Everything you
want to know

Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on therapy that supports the body's natural ability to heal and self-regulate. Using a very light touch, often no heavier than the weight of a coin, a trained therapist works with the subtle rhythms of the craniosacral system (the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord) to release restrictions and restore balance. It is deeply relaxing and can have a profound effect on both physical and emotional wellbeing.

CST can help with migraines and chronic headaches, anxiety and stress, jaw tension (TMJ disorder), insomnia, burnout and fatigue, chronic pain, nervous system dysregulation, trauma and PTSD, post-natal recovery, and back and neck tension. Many clients also come simply to feel more grounded and at ease in themselves, as a form of regular self-care and regulation.

Fascia is the connective tissue that runs throughout the body, surrounding muscles, organs, and nerves. When trauma or tension is held in the body, it is often patterned into the fascia. Fascial unwinding is a gentle technique where your therapist supports part of your body and simply follows wherever it wants to go. The body moves through stored patterns and releases them, guided entirely by its own intelligence. The results can be profound and immediate.

Yes. CST is extremely gentle, it uses no manipulation, pressure, or force, and is safe for people of all ages, including pregnant women, babies, children, and the elderly. Phoenix Tanner is registered with the Craniosacral Therapy Association (CSTA), the UK's leading regulatory body, and is trained to recognise when referral to another practitioner is appropriate.

Each session begins with a short check-in. You lie fully clothed on a comfortable therapy table. Using light, responsive touch, your therapist meets your system where it is. Many people experience deep relaxation, warmth, tingling, or spontaneous gentle movement. Emotions sometimes surface and are welcomed. Sessions last 60 minutes.

Comfortable, loose clothing is ideal, something you can fully relax in. You remain fully clothed throughout the session. Avoid wearing a belt or anything restrictive around the waist. Many people come in their everyday clothes.

Most people feel deeply relaxed, sometimes spacious or quietly dreamlike, in the hours after a session. Some feel emotional without knowing quite why. Occasionally there is a brief period of increased tiredness as the body continues to reorganise. Give yourself time after a session where possible, a slow walk or an early night can support the integration process.

This varies depending on what you bring to the work. Some people notice significant shifts after one or two sessions; others prefer regular ongoing sessions as part of their wider wellbeing practice. For issues that have been present for a long time, the body often benefits from three to six sessions to allow for sustained change. We recommend starting with three sessions to give your system time to integrate.

Individual sessions at the Waterloo location cost £80 for 60 minutes. The Bethnal Green community clinic offers sessions on a sliding scale from £30 to £60, based on your financial circumstances. No proof of income is required, just honest self-assessment. The same quality of care is offered at all price points.

Email phoenix@tanner.me or send a WhatsApp message to +44 7501 827069. Phoenix will reply with current availability and answer any questions. Sessions are offered on a flexible schedule across Waterloo and Bethnal Green, just reach out and we'll find a time that works.

Sessions are offered at two London locations. Waterloo: Breathe London Wellbeing, 34 Colombo St, SE1 8DP (2 minutes from Waterloo station). Bethnal Green: Community Clinic at 279 Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 0EL (near Bethnal Green station).