Facing seemingly endless medicinal, therapeutic and even homeopathic options, finding the right treatment for a child with special needs can be overwhelming. Now, add craniosacral therapy (CST) to the mix.
Although the treatment has been around for more than 100 years, it’s recently made a comeback as an option for a wide range of maladies, from autism and cerebral palsy to chronic migraines and ADHD. Therapists who practice CST are very hands-on with their patients—literally. It is used primarily by osteopaths—physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors and occupational therapists. Ryan Hallford, founder and director of the Craniosacral Resource Center in Southlake, defines CST as a very gentle form of manual therapy that focuses on balancing the structure and fluids of the nerves. Proponents say the therapy complements the body’s natural healing processes, and the practice is often used as an adjunct to medication or more traditional physical therapy.
Hallford explains that it is especially helpful for people with central nervous system problems, such as children with epilepsy or sensory challenges.
“It’s a very respectful approach to the body that people—especially kids—can ease into, especially compared to surgery or chiropractics,” says Hallford.
Amy Weiner, mother to Zoe, 10, has found it to be a wonderful adjunct to other therapies. Due to a rare chromosomal deletion, Zoe is nonverbal and does not walk. When she started having stomach trouble—but could not express the problem—Weiner turned to Dr. Ken Piercy, a certified craniosacral therapist in Addison.
“He tells you from the beginning that he’s a partner in the mix,” says Weiner, referring to her daughter’s mix of therapies (physical therapy, occupational therapy and hippotherapy). “But I really notice how much she calms down [during CST]. … It’s almost like he’s a kid whisperer.”
Piercy understands that children with special needs must be handled gently. “They live in this high-arousal mode lots of the time,” he points out. So to help them relax, he sits with his patients on a 6-foot-long boat swing, allowing them to play with toys while he manipulates their head, neck and shoulders. “When we can get them calm, their other systems function better.”
Janet Taylor, of Dallas-based Clinical/Therapeutic Massage, has been practicing CST with her patients for 12 years now. Taylor appreciates the way it helps a therapist to connect to her patients—more so than any other treatment.
“It makes the practitioner very present, observant and aware of what is happening and the messages they’re receiving [from the patient],” she said. “Because each person, each situation, is different.”
Taylor has performed CST with children who have a range of special needs, including ADHD and cerebral palsy. She says it’s helped children make amazing progress in different scenarios—especially for those patients who face hyperactivity challenges.
“Craniosacral is able to enhance any type of treatment a child is going through; it helps the patient communicate with her body,” she says. “Our bodies are built to heal themselves.”
But Hallford says the contemporary perception of CST can be an obstacle. “It does have a bad rap among many in the medical community,” he affirms. “We’re feeling and sensing movements and patterns in the body that don’t show up on X-rays or films—but are very realistic issues.”
He adds, “In the last few years, a lot more kids—especially autistic kids—have been coming through the doors because they [parents] are so good about exploring all options. The awareness in the community has shifted more toward manual therapy. ”
