Often the root cause of mental illnesses or addictions is a nervous system that has been reorganised in an unbalanced way as a result of its inability to integrate a traumatic experience. When we experience trauma, or something our brains perceive as life threatening, we are given three choices: fight, flight or freeze. In order to prepare ourselves for any of these options our bodies flood with energy such as adrenaline. Once the threat has passed, we need time to discharge this energy. More often than not, trauma survivors are not able to properly rid themselves of this stored energy which then over time starts to dysregulate the nervous system.
When our nervous system is dysregulated, we can become less able to cope with the normal ups and downs of life – often over reacting or under reacting in emotional situations. The energy can remain activated, long after the traumatic event has passed, by what we know as hypervigilance and/or an high susceptibility to triggers – noises, smells, a similar person or situation etc. Because the energy that was unable to be discharged after the trauma remained in our limbic system, we are unable to access it cognitively, which renders normal talking therapy somewhat moot until we can help the body discharge this energy in some other way.
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral therapy is a treatment that can support your body’s natural ability to heal itself by listening to the vital forces that move, create, form, maintain and restore health within it.
Using gently compassionate hands with refined perception and discernment and an orientation to wholeness and health is laid the foundation of the therapeutic intervention. The perception and recognition of the regulating forces of life, support their expression in and through the body, that has a beneficial effect to body, mind and spirit.
How we use Craniosacral Therapy at Khiron Clinics
Our Clinical Director, Prahlad Galbiati is himself a Biodynamic Craniosacral therapy practitioner and his experience with the therapy informs every aspect of his work. According to Prahlad it is a therapy that can be used alongside other modalities offered at Khiron Clinics to complement and support the healing journey. In an interview he gave to Penny Boreham, radio producer and CST practitioner, for The Fulcrum magazine he said that CST can “remove the ripples of dysregulation facilitating rebalancing and allowing the whole system to connect to the vital forces of life which constantly generate, maintain and repair the body”.
However, at Khiron Clinics the clinical team assess every client’s individual needs, understanding that in some cases touch, however respectful, cannot be tolerated. Prahlad explains that when a client isn’t ready for hand on treatment, the practitioners in the clinic work with them towards negotiating boundary and contact allowing the client to feel heard in regard to how the treatment plan is designed. Putting clients at the center of their own recovery journey is exceptionally empowering. It is this empathy and compassion that truly makes Khiron a special place to be.
When a client does feel ready to be treated with Craniosacral, along with the many other therapeutic modalities offered, Khiron provide a safe space to understand and explore the link between physical, bodily sensations, past traumatic events and related emotions. This combined approach offers safety and security for clients to explore traumatic issues that lie behind their mental health problems.
During a Craniosacral therapy session, you will lie fully clothed whilst a practitioner places their hands gently on you using the hands to listen to the subtle rhythm of the life forces that can be felt, much in the same way a cognitive therapist would listen to words that you spoke during a therapy session. In time your body will start to increasingly orient to its inherent health. The therapy can also help you better understand any physical implications your mental health condition may have had on your body. Throughout the sessions you may safely experience the release of both physical and emotional stress.
If you have a client or know of someone who is struggling to find the right help for them. Reach out to Khiron. We believe that we can stop the revolving door of treatment and misdiagnosis by providing effective residential and out-patient therapies for underlying psychological trauma. Allow us to help you find the path to effective, long lasting recovery. For information, call us today. UK: 020 3811 2575 (24 hours). USA: (866) 801 6184 (24 hours).
