Upledger Institute International’s CranioSacral Therapy Level One Intensive: Presence, Palpation and Protocol

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) utilizes very gentle touch to assess and correct imbalances in the craniosacral system — the membranes and fluids protecting the brain and spinal cord. CST, as a hands-on modality, is a powerful tool that addresses numerous sensory, motor and intellectual challenges; central nervous system disorders; and chronic pain. You will be taught anatomy and physiology of the craniosacral system, its functions in health and its relationship to disease. Emphasis will be on developing effective palpation skills to detect subtle movement, energy, fluid and structures within the body. The group will explore palpation as both an evaluative and therapeutic tool to facilitate fascial and soft-tissue releases.

As part of this month-long program you will also explore how to use your presence to augment the healing process through mindfulness/sensory-awareness exercises. The practitioner’s sense of presence during a treatment session enables a strong therapeutic alliance, which in turn creates a safe environment for the client’s innate healing process to unfold. Anatomical knowledge, palpation and presence provide the foundation needed for participants to perform an effective 10-step craniosacral protocol. By the end of this program, you will have the tools to assess the central nervous system and entire body from a craniosacral perspective, apply structural and energetic CST techniques to restore balance and gain measurable results from a craniosacral treatment session.

This program is offered in collaboration with the Upledger Institute International (UII). Completion of this workshop will result in full credit for Upledger’s CranioSacral Therapy entry-level course (CS1) and eligibility to take CS2 through the Upledger curriculum.

Note: There is an additional $250 fee for this program, giving you the full status as a CranioSacral Therapy practitioner with Upledger Institute International (UII), the necessary prerequisites and eligibility for additional levels of CranioSacral Therapy study with UII and a listing in the International Association of Healthcare Practitioners (IAHP) directory.

Pre-requisites: Professional healthcare practitioner, student in healthcare program or graduate awaiting licensure/accreditation with experience in sensitive, light-touch palpation.

For those who wish to take CS1 and live in a state or province that does not require a healthcare hands-on license to practice CST, the following minimum study is required:

• Eighty hours of Anatomy and Physiology and 15 hours of Pathology. One way to satisfy this requirement is through the home study coursework, Upledger Health Science Essentials, http://shop.iahe.com/Product-List/All-Products/Upledger-Health-Science-Essentials, available through the London (Ontario) College of Osteopathy.
• Four hours of ethics, from an accredited professional organization or school

For continuing education syllabus, see www.esalen.org/upledger-cst1-residential-study

Required reading and advance preparation: Upledger, CranioSacral Therapy (Chapters 1-6), and Your Inner Physician and You. Please familiarize yourself with the definitions and/or locations of the anatomical terms here: www.upledger.com/seminar_info/Terms/CSIterms.doc.

CE credit for massage.