Craniosacral Therapy in New Jersey

What Is Craniosacral Therapy™?

Craniosacral Therapy™ employs the use of light touch and gentle, barely perceptible movement, such as gliding, rocking, and stretching, and aims to help physical, emotional, cognitive, and/or behavioral issues, and has proven especially helpful for pain conditions.

Craniosacral Therapy™ is a hands-on modality employed only by Licensed Health Care Practitioners as an adjunctive therapy to conventional therapies, or complementary therapies like massage, as well as being n practiced on its own, as a Therapeutic Modality.

Craniosacral Therapy™ is a manual technique that often helps clients with various issues. The craniosacral therapist does not tell the client what to expect, working silently, for the most part.

During a typical session of cranial sacral therapy, the therapist will perform a number of holds and (extremely) light stretches. The pressure used is about that of a nickel, only five grams or so.

The roots of cranio sacral therapy are firmly established in the osteopathic tradition and philosophy, so unlike a Massage Therapy session, the focus will be on the bones and how they interface and align via the connective tissue membranes separating them, as oppose focusing primarily on the soft tissues as is the case during a massage session.

The client may be in any position, but lying supine (on the back) works best.

Craniosacral treatment is often experienced as extremely relaxing, as there is no pain involved, and the releasing of residual tension in fascia and other connective tissue does not hurt, but rather feels rather calming.

The client barely feels anything, in terms of pressure, but the results are clinically significant.

Who Is Doctor John Upledger?

The Upledger Institute International (UII) has provided in-person evidence-based coursework to medical professionals from M.D.s to manual therapists of diverse backgrounds, worldwide.

The term "Craniosacral Therapy" was put into popular parlance in the 1970s by Doctor Upledger's initial use of the term; it was his linguistic convention and invention, in fact.

Dr. Upledger has been featured in TIME Magazine and other respected periodicals numerous times, TIME magazine even naming Upledger an American Innovator, one of the select "Next Wave of Innovators" shaping the future for health care in society in the United States and worldwide.

For Additional Information About The Upledger Institute International Organization, Please Click Here

Craniosacral Therapy™ was developed by Dr. John Upledger, a surgeon and Osteopathic Physician and founder of the Upledger Institute International. His system was based on earlier work by Dr. William Garner Sutherland, another American osteopathic physician, who first taught the cranial approach to osteopathy.

While Osteopathic Doctors are not nearly as popular as Medical Doctors, a D.O. is considered no less a doctor in the United States than a M.D. might be. Both are legally considered doctors, and may diagnose, prescribe, and treat diseases. An osteopath, for example, may go on to become a surgeon like Dr. Upledger did.

What Are The Benefits Of Craniosacral Therapy™?

The benefits of Craniosacral Therapy™ are numerous, and the technique does not require that the client 'believe or have faith' in the ideas about the system itself.

Clients have reported help with TMJ, sciatica, chronic pain, neck aches, migraines and headaches, myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), fibromyalgia, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions that seem less obvious, such as autism, immune dysfunction, and even ADD and ADHD. Craniosacral Therapy™ can be a strong neurological pattern interrupter.

Craniosacral treatment works to produce calm and relaxation, but craniosacral benefits extend far beyond relaxation.

Cranial sacral therapy seems to be especially helpful with the pain conditions mentioned above. Sacral Cranial Therapy, as some refer to the modality, may work on some yet unexplored avenue of healing, such as changes in skin conductivity produced by touch, applied in key areas of the body, possibly reducing persistent tissue rigidity caused by all manner of life events, from emotional stress to falling off a ladder. These events leave residual tension in our bodies, as scarring pulls at surrounding tissues ever so slightly, as does residual emotional tension, such as may be observed (acutely) in most people's shoulders during, and after, a stressful event.

Craniosacral Therapy™ is indicated for a number of conditions, and has been found to be helpful by clients suffering from traumatic brain injury, central nervous system disorders, migraines, tension headaches, chronic pain, neck pain, back pain, emotional issues, motor-coordination impairments, stress disorders, mental tension, tempomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunctions and pain, orthopedic problems, chronic fatigue, scoliosis, neurovascular disorders, immune disorders, infantile disorders, colic, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, post-surgical dysfunctions, learning issues, fibromyalgia, connective tissue disorders, and inflammation. (based, in part, on exhibit in text edited by G.J Murrey, PhD, LP, ABPN)

Proven Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy™, Yet Mechanism of Action Is Not Well Understood

Regardless of whether the theories behind Craniosacral Therapy™ are well understood, or even perfectly accurate models of describing what's happening, the outcomes are unmistakably positive for a high percentage of clients.

Craniosacral Therapy™ Sessions leaves the vast majority receiving cranialsacral treatment feeling more relaxed, in less pain, and refreshed in a way that they have never experienced before. For whatever reason, light touch, administered utilizing the hand and body positions specified by the techniques outlined in the craniosacral system, does something to change a client's body in surprisingly significant ways.

We've always been interested in helping to reduce the suffering of clients, and this modality provides a number of important tools as key parts of that skill set, and so it's incredible helping inform people about Craniosacral Therapy.

The benefits of Craniosacral Therapy™ overlap those of massage therapy modalities to some extent, but deal with issues in a totally different manner, and Craniosacral Therapy™ has a specific effect on the nervous system that Therapeutic Massage does not.

The Upledger Institute, creator of Craniosacral Therapy™,
is a member of the IAHE.

Why Do Babies and Children Get Craniosacral Therapy™?

Cranialsacral Therapy for babies and children is widely practiced and helps with a number of health conditions, physical, mental, and even emotional.

Considering that parents, as well as doctors whose experiences are recorded in studies, oftentimes find measurable improvement, we must conclude that Craniosacral Therapy™ for infants, as well as older babies, works because of some underlying principle that is operating even on clients unaware of any expectation of an outcome, such as is the case in the very young, proving its efficacy is real, and cannot possibly be a placebo effect.

By now, in 2025, Craniosacral Therapy™ has become more widely accepted as science and not quackery, anyway, making such facts secondary, as new imaging technologies and more sensitive instrumentation have proven Doctor Upledger's findings about a motile CNS that pulsates rhythmically, conclusively.

How Is Craniosacral Therapy™ Performed?

Upledger Craniosacral Therapy™ is done with the client fully clothed and involves no oil, lotion, and there is no massage.

The craniosacral practitioner aims to unlock and reduce residual tensions and contraction of many different parts of the body, such as the pelvic diaphragm, the atlas, otherwise known the first cervical vertebra, the hyoid, and other unlikely areas holding high amounts of tension, but ignored completely by massage and other bodywork therapies. Clients often instantly feel a reduction in pain as a key stretch is performed.

Unlike any modality of massage therapy, the client is focusing on holding the bony projections as anchors for the underlying skeletal frame, whereas a massage therapist works strictly with muscles, fascia, tendons, and ligaments, and avoids massaging the areas where a craniosacral therapist works. Sacral Cranial Therapy focuses on the bones, as well as the connective tissue comprising, and surrounding, the cranium, sacrum, trunk, spinal processes, and the body's various diaphragms.

The Upledger craniosacral therapist employs various techniques to help 'unstick' the motile bones of the skull that are positioned incorrectly, such as those involved in the process of chewing, but also issues with other areas of the body, particularly along the spine, and at the sacrum, as well as adhesions in soft tissue from past traumas, either physical, or even emotional.

Please click above image to link to studies resource on Upledger International web server.

Is There Research Supporting Craniosacral Therapy™?

There is actually quite a bit of research concerning Craniosacral Therapy™, and new research is submitted for publication every year.

According to Dr. John Upledger's initial observation, which has been followed up and found to have merit in a number of studies, the entire brain and spinal cord pulse at regular intervals within the dura mater, a barely imperceptible tug that has enough force to vibrate the body ever so slightly, from the toes to the top of the head.

This cranialsacral movement is caused by periodic regulation of cerebrospinal fluid pressure by the fourth ventricle of the brain, as postulated by Upledger. The result is that the spinal cord and brain require a minute amount of space to accommodate this pulsation.

Olaf Korpiun, PhD, considers the cranial-sacral pulse to be in the domain of biological systems and energy-wave interference, a universal pulsation of matter under gravity that is best understood in terms of global scaling.

Further theories of cranio sacral therapy put forth the notion that the cranial suture at the crown of the head is actually capable of movement and accommodation. While this theory is widely disputed in many scientific circles, it should be noted that Upledger and associated did find support for this idea, and the range of motion proposed is only microns, which has also been supported by animal-modeled empirical scientific experiments performed in the 1970s at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Titles of Academic Health and Medical Studies Focusing on Craniosacral Therapy™

Titles of academic health and medical studies focusing on Craniosacral Therapy™ include, but are not limited to: Safety and Therapeutic Effects of CranioSacral Therapy: A Short Review, Direct Measurement of the Rhythmic Motions of the Human Head Identifies a Third Rhythm, CranioSacral Therapy, Brain Injury, and American Football: Time for a Convergence, Activation of the cholinergic antiinflammatory reflex by occipitoatlantal decompression and transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, Craniosacral Therapy™ and Visceral Manipulation - Concussion in Military, Craniosacral Therapy™ and PTSD - 2016 Immersion Program Results, New Craniosacral Therapy™ Research-This Duck Doesn't Quack Anymore, Craniosacral Therapy™ for the Treatment of Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Sham-controlled Trial, The use of Craniosacral Therapy™ for Autism Spectrum Discorders, Compression of the Fourth Ventricle Using a Craniosacral Osteopathic Technique, The Ricky Williams Concussion Project, MSU Autism Study, CST Effects on Children with Physical Disabilities, Multipractitioner Upledger CST Outcome Study, Infertility and Manual Therapy Treatment, CST & Adults with Asthma Study, CST & Lower Urinary Tract Study with Multiple Sclerosis Patients, CST and Fibromyalgia Study, CST Dementia Article, Lateral Epicondylitis Study, Influence of CST of Anxiety, Depression & QoL - Fibromyalgia, Effects of Cranial Manual Therapy and MFR on Somatic Tinnitus, CST and Migraines Study, German Epicondylitis Study Abstract, UII Response July 2012 to old German Journal Article about CST, Heart rate variability and the influence of CST on ANS regulation Abstract 2014, Poster Presentation of Results from The Ricky Williams Concussion Pilot Project, and A Comment on the Relationship of Recent Research on CSF Production and Reabsorption to the Pressurestat Model.

Fred Stahlman, P.T., CST-D,
Upledger Institute International

The Craniosacral Therapist: The Key is The Upledger Institute International

Some of our key Craniosacral Therapists were trained by Upledger Institute instructor, Frederick B. Stahlman, P.T., CST-D, who was himself trained by John Upledger and Upledger's colleagues, and worked with the founder of The Upledger Institute until Doctor Upledger's passing in 2012.

Upledger's Craniosacral Therapy™ has been around for over four decades, Sutherland's, the elder generation of D.O.'s earlier version of cranial work, being used by Osteopathic Doctors to treat patients since 1901.

That's quite a long time to test the efficacy and usefulness of a new, experimental modality.

The fact that not everything is entirely understood about this fascinating approach should not be a deterrent to seeking out treatment, as cranial sacral therapy has proven both safe and effective over the course of the last four decades, and the earlier version of cranial therapy for over a century.

Craniosacral Therapists provide a great resource for those who are seeking to reduce pain naturally, and deal with their bodies' residual tension levels. Many massage schools now offer Cranial Sacral training as part of their coursework.

Our therapists are not only trained by the Upledger Institute, but they were taught by a practicing Cranial Sacral Therapist who is associated with the founding research and Doctor Upledger himself. That means a lot.

In this regard, cranialsacral therapists also deal with issues that may overlap chiropractic care at times, though the craniosacral system therapy may be viewed as a complement, rather than replacement, to massage, chiropractic care, acupuncture, or even the practice of yoga or weightlifting.

We are here dealing with a totally different modality, obviously quite different than anything else performed as a means of health care/preservation or even simply relaxation.

What Is The Difference Between Craniosacral Therapy, Cranio Sacral Therapy, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, and Cranialsacral Therapy?

These terms all refer to roughly the same modality, but Craniosacral Therapy™ is the trademarked name of the therapy created by Doctor Upledger and taught by the Upledger Institute, specifically.

Other terms generically refer to the same modality, but are not associated with the Upledger Institute. So, Craniosacral Therapy™ is the original and authentic form created by, and then taught at, the Upledger Institute, and can be described as either cranio sacral therapy, cranialsacral therapy, cranio-sacral therapy, or cranial-sacral therapy.

However, schools that teach cranio sacral therapy, cranialsacral therapy, cranio-sacral therapy, or cranial-sacral therapy are not Upledger Craniosacral Therapy™. It's all about the training. A Medical Professional cannot claim to be a practitioner of Craniosacral Therapy™ without learning the modality from The Upledger Institute. We hope that clears things up! This is patients' number one question, in fact, so we hope this helps.

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