You could say that craniosacral therapy was a derivative of osteopathy. Not because the modality is anything like osteopathy - there is no bone cracking but instead a gentle palpation of the bones and body’s membrane systems - but rather because the father of craniosacral therapy, Dr William Sutherland, was an osteopath and so were all of those who came after him and continued his research.

If you look into the ancient traditions of India, China, the Middle East and North America you can see vestiges of something similar to craniosacral therapy. The art of working with the body in this way though didn’t come to the west until 1899 when a young osteopathic student named William Sutherland was sitting looking at the separated bones of a skull. He noticed in his own words that the bones were ‘Beveled like the gills of a fish, and indicating articular mobility for a respiratory mechanism.’ This discovery sent him on a life long journey of studying the underlying membrane system and craniosacral rhythm of the body which he called ‘The Primary Respiratory Mechanism.’

Dr Sutherland taught a handful of osteopaths his technique, one of them being Dr Rollin Becker who went on to establish the way of work referred to as bioenergetics. In the 1970s an osteopath named Dr John Upledger began studying Sutherland’s work. It is Upledger who is responsible for bringing craniosacral therapy outside of the osteopathic world. He developed a training system that was not only accessible for osteopaths but also medical doctors, doctors of chiropractic, doctors of oriental medicine, naturopathic physicians, psychiatric specialists, psychologists, dentists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists and other professional bodyworkers. He is the man responsible for what is now the wide proliferation of craniosacral therapists throughout the world.

It is because of these knowledge seeking osteopaths who were prepared to travel into unchartered territories and discover things that many said were impossible that we are blessed today with the healing modality of craniosacral therapy. A therapy that works with the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, extending from the bones of the skull which make up the cranium down to the tailbone area known as the sacrum. All of these osteopaths considered the health of this system known as the craniosacral system so vital that if there was an imbalance or dysfunction within it, it could lead to sensory, motor or neurological disturbances, contributing to both physical and mental dis-ease of the body.

So a craniosacral therapy session is like a tune up for your car. Once you have had your initial four to six sessions and your body has integrated the therapy into its system it’s a good idea to come back for a monthly tune up, just to make sure everything is in nice working order, leaving your body open for optimal health.