Craniosacral Healing for infants
Working with infants and their parents in the water with craniosacral has led to many interesting insights. Here, (at DTA), we visit with parents and their infants in warm water while we offer craniosacral therapy to the infant and teach through common observation and offer personalized touch techniques to the parents.
Craniosacral is a healing technique that is used to facilitate balance, calm and centeredness to the infant. Using very light touch on the infant’s body and head, the therapist connects with the cranial rhythm of the child and seeks to assist in creating even movement between the two sides of the cranial bones and an esthetically pleasing and full rhythm. This is usually felt to be calming to the infant, though sometimes a short period of discomfort is experienced prior to relaxation.
The advantage of working in warm (preferably about 96F) is many fold. Water is a common experience in caring for an infant, which means that as the parent learns to handle their child and becomes increasingly more aware of the quality of their touch, the infant is handled in ways, which are consciously supportive. Because most of the time we are in more gravity impacted experiences, water increases the challenge and consequently increases the degree of awareness each parent or caregiver has in how they are holding and touching their child. This gives the therapist an opportunity to converse with the parent about touch, support and interaction.
By encouraging the parents to participate directly in sessions, they are given an opportunity to talk about their child and any concerns they may have. With an approach that simply sets as an intention that “the day be easier” for the parent and child as they learn how to become who they are, conversations may be quite broad and without the need for “something to be wrong”. From this starting place, most parents are able to then begin to observe their child and themselves in this new situation with its focus on support and touch. As the therapist applies craniosacral techniques with the infant as the parent supports their child, they are more easily able to feel the subtleties of their child and the changes that occur. From this, direct personal instructions in touch (including basic cranial techniques), support and interaction are given. Any referrals to other professionals that are needed are discussed and some developmental information is usually imparted.
We have found over the years that this approach has in many families become the foundation for becoming more conscious parents. Interaction with our children is verbal and nonverbal. By directly addressing aware touch through craniosacral and teaching the parents in an unfamiliar and yet common element, parents and children benefit in both the short and long term.
For more information please contact Sara W. Pierce (207-266-9262 or 207-667-6783)