Working with Children

Often babies have little problems, sometimes still from birth.  Usually these are very easy to change, like the way a foot might be turning out.  The body is very malleable and adjustable at this age, and the body naturally wants to be in correct anatomical alignment. I have also seen in babies certain strains in them physically as if still trying to deal with the birthing process.  This work helps bring the body and soul together.  As a parent, you will notice that your child is more present and seems to be resting easier in life.  It doesn't mean that teething and tantrums and crying and fear of abandonment . . . all of our oh-so-human-issues will be gone or that the natural maturational processes of growth and life will evaporate . . . it's more that you will notice that your baby moves through these cycles more gently.  

This work helps the body release strains of stress that come with every age and life process.  This release allows the person to accomodate change and grow more easily and gently.  When these strains are not released or corrected, other patterns of compensate gather around the original problems making it more challenging to work with the original source of problem, incorrect structure or stress pattern.  I often then work with these issues with my adult clients whose body can no longer compensate and the injury or strain has become a more serious problem or limitation.  By working with babies and young children, I can easily support the natural process of growth easily.


Youth 

Children respond really well to this work.  Once the child is around 7, he or she will lay on the table and allow me to work in a more "regular" way.  Every child I've worked with will tell me directly what the problem is.  Often I ask children to walk or run.  Sometimes a soccer player will show me his/her dribble, or a gymnast likes to show his or her forward rolls, back bends or a split!  All children are far more "in their bodies" and hence show us exactly what strains need to be released.

Children go through "growing pains".  Sometimes parents think that this is not real.  Instead, it's very real.  The growth plates of the bones are growing and ligaments, tendons and muscles must stretch to accommodate the growth.  If the bones grow faster than ligaments, tendons and muscles can stretch and grow, there is pain especially around the joints.  The bones will ache as well.  As a parent, you can help your child by massaging the legs or arms at night before bed.  Any loving touch will help.  Certainly by not dismissing your child's complaint is also a way to help.  These "growing pains" are real, and the body can and should be helped to ease them.  

By age 7 and older, the Ten Series work looks more like a Ten Series, however since children are so in touch with their bodies, the work does not yet look like an adult Ten Series.  Release continues to happen very quickly in the young body.  Sessions might last from 20 minutes to 45 depending on the age, activity level, or tiredness.  Some children I have worked with are very stressed out by school and the demands of our culture for productivity at an early age.  Sometimes children really need this time to rest deeply.  Often children love the cranial sacral therapy at the end.  This helps them to release their stress from growing, allows the spine to make minute adjustments, and the nervous system to relax.  This also fosters better visceral health and I also address the visceral motility during the rest phases of each session.  

With children, I sometimes do Ten Series or other times, we might do 3 sessions.  Often this is enough to effect the change that the body is inviting.  It depends what the situation is.  Sometimes I do 3 sessions over several weeks or 2 months, and then not see the child for 1/2 year or a year.  As a parent, you probably have a pretty good sense of what your child needs.  Often my children-clients will ask their parents when they are coming to see me again and that is a great indication that their bodies have integrated the change from the last session and are ready for the next.


Adolescents

The Ten Series of Structural Integration is very valuable for the first years of puberty.  This work naturally helps the body mature physiologically and hence psychologically.  Since the teenage body is in a process of rapid growth and change, I can help release the strains and correct or adjust alignment of the postural structure as the changes are occurring.  This work relates directly to the adolescent's thought processes as a growing individual.  Psychology and structure of the body are related.  As the body gains verticality and strength, the young person gains an increased sense of confidence, personal myth, and sense of direction.  We often talk about future plans, dreams or ideas.  

Our adolescents are under extreme stress.  Not only are their bodies adjusting and growing and changing at a rapid pace, but they are working hard at school.  I think that we require too much sedentary school work and we all need more physical activity.  Because I have a late teen and know her friends, I sometimes watch with dismay as they seem to crumple under the weight of daily homework, stress to find the right college, stress to learn to drive and manage money or a job, and other stresses of homelife and the lives of their parents.  Thank goodness they have huge energy reserves!

Yet there is a toll on our young adults.  Sessions for adolescents are similar in all ways to adults, only the sessions are a bit shorter in length.  The structural alignment through the Ten Series will help your child adjust to this stage of growth, correct postural problems now, improve their sports performance as well as academics, and give them a chance for much needed "time out" relaxation.  The work will naturally help them align with their core self as well and walk tall with good heart of who they are.  The Ten Series is actually designed to help release the compensatory strain patterns of childhood, re-organize the core structure to proper adult alignment, and integrate that into the limbs and head.  When an adolescent receives a Ten Series, as a parent you will notice that he or she begins to think more clearly about his or her life and begins to take stronger self-responsibility.  Social problems can quickly change through this work which helps integrate not only the body but the psychological self as well.  Since the body, psyche and heart are manifestations of the same WHOLENESS of SPIRIT, through this work you will find that your adolescent more quickly and easily "comes into his/her own".  

If I had my way . . . :) . . . I would encourage every teenager/young adult to receive a Ten Series.  I think we would find ourselves in a better world as more people would have a greater sense of self, maturity and independence that comes with this work.  Through physical alignment, each person will also gain a sense of his/her own spiritual/soul and psychological alignment.  Questions about what work or education one should pursue become much more clear with this work of Structural Integration through the Ten Series.


Fees For Babies, Children, Youth and Adolescents 


Ages 0 - 7   Babies and Children 20 - 30 minutes         $20 - $30
Ages 8 - 11 Youth 30 - 50 minutes       $50
Ages 12 - 14 Adolescents 75 minutes      $70
Ages 15 - 17 Adolescents 90 minutes      $90

 Visit length will also depend on child's natural sense of timing.  These are general times for children and babies.  Sessions for babies and children are done in whatever clothes they are wearing.  Youth and adolescents usually wear underwear or swim trunks for boys.  Girls often leave on an under-layer shirt or tee-shirt to feel comfortable.