Course Notes

Dates & Time: Friday, July 14, 2023 (1:00pm - 8:30pm)
Saturday, July 15, 2023 (8:30am - 5:30pm)
Sunday, July 16, 2023 (8:30am - 5:30pm)
CEU Credits: 21 CEUs

Please Note: This is a live course held at the Bastyr Kenmore Campus. 

Prerequisites
Participants must be licensed health care practitioners who are licensed to touch. We can also accept students who are training in those fields.

Click Here for a list of Approved Credentials & Professions for Craniosacral Therapy

Participants must have completed Craniosacral Therapy Level 1 prior to this course start date. 

Course Description

This seminar explores current theory on trauma and its resolution. It provides practitioners with tools that allow their craniosacral practice to address their clients more holistically. Skills taught include creating a safe environment for a client to allow for an emotional release, assessment techniques, listening skills, appropriate dialogue, and use of unwinding of the body. Breathing techniques will also be used as adjuncts to releasing trauma. Additionally, we will address how the practitioner can triage an emotionally loaded situation and determine if outside referral is necessary.

Level 3 serves as a wrap-up of the three-class series, pulling together all the elements that a practitioner has learned to create a comprehensive set of skills to add to their practice. The seminar includes a combination of lecture, demonstration and hands-on practice.

Additional supervised practice sessions will be available for those who wish to fine-tune their craniosacral skills ($20 per session payable to the supervising practitioner).

Course Objectives

• Describe the “normal” reaction to trauma and how this process is often thwarted.
• Describe the life events that can become held-emotional-trauma.
• Describe how a thwarted response to trauma causes the emotional aspects of the trauma to become archived in the tissues of the body, held in such a way as to create restrictions.
• Assess for and recognize held-emotional-trauma in the course of the regular assessment and treatment of the client with craniosacral.
• Assess for the appropriateness of engaging the client emotionally in a particular setting.
• Assess for the appropriateness of using craniosacral  as the modality for the release of held-emotional-trauma.
• List other options available for resolution of trauma and make appropriate referrals when necessary.
• Demonstrate techniques for creating a safe and caring environment for the client.
• Demonstrate appropriate listening and dialoguing techniques for facilitating the discovery and release of held-emotional-trauma.
• Demonstrate use of craniosacral techniques such as listening, following, releasing and unwinding as part of the process of releasing held-emotional-trauma.
• Demonstrate the use of the stillpoint technique as a possible way to facilitate the client’s insight into the meaning of the held-emotional-trauma, as well as a way for the client to self-manage anxiety as they process memories.
• Demonstrate the use of stillpoint breathing as a way to help the client to breathe through the release, as well as a way for the client to self-manage emotional trauma which surfaces when they are on their own.

CEU Credits: (21 CEUs, PDAs, CMEs for the following professions:)

• ND (licensed in WA)
• MD & PA - Category II CMEs (those licensed in WA)
• ARNP & RN - Category II (licensed in WA)
• LAc - NCCAOM PDAs
• LMT - NCBTMB CEs
• PT & OT (licensed in WA) 

Interested in the Full Certificate Program? Here is what is required:

Courses: Successfully complete Levels 1, 2 and 3
Supervised Practice Sessions: Attend a minimum of 10 practice sessions (total of 20 hours)
Two-Way Trades: Complete at least 10 trades with another participant (total of 20 hours)
Client Treatment Sessions: Complete a minimum of 100 hours
Personal Treatment Sessions: Receive craniosacral treatments from a Certified Practicioner (minimum of 10 hours)
Practical Test & Written Exam: Pass with 80% or higher

Textbook Requirements

No additional text is required. The work in Level 3 focuses on "held trauma". Those who wish to pursue optional reading on this subject may read one of Peter A. Levine's books: Waking the Tiger, Healing Trauma, In An Unspoken Voice and David Berceli’s Book, Trauma Releasing Exercises, pp. 1-60 (his theories around trauma).It is recommended that you register at least two weeks prior to class start in order to complete the reading assignments.

On-Campus Expectations

• Please Bring: A blanket, pillow and both required books. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Personal water bottle (filtered water dispensers available on campus to refill).

• Meals: One hour lunch break – The Dining Commons on campus has recently re-opened with limited hours. We will let participants know ahead of time if food service will be available. Please be prepared to bring your own meals. If the Bookstore is open during your class, snacks will be available for purchase.

• Location: Bastyr University Kenmore Campus. Bastyr University is housed in an older facility with fluctuating interior temperatures; it is advisable to wear layers. Also, Bastyr is a “fragrance-free” campus.