WHAT IS BIODYNAMIC CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY (BCST)?

“In the depths of stillness, within the cerebrospinal fluid, lies the wisdom of the body – a wisdom that speaks of health, wholeness, and the inherent potential for healing.”

– Dr. William G. Sutherland (1873 – 1954) Osteopathic Doctor, Founder of Cranial Osteopathy

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle yet profound hands-on form of touch therapy. “Bio” means life and “dynamic” means power or energy; Life in motion. “Cranio” refers to the cranium and “Sacral” refers to the sacrum, the two poles of the spine, which make up the craniosacral system. The craniosacral system encompasses the brain and spinal cord, which make up our central nervous system; the body’s command centre. A balanced nervous system can promote tissue healing and turn the volume down on inflammation and stress. 

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapists work with the forces that create and maintain health in the body, trusting the body’s innate intelligence and ability to heal. We are trained in attuning to the motions and rhythms expressed in the body through the use of skillful touch, which help us attune to how life moves through the body. In this work we avoid imposing an agenda, and instead aim to support the body in what it is already trying to do; return to optimal health.

“Craniosacral work comes out of osteopathy. Osteopathy comes out of bone setting, and bone setting was practiced… 130,000 years ago, and probably much longer ago.”

– Milne Institute

Dr. Andrew T. Still (1828 – 1917) was an American physician who founded osteopathic medicine and is widely known as the “father of osteopathy.” He lived among the Shawnee peoples and learned directly from Shawnee and Cherokee bone setters, which undoubtedly rippled into osteopathic medicine. It is important to acknowledge that osteopathy, which craniosacral work originated from, was greatly influenced by Indigenous body workers and healers.

In essence, craniosacral therapy emerged from osteopathy. Dr. William G. Sutherland, an American osteopath and student of Dr. A.T. Still is widely known for creating the theory of “cranial osteopathy.” This cranial approach made its mark on several osteopaths who further contributed to the field. Dr. John Upledger, an American osteopath, started to train non-osteopaths in a discipline called “craniosacral therapy.” James Jealous, another American osteopath, developed his own model, the “biodynamic model of osteopathy in the cranial field.” Toward the end of Dr. Sutherland’s life, his writings reflected an approach more rooted in biodynamic principles. 

Franklin Sills, a psychotherapist, biodynamic craniosacral therapist and co-director of the Karuna Institute in the UK, began applying biodynamic principles to craniosacral therapy in the mid 80’s and coined the term “craniosacral biodynamics.” Franklyn made great contributions to the field of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, and is credited for making the biodynamic approach to craniosacral work more widely available.  

“Touch is an underappreciated tool to support safety, embodiment, and health.”
– Steve Haines, Author, Trainer & Bodyworker

Relational touch: Biodynamic touch is non-imposing, attuned, and relational, and this type of touch canhelp soothe the nervous system and support the body to return to its own optimal state of health.
“Slow, relational touch can help us move from fear, contraction, and isolation to play, expansion, and community.” – Steve Haines

Orientation to health: Within each and every one of us is a blueprint for life which is known in BCST as “original health.” Original health is the inherent wisdom of the body. In essence, your body already knows how to heal. Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapists work collaboratively with the body’s innate wisdom to support various conditions resulting from chronic stress, overwhelm, and injury.

Nervous system support: This work is excellent for supporting frazzled or overloaded nervous systems. BCST works with our physiology, so the parts of the body involved in our fight-flight-freeze response canbe tended to. Supporting the nervous system to shift out of survival mode affords us the opportunity to lean into a different way of relating to our bodies and can help expand our capacity for life. 

Verbal processing optional: Unresolved stress, undigested emotions, and trauma can get stuck in the body; it is a largely physiological experience. Sometimes words are not enough or there simply are no words. This is perfectly ok. Verbal processing is not necessary in order for resolution to take place.

“There is something so powerful about just neutrally listening.”
– Nicole Ainscough, Body Intelligence Senior Tutor & Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist

BCST is known to be supportive for a wide range of conditions with possible benefits including: 

• Improved nervous system regulation

• Increased resilience & capacity for stress

• Reduced pain and inflammation

• Increased range of motion

• Improved sleep 

• Improved digestion

• Improved immune function

• Increased body awareness / greater sense of embodiment

“Health is never lost.”
– Franklyn Sills (1947 – 2025) Author, Teacher, Psychotherapist & Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist

If any of the following apply to you, BCST may be worth exploring: 

• You are living with physical and/or emotional health challenges (i.e., migraines, headaches, back pain, jaw pain, chronic stress, adrenal fatigue, fibromyalgia, insomnia, anxiety, depression, trauma)

• You want to support your physical and/or emotional health naturally

 • You are interested in taking a proactive approach to your overall health and wellness

• You went through a significant experience (i.e., surgery, accident, life transition, psychedelic therapy/ceremony) and would like to help your body integrate the experience

• You participate in talk therapy and have a sense that your body / nervous system could use some extra support in the process

• You are seeking a gentle approach and/or you are a highly sensitive person (HSP)• You want to deepen into relationship with your body

“The smartest thing in the room is the intelligence expressed in our bodies.”
– From the book, “Cranial Intelligence” by Ged Sumner and Steve Haines (p. 24)

To start, we will have a brief chat focused on how you are doing and addressing any questions you may have. From there, you will lay down, fully clothed, on a massage table for approximately 45 minutes. I will start by applying light, gentle touch to your feet, and from there I will move around and apply light touch to different parts of your body. No manual manipulation or force is used. Your comfort is very important, so we work together to ensure your body feels supported, and I will check in with you throughout the process. You may become aware of different sensations in your body including temperature changes or other subtle movements. Memories, images, or words may also come to you. Your body is the guide, and there is no “right” or “wrong” way. To close, we will have a brief chat about what emerged for you. 

Important note: Craniosacral therapy is not typically covered by extended health benefits, however it is worth checking with your benefits plan to confirm.

“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.”
– Ram 

I come to this work with a background in counselling, and have worked in a variety of mental health and wellness settings since 2014. Over the course of my career, I’ve received several “nudges” that my path must include the body, not just the mind. Those nudges grew louder over time; I started to get this vague sense that I am supposed to be working with my hands. I first experienced BCST as a client before embarking on the path of formal training. It didn’t take long for it to “click” that I may have found what I had been looking for. Training in BCST invited me into a whole new way of listening, not only as a practitioner, but in relationship with my own body as well. This work brought me into a different way of relating to my body, one that invited me to stop over-riding its signals and start listening to and honoring its messages. Among the many things I have gained as a result of BCST touching my life is a deep reverence for the body. I am grateful to have stumbled across this beautiful work and delighted to get to share it with others. 

My training in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy consisted of a 700-hour training program through Body Intelligence, an accredited organization that runs training programs around the globe. Learn more at www.bodyintelligence.com