Craniosacral Therapy
Recovery from
Difficult Births
Education
Having a baby is a time in life that is full of transformation. It can be joyful and stressful, too.
Life is about patterns. My job is to listen, observe, reflect and help people learn about patterns associated with the pre and perinatal period. I have also been trained to help babies and families recover from difficult births. Currently many different health practices are integrating to form a new paradigm when working with the prenatal period, birth, and the postpartum period. My approach is a blend of elements from:
- Neuroscience
- Embryology
- Attachment Theory
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Somatic Therapy
- Consciousness Studies
- Psychotherapy
It is clear from the neuroscience that our nervous system grows in relationship with primary caregivers, especially mothers. Part of my mission statement is to help families get the best possible start in life.
Recovery from a Difficult Birth
A baby’s cranium is made to shift and mold during birth. Sometimes, the process can be hard on babies. Most difficulties during birth and the prenatal period can resolve when the child comes into relationship with their parents after birth, however sometimes a little more help is needed.
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle approach to help your child’s system reset and come into balance.
People seek craniosacral therapy for their babies if there is a concern such as:
- Colic
- Reflux
- Body stiffness or little tone
- Cranial molding related to birth or in utero
- Sleep issues
- Attachment issues
- Nursing difficulties
- Development delays
- Crawling or walking concerns
- NICU experiences
Some of these experiences are due to:
- Very fast or long labors
- Malposition during birth or in utero
- Analgesics
- Mechanical issues
- Surgical intervention
- Premature births
- Multiples
- Loss (Miscarriage and Twin Loss)
- Very stressful prenatal periods
- Adoption
A trained practitioner does gentle holds on the baby to help realign bones and release tensions so that the baby’s developing nervous system can completely function.
In addition to craniosacral therapy, I teach families games they can play at home with their children. These games help settle and regulate the nervous system, and allow safe expression of feelings and experiences that were frightening. These games center around the following themes: Birth, empowerment, attachment, and protection.
Working with Kate has been such an incredible pleasure. She is a healer in every sense of the word. She heals with her hands, she heals with her words, she heals with her mind, she heals with her heart. I can’t imagine where my postpartum mind would be if Kate had not accompanied us on our crazy ride. ~ New Mom, Charlottesville, VA
I also offer a wide variety of classes for parents prenatally and postpartum to educate, build resources, and provide community.
“Kate’s class went far beyond anything I read in books to help me understand my baby. I learned pleasurable and valuable ways to interact with my little boy and help him learn about the world. In the class, I also became attached to a community of mommies who are still important in my life. Thank you Kate!” – First time mother, Vermont
About the Practitioner:
Kate White is a craniosacral and massage therapist, prenatal and early childhood educator. Her approach arises out of her work as a somatic therapist, where she is passionate about the brain and mind-body medicine. She is a mother of two children, holds a BA and MA in Communication, and is a Registered Craniosacral Therapist in the Biodynamic Craniosacral method. Her work combines somatic therapy with brain development to help give families with babies and small children the best possible start. Her classes are a translation of some of the research on how parents are with their children affects neural pathways and perception.
Specific training for working with babies includes:
• Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy certification (1997-1999, 700 hours)
• Foundation Training in Pre and Perinatal Psychology with Karlton Terry (2002-3, 124 hours)
• Working with Babies, Children and Their Families with Claire Dolby, D.O. from England (2004-5, 52 hours)
• Infant Mental Health, University of Minnesota (2005, 32 hours)
• Prenatal, Birth, Attachment Professional Training with Myrna Martin (2007-2009, 550 hours)