5 steps to find the right CranioSacral Therapist for you.

A “CranioSacral Therapist” is a licensed health professional that is certified in CranioSacral Therapy. Otherwise, someone is a licensed health professional that “does” CranioSacral Therapy. This would include chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapist, occupational therapists etc… Massage therapists and physical therapists are the primary providers.

CranioSacral is a highly specialized technique that is growing in popularity and awareness. Historically viewed as more “New Age” or “alternative”. Now, with advances in science that have further proven its efficacy, the evolution of information on the internet, and AI suggesting it to people seeking help, the number of therapists offering CranioSacral is growing.  

So, how do you find the right therapist for your current health journey?

1) Always make sure that they are a licensed health professional.

In the state of Tennessee, once someones’s hands touch a person’s body, they must hold a license with the Tennessee Department of Health Related Boards. This would include massage therapists, chiropractors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and more… They must have a license that allows them to touch the public AND do manual therapy.

You can search for a therapist’s license at https://internet.health.tn.gov/Licensure/

​a) type in their first and last name

​b) Tennessee 

​c) click on ALL professions

​c) type in the CAPTCHA code at the bottom and hit enter.

You should see their name, profession and license number come up.  If you see “no results found, retired or pending,” that’s a red flag! Ask more questions.

• Someone practicing without a license is a risk to public safety.

You can also ask to see a copy of their license. It should look something like this image. The appearance can vary based on the profession and when it was issued.

This is an image of my primary original license.

This is an image of my most current renewal. For massage therapy it’s every 2 years.

ALL LICENSES MUST BE CLEARLY POSTED FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE.

2) The Upledger Institute is the gold standard of training for CranioSacral Therapy. 

Dr. John Upledger was the founder and developer of CranioSacral Therapy. There are other styles and schools of thought extracted from his work. None, that I am aware of, are as in depth in their education. Nor, do they offer as many classes branching out from the core curriculum. Some styles are even more energy work based rather than manual therapy. Which by it’s very definition is not CranioSacral Therapy.

This is not to say that therapists practicing other variations would not be helpful to you. Simply, do your homework and decide for yourself what is it that you’re looking for and best fits for your specific needs.

You can see what classes a therapist has taken and whether they are certified at https://www.iahp.com/pages/search/index.php  I suggest making the search wider than just a zip code. 

3) What’s their specialty? 

All practitioners are a culmination of their professional backgrounds. Then, adding in the additional trainings studied over the years. We all blend this together in our own unique ways. Look at the total picture of a practitioner’s skill set.

For example:

• Do you suffer from chronic pain, chronic fatigue, and migraines? Are you on a long healing journey from Lyme disease or a traumatic brain injury? Then, someone that is certified and has a more clinical background would probably be a better fit for you.

• Are you just curious about CranioSacral Therapy because it keeps coming up on your social feeds? Thinking to yourself, “yeah I would like to see if this can relax me more.” Then, someone with a massage therapy background is probably a better fit.

• Do you have a history of trauma and PTSD? Look for a therapist that likes and has experience working with this population. Some people are very comfortable holding space for trauma survivors. While others that’s simply not quite their thing.

4) Cost 

So how much should you be paying? 

That depends on your area, the professional background, experience, and the amount of training they have undergone. These prices are based on a typical 1 hour session. More massage therapists practice CranioSacral than any other profession. Followed by physical therapists and then other professions. In general, physical therapists will be charging more their time.

In Nashville, TN, if you go to a Licensed Massage Therapist at a spa or wellness center, the therapist has most likely studied the entry level classes or another style. They also work for someone else. So, they are only making a small percentage of that fee. That amount varies and unfortunately has drastically gone down over the years. They make on average between 30-50% of the fee with a 1099. Meaning that they pay more in income taxes too. Therefore, you really should be tipping at least 15%!

The going rate for a massage in this area right now is

30 minutes   $75

60 minutes   $115

90 minutes   $160

If chosing someone that has specialized in this work for many years, studied numerous classes, they are certified, or a physical therapist they will be charging more for their time. 

The average cost is $150 - $175 per hour. Tipping is also not generally expected. For a comparison, a certified CranioSacral Therapy Instructor at the Upledger Institute clinic currently charges $150-$170 an hour. If someone is accepting tips the rate should be lower. The higher end of that price range would be a physical therapist with a lot more overhead to consider. If someone is charging more, possibly they take health insurance, have other credentials and/or are offering other services as well.  

5) Do they fit your vibe?

All too often I have heard, “yes I’ve tried this before but I didn’t feel very much” or “it felt good but, the therapist did…” Sometimes we just click with someone and other times we don’t. This can affect how your body receives the work.

There are so many talented therapists out there and we can’t be a perfect match for everyone. My suggestion to you is to try someone else before giving up on whether CranioSacral Therapy is right for you. Sometimes it just comes down to finding the right fit for you and your needs. 

I hope that you found this information helpful in your healing journey. My sincerest hope is that everyone finds the help they need!

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