Cranial Work

Cranial Work draws from the deep traditions of Osteopathy, Polarity Therapy, and Structural Integration. You may be familiar with related approaches such as Cranial Osteopathy, CranioSacral and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. Because my work draws from several traditions rather than one specific system, I use the broader term Cranial Work.

This work addresses multiple layers of the head and neck—from the superficial fascia and muscles of the face, jaw, and neck to the periosteal tissues, cranial sutures, and deeper internal relationships of the cranium and jaw.

Cranial Work may be received as a focused session or incorporated into Clinical Deep Tissue Pain Management Bodywork, Polarity Therapy, or Structural Integration.

Depending on the modality, Cranial Work ranges from a softer, gentler modality to a deep osteopathically inspired manual therapy to move bone, release deep internal muscles, and balance the head on top of the neck. Either way, the work we perform together will begin and end with parasympathetic nervous system techniques.

Clients often report a greater sense of ease, adaptability, and integration throughout the head, face, jaw, and neck. Cranial Work also supports parasympathetic regulation; this is part of the nervous system associated with rest, recovery, and restoration. This work includes specific techniques intended to engage with the vagus nerve, a major pathway within this system, softening the tissues around this nerve and helping the body settle out of prolonged fight-or-flight activation and return to a more regulated state.

I have found Cranial Work particularly valuable for clients experiencing sensory sensitivity, migraines or recurring headaches, jaw tension, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

What to wear for a cranial session

You’ll want to dress comfortably. Generally speaking, you want to wear loose comfortable clothing that you feel comfortable wearing and aren’t restrictive. However, an alternative many people find useful is workout attire such as a sports bra or tank top and yoga pants. This allows for ease with the postural assessments as well as joint movements that may accompany the work.