Craniosacral Therapy (CST)
In today’s fast-paced world, our nervous systems are often stuck in fight-or-flight—constantly alert, with little opportunity to truly rest. CST offers a chance to slow down and reconnect with a more balanced, regulated state.
Using light, intuitive touch, grounded in cranial anatomy, this non-invasive approach supports the body’s innate ability to heal. Rather than “fixing” or forcing change, it creates space for long-held patterns of tension, stress, and dysfunction to unwind in whatever way the body is ready.
What to Expect During your Session:
I recommend coming in comfortable attire as you’ll remain fully clothed for this session. If wearing sandals, please bring a pair of socks. You will settle in on the table while I use gentle precise palpatory skills to evaluate where your body may be holding tension.
Every session is unique. Tension in one area of the body may be influenced by restrictions elsewhere. Using gentle touch, the body is invited to unwind in its own time. While the focus is on the cranial system, these sessions often create powerful effects throughout the whole body.
Sessions may include intraoral work, inside of the mouth, when relevant. It’s also common for clients to experience emotional release, and many describe a floating, dreamlike state as the nervous system settles.
If you’re in the Santa Barbara area and curious whether CST may be a good fit for you, I’d love to hear from you.
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Because so many symptoms—both physical and emotional—stem from nervous system dysregulation, this work can have a wide range of benefits. It helps expand our capacity to meet life’s challenges with greater ease, supporting the body’s natural ability to activate when needed and return to rest when it’s time to restore.
Anxiety and depression
Autoimmune conditions
Chronic fatigue
Chronic pain
Digestive conditions
Migraines and headaches
Post dental work support
TMJ/Jaw pain
Neck and back pain
Fibromyalgia
Insomnia
PTSD
Post-concussion symptoms
ADD/ADHD
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Session length and frequency are always individualized and guided by your body’s needs
First Visit: 75 minutes is recommended. This allows time to evaluate and begin addressing your primary concerns. From there we can determine a treatment plan that best supports you.
Follow Ups: 60 min sessions may be sufficient depending on your goals and how your body responds. Some clients prefer longer sessions for more layered work.
Chronic Concerns: For long-standing patterns or nervous system dysregulation, more consistent care can be supportive. Weekly sessions for a period of time (often around a month) can be helpful, after which we can reassess and adjust frequency as your body integrates the work. Some clients benefit from continued regular work over a longer timeframe.
Maintenance: Once things feel more balanced, monthly sessions can be a wonderful way to support your body. Others choose to come more frequently or just as needed. There’s no one size fits all.
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If you are experiencing TMJ or jaw tension, bruxism (teeth grinding), sinus or ear issues, have had a concussion recently, extensive dental work, or airway conditions—and are comfortable doing so—we will likely include intraoral work. I’ll wear gloves and be working with very light touch (think weight of a nickel) on your palate, teeth and jaw. Recommended length for these sessions is a minimum of 75 minutes, up to 90 minutes.
“The work Alix does is nothing short of life changing!...I had a total out-of-body experience and felt more relaxed than I can ever remember feeling.”
“Alixandra’s cranio work is brilliant. I have TMJ, and the pain is greatly reduced after her hands did their magic!”