CranioSacral Therapy
Craniosacral Speciality
Tara Ouellette is a Registered Massage Therapist and specializes in Craniosacral Therapy (CST), and Somato Emotional Release (SER). She uses these tools in combination with Intuitive Energetic Healing techniques to provide comprehensive care to her clients. In her nearly 30 years of clinical experience, she has developed a healing practice treating all ages and a multitude of conditions. Tara has an inclusive practice that welcomes all persons regardless of age, gender, or sexuality.
Craniosacral Therapy
CST is a philosophy of treatment that uses gentle touch to help reduce the body’s stress response and this allows your nervous system to facilitate self-correction.
During our sessions together, we use gentle touch to gather information about how your unique body works. We use gentle contact to help your body let go of deep layers of tension, change problematic movement, or even address past traumatic experiences that we have held in our body.
CST works to allow the brain and nervous system to communicate fluidly and without restriction. The brain is a central communicator that coordinates reactions, organizes bodily functions, and regulates rhythms. It is important that we alleviate this system of tension to maintain our health and wellness. With the help of CST, we can improve the way that your brain speaks to your entire body, facilitating healing and balance.
Somato-Emotional Release
Somato Emotional Release (SER) is the process where an emotional release occurs at the same time as a release in the tissues of the body during a craniosacral therapy session. Trauma is rarely only held on a physical level. CST can help to facilitate SER, which allows emotional tension to release, supporting emotional and physical healing. Tara has many years of experience using imagery and dialoguing techniques to help support this type of release in the body*.
All ages and body types can benefit from this light touch therapy.
We use CST and SER to help people who experience:
- Nervous system problems, Migraines, Nerve pain/dysfunction
- Anxiety, PTSD, “Adrenal fatigue”, Chronic depletion, Exhaustion, Grief and associated trauma
- Concussion, Post-Concussion Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury, Sensory integration issues
- Neck and/or back pain, Whiplash, TMJ dysfunction, Grinding/Locking
- Sinus and Breathing Problems
- Post Viral Pain and Fatigue
- Trauma with a strong emotional component
- Difficulty tolerating other manual therapies
* CST and SER and its associated techniques are NOT psychotherapy. A craniosacral therapist is not trained to manage the emotional release from a psycho-therapeutic perspective. Therefore we recommend that our clients seek out the support of a psychologist or other mental health support to help process any feelings that come up during their session
Fertility & Pregnancy
- Conception and Fertility concerns
- History with pain/fracture/surgery in tailbone/sacrum/pelvis
- Pain at a previous epidural site
Infant Care
Using very gentle pressure, CST for infants can help address dysfunction caused by trauma surrounding their birth. Infants are seen primarily for the following:
- Breastfeeding, mouth posture, and breathing coordination
- Plagiocephaly (non-symmetrical head shape)
- Torticollis (non-symmetrical neck muscle tone)
- High startle babies who are difficult to settle and calm
- Injuries sustained during labour and delivery
CST can also help both parents to adjust to physical changes, and support them in their changing roles.
Childhood & Adolescence
Most kids can’t tolerate a lot of pressure, and many can’t sit still for long periods or need to fidget or play with toys to stay engaged. CST is perfect in these scenarios as we work within your child’s boundaries and permission. Childhood work can include support for:
- Coordination and support around meeting milestones of crawling, walking, talking, eating, digestion
- Stress/Anxiety support, teeth grinding, frequent stomach aches
- Ear infections, sinus drainage, snoring
- Hormone changes, pain due to rapid growth.
- Support for kids with different learning styles, gifts, and abilities
- Support for kids who are easily overwhelmed
- Jaw support during orthodontic work
