The Difference Between Cranial Osteopathy And Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy and cranial osteopathy are gaining popularity and as the names suggest, these are treatments that share an origin story. But what is it that makes them different and how can you know which one might be best for you?
The meaning of craniosacral therapy
Both cranial osteopathy and craniosacral therapy are based on osteopathy’s cranial technique. Essentially, the cranial technique addresses the body’s cranial rhythm. Almost like checking your heart rate by taking your pulse, practitioners are trained to sense this subtle rhythm in bodily tissues, and diagnose a patient based on any changes or disturbances in the rhythm that they notice. You can read more on the cranial technique in this article in Circe’s Journal.
What disrupts the rhythm are tensions or blockages held in the body, whether from emotional or physical stress, strain or disease. During treatment a practitioner senses the disruption in the rhythm and with gentle touch releases any tension and brings it back to balance.
What makes Osteopathy and Craniosacral Therapy different?
Although they might be called different names, cranial osteopath and craniosacral therapy both use the same technique. But the difference lies in the way practitioners are trained, and the type of knowledge they bring to their treatments
An osteopath may use the cranial technique in addition to other osteopathic techniques during treatment, which is when we call the treatment cranial osteopathy. In the UK, osteopathy is a registered profession and osteopaths act as Allied Health Professionals to the NHS. Similar to GPs, osteopaths are trained in diagnosis and training courses consist of four years of full-time training or five years part-time. Osteopaths will be able to rely on their anatomical knowledge and palpatory experience and based on that, offer a diagnosis as well as a specific treatment plan.
The educational background of other practitioners will be different. There are many holistic practitioners who specialise in craniosacral therapy and only treat patients using the cranial technique. These craniosacral therapists complete a comprehensive training program at a recognised school, typically involving several hundred hours of coursework, hands-on practice, and clinical experience. And since cranial treatment has become more popular, other holistic health practitioners including massage therapists, acupuncturists, physiotherapists, and chiropractors have also trained in the cranial technique and added it to their toolkit.
All practitioners bring with them their unique approach, and depending on their professional background and specialties they may add other techniques to the treatment.
Finding a craniosacral therapist and osteopath for you.
Whether you book a treatment with an osteopath or craniosacral therapist, it is important to make sure the practitioner is qualified and registered with a regulatory body. On Circe Health you can book your treatment with vetted practitioners, easily online. Visit our booking page to find a practitioner that matches your needs.
