How Often Should Clients Have Sessions with You?

Several years ago a client came to me to see if CranioSacral Therapy could help with pain in his jaw that he started having after a cycling accident.

He had had the pain for several years, but recently it had begun to radiate down his neck and shoulder and into the arm.

He had been to several specialists, but hadn't been able to find much relief. He was discouraged because he had been told several times that dysfunction in his jaw was so severe that he'd have to undergo months of therapy. Some of these therapies also came with quite a high price tag.

A Physical Therapist had suggested that CST might help, so he decided to give it a try.

After his treatment, he shared that his pain was much less than it had been, and that he felt relaxed and at ease for the first time in as long as he could remember. 

When we discussed what might be contributing to his pain, he said it made more sense to him after the session. And then he asked a question that I hear all the time: How often do I need to come in?

Unlike some other modalities, there is no requirement for a minimum number of visits with CST.

Some people feel results immediately. For others, the underlying dysfunction in the tissues may be deeper and require more sessions to fully resolve.

When I work with someone, I tell them to tune into their own body's wisdom when deciding how often to come in for CST.

Our bodies always know what is best for us, but it can be difficult to slow down and be still enough for that body awareness to come through.

I used to think this pat answer was enough -- be still and listen to what your body tells you. That is, until I gave that answer to this client.

He listened to my tidy little answer, and then this kind man looked right at me and said, "That's all well and good, Mindy, for someone like you. I guarantee you I can't hear a thing my body's 'wisdom' is trying to tell me. I'm coming to you for assistance, so I want to know what you think."

Kapow!

I realized he was absolutely right. Listening to the body's messages takes time to perfect, and in the meantime, this man (and many others like him) wanted some guidance.

It was a great learning experience for me.

So now when someone asks me how often he or she should come in for CST work, I give them my honest opinion, and I explain my reasoning. 

Sometimes, I even tell folks that I don't think CranioSacral Therapy is the most helpful modality, and I suggest something else I think would be more beneficial.

The final decision, though, is always up to the client, and I still urge him or her to check in with the body's inner wisdom. 

So, I have some clients who come in several times a week for a couple of weeks, I have some who come in once a month for "tune-ups," and I have some who come in even less frequently. (I even have a couple of clients who come in once a year, on their birthdays!)

Knowing how often to come in for any bodywork therapy is a combination of information, guidance, and inner wisdom.

So, be honest and clear, check in with your heart and  your hands, and give your true professional opinion. That, in itself, is a huge gift.