pediatric craniosacral therapy

What is Pediatric Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral therapy is not only one of the gentlest therapies, it is one of the most critical for developing a healthy nervous system after birth because a single experience or an accumulation of trauma set up for a dis-regulated system.

Benefits from CST:

  • Non-Invasive

  • Allows baby to self-regulate - organize self

  • Calm nervous system

  • Improves digestion

  • Facilitate cranial molding - flat spots / misshapen heads

  • Improves SSB (Suck, Swallow, Breathe) coordination; Helps resolve feeding issues related to tongue, digestive system, GI tract.

  • Quicker recovery from invasive procedures

  • Listen to parent’s observations, in understanding their babies likes, dislikes, and strengths;

  • Integrates nerve with end organ to connect pathways between brain and body. This can assist any neuro-motor cortex delay, sensory, visual, auditory, oral, respiratory,

Developmental Ages 1-12

Kids of all ages benefit from treatments. Life is full of bumps, bruises, falls; sleepless nights, periods of stress and anxiety that accumulate and are left within the neuro tissue (fascia). It is the equivalent of pinching fabric and watching how it twists and folds, the tighter it gets the more disruption we have within the tissue. CST will enter the tissue through the path of easement, establish a barrier that might also include somato emotional release which is verbal / tissue communication, followed by giving the body a moment to adapt, and find a resolution.

We also can treat ‘family-style’ meaning we can facilitate not just one family member in an appointment . Whether that is more than one child; or a parent and child or multiple kids we can accommodate. In some cases we will bring in multiple practitioners to do different therapies at the same time.

A difficult birth can effect more than you might realize…

Infants - Preterm and full term:

Every sensory experience is recorded in the brain and leads to a behavior response, thereby leading to another sensory experience. There are critical periods that develop post birth and with external stimulation can either support or cause interference in sensory organs. Therefore any disruption, damage or deprivation in the infant’s social and physical environment can create permanent deficits in developing the neurosensory system.

These include:

  • Sleep Cycles - inability to complete a full 60-90 minute sleep-awake cycle includes REM and non REM sleep, failure to complete or when baby is woken up, they have to start all over.

  • Positioning & Handling - how much time is spent on back? tummy? chairs? car seat? swing?, conditions present as torticollis, arching, crescent moon, rotated hips, elevated shoulders, tightness with breathing,

  • Stress and Pain:

    • Increased energy expenditures (weight gains), decreased healing and growth, impaired psychological stability, altered brain development, increased cortisol levels, Consequences of pain include both sensory and emotional in origin as they are both physiologic and behavior indicators for pain.

  • Behavioral: crying and hiccups, motor tone changes, body movements including finger splaying, big stretches with startle reflex, eye squints, chin quivering,

  • Nutrition: breast feeding , SSB, bottle feeding, tongue tie, bowel movements, colic, oral issues,

  • Psychological: Changes in color, skin temperature, increased HR, BP and Intracranial pressure

When babies have not yet been assessed for birth trauma, that’s okay, this is a fairly new concept in Canada. We are here to assist you now!

Some reasons to book a CST session for your little include: trauma (birth or after), anxiety, fussy eating, urinary incontinence, behavioral symptoms of aggression, frustration, restlessness, fidgety, hyper activity, autism, down syndrome, dis-interested/ associated, bored; motor delay disorders, sensory processing disorders, dyslexia, headaches, head trauma, traumatic brain injuries, concussions, seizures, speech delays and learning disabilities, fears, allergies, as well as pain management, and post covid -19.

Therapists:

  • Kristen Banks, RMT, Bowen Therapist, CST 1 training. Kristen often blends her sessions with CST, Bowen Therapy, and Physiokey and can treat children of all ages. Please note she does not do head shaping, any in the mouth work on infants or young children. She will often treat and assess children to later be referred to Becky or other therapists as needed. Read more HERE

  • Becky Brezovski, RMT, Advanced CST with specialized pediatric trainings including pre & post- tongue tie fascial work, and head shaping. Please note she has a waitlist started. Read more HERE

If you have any questions on how this therapy can assist your family, please call 403-526-2639 or email the office at hello@feathandelemi.com