Silence Please!
There is often a perception that a Craniosacral Therapy session should be silent! I suppose it comes from the need to move towards stillness. Dynamic stillness is profound and holds many of the answers that we seek. However, stillness is not the goal for everyone and every session.
People and their needs vary hugely, so there are no shoulds when it comes to noise. One session is often very different to the last and requirements can change within moments. Your experience of Craniosacral Therapy is likely to be very different therefore to your friend’s. That is, just because you spend most of your session time in stillness and silence, doesn’t mean that its right or best for your sister/dad/next-door neighbour.
Here are some examples of what I mean:
- Sometimes, the system needs to settle into stillness
Of course, a silent environment is usually ideal here. However, is complete silence realistic or always best? I have worked in many clinics and there is always noise of some kind….. buses pulling away or sirens from outside when I worked in a London clinic, noises from the chiropractor clicking and crunching in the room next door or babies crying when I worked in a multi-disciplinary clinic. It goes with the territory.
I work from home and I live in a village, so generally speaking it is pretty quiet here (people often comment about this). However, although of course every effort is made to create a peaceful and calm environment and various measures are in place to help ensure, I cannot guarantee absolute silence ever. Sometimes the postman rings on the doorbell or there’s a noise from upstairs for example.
People who are really settled and resourced, will not notice or care about the odd noise. Others who are struggling to settle perhaps or whose nervous system is easily startled, may find them acutely annoying or that it takes them a while to really settle again afterwards.
The truth is, with life, there is noise and observing the way we respond (or not) to outside influences tells us a lot about what is going on inside us.
Interestingly, some guided meditation programs will progress from peace onto an environment with intentional ‘interruptions’ placed here and there. They do this to challenge your nervous system and see how it is for you to stay in the ‘rest and digest’ in spite of the noises. It helps train your nervous system out of fight, flight or freeze essentially, so helps that overall ability to be calm.
2. Is it good to sleep during my session then?
It might be just what your system needs. A lot of releasing can occur in sleep. However, it might also be a way of your system dissociating from what is going on. If this is the case, I will work with you feel safe enough to stay present (and awake!). Its all about getting the best from your session.
3. When new people come to see me, they often struggle to find safety (either inside or outside of their bodies)
Until safety is established, the nervous system cannot settle and healing cannot occur. I work with my clients in order for them to find safety wherever they can. Sometimes, taking the client’s attention away from their body feels better (safer) and creates an environment for more progress. In time, we work towards finding safety within their bodies. There are a lot of different techniques used in order to work towards safety. This can take time and will involve lots of verbal intervention. Finding safety in the body is always a big deal! And subsequent discussion about what the client can feel in their body can really help things progress. Stillness is further down the line.
4. I find the silence unsettling
I’m used to silence but it can feel weird or scary to some people, especially when they’re in a new environment. Sometimes safety comes in the form of reassurance and conversation. If you are happier talking, then lets do that and see how we go.I often mention things that I can feel happening in the client’s body if I think they will be interested or if I am helping them to engage more with what is going on inside them.
This can really help the process of connection, presence and embodiment. At times, the client having their attention directly on the process can assist any releasing.
5. Memories (traumatic or otherwise) are coming up for me and I want to tell you
If you want to share what is going on for you, please do. It can often help.
6. I’ve got a lot going on and I need to talk to you
You are very welcome to tell me about what is troubling you if you would like to. It can be helpful to your session. I will intervene if feel that it is detrimental to your session.
7. I know my sessions help my back/neck/shoulder/knee pain whether we stay quiet or not, and I quite like our chats!
The most important thing for me is that you get the most from your session. I have a fair few clients who chat for a lot of their session (often about random things) and their systems adjust and release all the while. That is all good!
8. What about kids?
They are not dissimilar to adults in that they vary a lot! Safety is key here too. Helping your child to feel at home is my main priority. Expecting toddlers to lay still on the treatment table for example is ridiculous, so we use a toy box, books, cuddles with a parent, even a screen can help the settling process.
Summary
Hopefully that gives you a little overview as to how people’s needs vary so much and hence why the approach can vary so much. What’s good for one client, could be unhelpful for another. Your needs may change from one moment to the next. Its not about judgement, my job is to assess your needs as an individual as best I can and guide you accordingly.
If you have questions about any of this, please do ask – Sarah 07956 390419.
...the pain in my neck is a lot better, I haven't had nearly as many waves of anxiety and I feel a lot happier!"