitates deeper nervous system regulation, and allows the body to realign and restore its natural flow.

The light pressure may not feel that I am doing anything and some clients have asked "is this it?" You need to understand this is very light work to activate the autonomic nervous system. Remember, movements are extremely slow, mindful and precise. Most people go to sleep on the table while CST performed. When performing CST, Universes, energies and timelines are moved.

Before beginning, I review your medical intake form and discuss your goals. Communication is essential so you always know where my hands will be and what I am doing. Craniosacral therapy is performed fully clothed, and a sheet or blanket may be placed over you for comfort. Temperature changes such as feeling warm, cold, or experiencing waves of energy are normal as the nervous system responds. Clothing can sometimes restrict the subtle movements of the cranial rhythm, so wearing light, comfortable clothing such as a t-shirt and shorts is recommended. If you prefer to remove certain clothing items for comfort, you will remain fully draped with a sheet.

It is important to note that craniosacral therapy is its own modality. It is not Reiki, not massage, and not energy work, although some energy principles are naturally intertwined with the nervous system. If you would like to combine craniosacral therapy with massage or other services, this must be requested in advance and scheduled with enough time to accommodate both. I recommend a 2 hour session.

Dr. Upledger’s Philosophy and Background

Craniosacral therapy was developed by Dr. John E. Upledger, who discovered the cranial rhythm while assisting during a spinal surgery. He observed a subtle pulsing in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord that did not match the heartbeat or breath. This became the foundation for craniosacral therapy.

He believed that most dysfunctions in the body are physical, structural, or environmental, while only about one percent are purely emotional. However, he recognized that the body can store unresolved experiences as energy cysts, which are pockets of tension that may contain both physical and emotional memory. Craniosacral therapy was developed to help the nervous system release these restrictions so the body could heal more freely.

Dr. Upledger spent many years at Michigan State University as a clinical researcher and professor, helping establish the foundation for the craniosacral approach. In 1985, he founded the Upledger Institute in Florida, which continues to operate today. The institute offers training programs for practitioners around the world and provides care for those in need. Clients are encouraged to explore the Upledger Institute website for further reading and resources.

As a practitioner, I am only the facilitator. Your healing journey is ultimately your own, and your participation, and willingness are key parts of the process.

A Gentle Path to Healing

Every person experiences healing differently. Craniosacral therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and the results may vary from person to person. Some people may find changes in one session, while others may need several sessions or long-term work. It is important to remember that your massage therapist cannot do one hundred percent of the healing for you. Sometimes there is physical, emotional, or spiritual work that you must participate in as well. It is also recommended to continue seeing your usual healthcare providers, such as your chiropractor, general practitioner, psychiatrist, or therapist, for additional support in your healing journey.

Healing happens in layers. It requires patience, willingness, and time. The goal of craniosacral therapy is to gently support your nervous system so your body can return to a natural state of balance.

If you are curious about beginning the work, I welcome you to explore a session and allow your body the time it deserves to heal.

It may help to remember that this work is gentle yet gradual. If you prefer fast results or quick fixes, craniosacral therapy may not be the right approach. It works with the nervous system and requires patience and a willingness to allow your body to guide the process, giving it the grace and space that often leads to the most genuine and lasting results.

With care and support,

Suzan (Susan) Walker LMT

Massage therapy is not a substitution for medical treatment. The massage therapist cannot diagnose, treat or prevent disease. The therapist can only recommend products and services. Please consult a medical physician for further treatment.

References

Upledger, J. E. (1983). Craniosacral Therapy. Eastland Press.A foundational text outlining the principles of craniosacral therapy, including the cranial rhythm, dural membrane system, and the concept of energy cysts.

Upledger, J. E., & Vredevoogd, J. D. (1987). Craniosacral Therapy II: Beyond the Dura. Eastland Press.Details advanced work with the dura mater, connective tissues, traction techniques, and deeper applications for trauma and neurological conditions.

Upledger Institute International. “CranioSacral Therapy and the SomatoEmotional Release Process.”Provides clinical insights, case studies, and explanations of energy cysts, emotional release, and nervous system regulation.https://www.upledger.com

Chaitow, L., & DeLany, J. (2008). Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques — Volume 2: The Lower Body. Churchill Livingstone.Includes discussion of fascial systems, lymphatic involvement, and gentle manual approaches complementing craniosacral work.

Green, C., & Martin, C. (2015). “Manual Therapy Approaches for Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review of the Evidence.” Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.Reviews manual therapy strategies, including craniosacral-informed approaches, used to support recovery from traumatic brain injuries.

Kern, M. (2005). Wisdom in the Body: The Craniosacral Approach to Essential Health. North Atlantic Books.Explains cranial rhythm, the inner physician concept, and the self-regulating processes of the nervous system.