10 Step Protocol for Craniosacral Therapy in New York City

The 10 Step Protocol for Craniosacral Therapy, developed by Dr. John Upledger, lays the groundwork for practitioners in New York City and beyond. This protocol serves as an essential template, enabling new therapists to effectively apply gentle techniques that target the craniosacral system.

Craniosacral Therapy 10 step protocol

The 10 step protocol was taught by Dr. John Upledger at the very first seminar CS1 (cranial sacral one). It is taught to this day and serves as the basic foundation of Upledger Craniosacral Therapy (CST) teachings. The purpose is to provide a new practitioner a template / guideline of the technique and sequence of worked out effective steps to follow, in order to provide a methodological, time-tested approach.

Applying gentle hands-on Craniosacral Therapy (CST) techniques to the patient’s body in order to facilitate improvement in lymphatic fluid, cerebro spinal fluid (CSF) and blood flow, stimulating corrections in symptoms and reversal of many health-related conditions.  Physiological correction in the physical body is achieved through a skilled touch, releasing the body’s holding patterns, while connecting the mind body complex, improving function and diminishing pain.

The 10 step is a reproducible manual touch on the body that helps the practitioner provide CST in a gentle, non-threatening, therapeutic manner, allowing for both the therapist and patient to benefit.  The more ten step protocols are done by the therapist the more experience is gained with every patient. For the patient, it is an effective method of facilitating the body to start achieving physiological and physical improvement. As the Craniosacral Therapy practitioner gains experience, almost always there is a deviation from the original technique approach of the 10-step protocol.

The 10-step protocol is a cornerstone of Upledger Craniosacral Therapy (CST), guiding practitioners through established techniques to promote healing. By applying gentle, hands-on techniques, therapists can enhance lymphatic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and blood flow, leading to vital improvements in health.

Practitioners cultivate their skills through regular practice, allowing them to modify techniques to better suit individual patient needs. For clients, this structured approach provides a safe and effective method for achieving physical and physiological improvements.

Advanced Craniosacral Therapy

As more advanced CST training is undertaken by the practitioner, the more knowledge of this healing art is gained. Simply put, a practitioner’s more advanced skill set is acquired through continued Upleger seminars and real-life patient practice. Incorporating more techniques learned in CS2, SER1, SER2, ADV1, ADV2, etc., allows for a more therapeutically valuable approach.

Focused Care

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is characterized by its gentle touch, focusing on the body’s subtle movements. During sessions, practitioners may facilitate a range of therapeutic responses, including Myofascial Release and somato-emotional release. The success of CST largely depends on the practitioner’s approach, which should encompass love, gratitude, and the commitment to patient well-being.

Still Point Induction

Part of the 10-step protocol is the Still Point, first recorded electronically by Dr. Upledger’s assistant Dr. Zvi Karni. As the still point is induced, the patient will experience positive physiological changes. During the still point everything relaxes. Pain diminishes, somatic (muscular) dysfunction may spontaneously correct, occasionally with a noticeable relaxation, Breathing becomes effortless and smooth, and any muscle tensions seem to melt away.

The still point may last a few seconds to a few minutes. When it is over, the craniosacral system will resume its rhythm usually with a better symmetry and a larger amplitude.

A still point is an intended temporary suspension and recalibration of the craniosacral rhythmic flow, a pause and restart in the mechanism.

After the practitioner has induced your still point, upon the restart there are noticeable changes in the quality and range of motion at the arms, feet, head and other parts of the body being worked on. If the excursions into internal and external rotations are now restored to equality, and left-right symmetry of motion is improved, nothing further is required. If in the practitioner’s judgment the motion is not satisfactory, a repeat in the still point procedure with another turn may be repeated. Each repetition of facilitating a still point, will bring the abnormality (symptoms and lack of range of motion) closer to the norm and benefit the patient.

Not more than ten still point repetitions during the same treatment session is required. There are no side-effects, other than extreme relaxation and sleepiness, which will occur. However, the still point is contraindicated in cases of intracranial hemorrhage and cranial aneurysm, where changes in intracranial fluid pressure might prove detrimental to the patient.

For the practitioner of craniosacral therapy, the technique described for induction of a still point using the patient’s head or feet can be applied anywhere on the body with an intended effect. It is a question of determining the direction of greatest ease and range of physiological craniosacral motion. The practitioner follows this motion to its physiological end point and resists its return. After the still point is induced, and then restarted an improved craniosacral system activity is resumed, the therapist monitors and evaluates the new physiological motion patterns.

The still point is most often induced from the head and secondarily from the sacrum. Techniques applied to these anatomical parts are usually somewhat more rapidly effective than when applied to other parts of the body. The goal is simply to improve the activity of the craniosacral system.

Integral to the 10-step protocol, Still Point induction—first noted by Dr. Upledger’s assistant, Dr. Zvi Karni—facilitates significant physiological changes. As Still Point is achieved, patients often feel muscle tension dissolve, breathing eases, and pain lessens. This state promotes harmony, often resulting in enhanced motion and symmetry in body parts worked upon.

Beyond the Basics

Beyond the basic teachings, there are advanced methods of craniosacral therapy such as Cranial Pumping, Mouth Work, SER (somato emotional release), Myofascial Release, Arcing, Therapeutic Dialoguing, Positional Release and many other techniques incorporated by Dr. Kaminsky in your session.

Also during your session, Dr. Kaminsky feels it is important for you to actually be able to feel your own Craniosacral Rhythm. He allows you an opportunity to do that. By placing his hands in a certain position on your body, he will ask you to bring your attention and focus in a specific way, the technique accentuates your perception of the pulsating rhythm.  You can then assess for yourself if your Craniosacral Mechanism feels weak or strong, an important understanding to have.

Dr. Kaminsky is a Certified, Advanced Craniosacral Therapist.