What attracted you to CranioSacral Therapy?
Having been a long-time yoga student and advocate of complementary medicine, in 2008 I decided it was time to start teaching yoga and subsequently trained in India following the Sivananda tradition. My interest was always to use yoga for remedial purposes, having seen first hand how effective it is for aches and pains, posture, work stress etc. I started small, teaching yoga 1-on-1 and to couples. There was no shortage of keen yoga students willing to come along and try.
Each person brought with them their own personal history, and usually a hope of either pain reduction, symptom alleviation, and always a sense of greater peace and calm. The work was extremely fulfilling and I was very grateful for being able to share it. Usually most people would benefit in some way, however every so often someone had a stubborn problem that didn't seem to respond.
After a while, I started looking for a more subtle form of therapy to address those problems left hanging around. I wasn't exactly sure what was needed, but thought some form of "healing" may be the answer. I remembered my own personal experience of Cranio-Sacral Therapy and this led me to investigate it further, finally settling upon the well-regarded Thomas Attlee and The College of Cranio-Sacral Therapy, London.
What were your early experiences with CranioSacral Therapy?
My original experience was incredibly fulfilling and provided a lot of personal growth. It was during a time in my life of a lot of change and uncertainty. I was fearful, locked up and uncertain where to turn. The treatment gave me time & space to reflect and see things from a different point of view [largely on a sub- or other-than-conscious level]. Funnily enough I didn't know what the therapist was trained in at the time; I just came for a "healing experience". She was very good, and I came away feeling more grounded in my body and better able to handle my current situation.
Later once I began training, I had a series of painful and challenging sessions at the college as old sporting injuries came to the surface to be addressed. For a period of time I thought this may never end, though interestingly I felt slightly freer and less constricted after each treatment. This went on for the first 3 months of training, but finally passed with the help of a good tutor and several regular treatments. Previous pain from a broken ankle, knee injury from high school trail running, and neck tightness from long distance swimming was finally acknowledged and addressed.
CranioSacral Therapy wasn't a complete "cure-all", but what is now left in the body is 10% of when I started training at college.
What future plans do you have for CranioSacral Therapy?
Firstly, to graduate!! I still have another year of training ahead of me.
However, I've very much enjoyed my time working in the teaching clinic, working with patients under the supervision of the tutors. It's wonderful to see how an experienced therapist goes about dealing with, and treating people who come with real challenges. I would like to continue this experience after my graduation and can see myself being involved in a clinical setting.
Seeing practice clients as a student therapist outside of the college has also been a wonderful experience. This was a course requirement to ensure we get enough regular, hands-on practice hours and become comfortable with seeing people. Often those who come for case studies have had positive previous experiences with Cranio-Sacral Therapy, and yet can no longer afford the full cost of professional treatment. I will most likely continue this past graduation in the form of a low-cost drop-in clinic. (hopefully sponsored by the local council)
The possibility of research into psycho-somatic bodywork, and the effectiveness of this therapy and depression or dyslexia is also a tempting prospect. It would be an interesting topic for a Masters or Doctoral thesis at a medical school or university.
Frank is currently half way through 2 year Diploma of CranioSacral Therapy (August, 2010). He is currently working as a student practitioner in the Primrose Hill based teaching clinic and also seeing clients privately as student case studies to fulfill the required number of practice hours for his course.
To follow Frank's progress or to book a student treatment with him, please see his website pahiman.com pahiman.com
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