Services

What is Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands on healing technique that uses light touch to evaluate and enhance the body's fascial system.  CST was invented in the 1970s by John Upledger, as an offshoot of osteopathy. This therapy has been shown to  relieve physical components, as well as somatic conditions. A CST session will begin with consultation with the therapist about health history, health concerns, and the clients goals for the session. Craniosacral Therapy is done with the client fully clothed. Some of the benefits from receiving CST may include pain relief, relaxation, improved emotional well-being, and stress relief.

How does craniosacral therapy work?

CST focuses on gentle placement of hands to help release tension and restrictions in your body's connective tissue.  This tissue is known as fascia and it encapsulates all organs, glands, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, brain, and spinal cord.  Fascia creates a body-wide connective tissue network.

Treatment of one area of the body may help other connected parts of your body function better through:

  • self-regulation

  • self-correction

  • self-healing

What conditions does craniosacral therapy help to treat or manage?

Craniosacral therapy may help manage symptoms of the following conditions:

  • Chronic pain

  • Complex regional pain syndrome

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Headaches/migraines

  • Post-concussion syndrome

  • Scoliosis

  • Stroke

  • Temporomandibular joint syndrome

Is craniosacral therapy good for everyone?

Craniosacral therapy may be beneficial for adults and children with many different conditions.  

If you recently experienced one of the following conditions, you should wait until your healthcare provider lets you know that you are a good candidate for treatment:

  • Blood clots

  • Concussion

  • Brain swelling

  • Brain aneurysm

  • Chiari malformation

  • Any condition that causes cerebrospinal fluid pressure, flow, or buildup.

What is Pilates?

Pilates is a mind-body exercise developed by Joseph Pilates. Either using equipment or mat, Pilates is a set of exercises focusing on breath, stabilization, and core engagement to help create a strong, flexible, and supple body. There are a range of modifications to accommodate injuries and instabilities, and it is low-impact. This makes Pilates available to all bodies, while allowing space for growth. I began practicing mat Pilates in 2007, after the birth of my daughter. When I moved to the Mad River Valley in 2011, I began teaching mat pilates. I continued that until I began teaching reformer Pilates at Essential PT and Pilates in 2020. I teach mat and reformer private lessons and classes at Essential, still. I am also available to do private mat lessons in your home, or reformer private lessons if you have your own machine. You can schedule with me by finding Essential PT and Pilates on your MINDBODY app, or by following the link below to Essential’s web page.

Death Doula

Death doulas help with transitioning through death. They work together with palliative care facilities, individuals, and loved ones to offer whatever support is needed to create a peaceful death experience. This can include navigating laws around death and burial, connection with resources, scheduling meals and support, or offering respite care. I was a trained nurse’s aide in a nursing home located in NW Ohio for three years. This is when I first became interested in helping people in their transition through death. In 2020, I completed Death Doula training with Anne-Marie Keppel, of Craftsbury, VT. You can read more about what Anne-Marie says about Death Doula work in the link below.