Benjamin Shield, Ph.D.
Pediatric Craniosacral Therapy:
Newborn through Age Two
This unique four-day class is designed for practitioners who want to specialize in craniosacral work and manual therapies for infants and children. The course’s primary focus is to respect and acknowledge the consciousness of the infant, making it an infant-centered therapy. It adopts a compassionate, practical approach by incorporating craniosacral techniques, prenatal and perinatal psychology, and principles of infant development.
The class will include simple and effective therapeutic techniques to assist in normalizing the structure, balancing the nervous system, and resolving possible issues of the birth experience. Therapies utilized will include biodynamic and biomechanical craniosacral therapies, soft tissue skills, and the pioneering developmental and technical works of Hugh Milne, Joelle-Aimée Kubisch, William Emerson, Raymond Castellino, Franklyn Sills, and many other leaders of the field throughout the world.
This class is structured to be approximately half lecture/theory and half practical/hands-on table work, with a strong emphasis on demonstrations. This practical approach ensures that students understand the concepts and gain valuable hands-on experience.
The first day will introduce the students to pediatric craniosacral work and present an overview of its relevance and applicability. The various conditions that pediatric craniosacral work can treat will be discussed. There will be a presentation on successful ways to work with babies and infants, as well as with their parents. How to best utilize an infant’s resources will be explored.
Also, on the first day, there will be a presentation on the birthing/delivery process, birth presentation positions, and pelvic anatomy.
The second day will include a lecture and demonstration of craniosacral evaluation of babies and infants, system evaluation of newborns, and pediatric structural evaluations. Demonstrations and table work will take place throughout the day.
The third day will focus on craniosacral treatment in newborns and infants. We will discuss the various stages of birth and the specific cranial lesions that can occur at each stage, along with the specific treatment. We will also discuss the nature and treatment of craniosacral issues created by Caesarian, forceps, and vacuum extraction deliveries, as well as that of postpartum cranial injuries.
The fourth day will involve craniosacral work and maternal care. We will discuss the developmental patterns of babies and infants and appropriate cranial treatment for each stage of development. Demonstrations will be given. The second half of day four will focus on a complete one-hour protocol for the evaluation and treatment of newborns.
The prerequisites for this course are the equivalent of C1 and C2 from any of the major cranial schools. This ensures that students have a solid foundation in Craniosacral Therapy before enrolling in this advanced course.