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Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy

Certification Series

pmti &

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present:

A certification series taught in â€‹10 Quarterly Seminars

by instructor Roger Gilchrist MA, RPP, RCST®

ORGANIZATION OF TRAINING

The Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Association Standards for Practice define a professional training as a ten class series that covers the complete range of professional competencies.  Graduation from an approved training program qualifies the student for the professional credential offered by the association:  Registered Craniosacral Therapist® (RCST®).  The classes must be taken in the sequence scheduled, and commitment to the complete program is required.  Make up materials are available if missing a seminar is unavoidable.  All course requirements must be completed before graduation. 

Seminar 1

May 30 - June 2, 2024

Seminar 5

Mar. 24 - 27, 2025

Seminar 9

March 23 - 26, 2026

Seminar 2

June 24 - 27, 2024

Seminar 6

June 23 - 26, 2025

Seminar 10

June 22 - 25, 2026

Seminar 3

Sept. 23 - 26, 2024

Seminar 7

Sept. 22 - 25, 2025

Seminar 4

Dec. 2 - 5, 2024

View Topic

Seminar 8

Dec.  1- 4, 2025

 Take all 10 seminars at PMTI
8701 Georgia Ave., Suite 700
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Each seminar costs $895.00
& earns 32 CE hours.

For more information call PMTI (Potomac Massage Training Institute) at: (202) 686-7046 or email info@pmti.org

ABOUT BIODYNAMIC CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is the leading edge of evolution in craniosacral therapy.  Craniosacral Biodynamics honors the origins of this work in osteopathic medicine, yet presents a unique specialty field with a deeper understanding of energy dynamics within craniosacral therapy. Our training provides clear and specific details of the principles and practice of this work. 

Craniosacral Biodynamics goes beyond more mechanical approaches in craniosacral therapy by emphasizing the energy dynamics and processes that organize body functions. A clear understanding of these energetic processes takes therapeutic work to profound levels. Dr. William Garner Sutherland, the founder of cranial osteopathy, clearly described a primary energy impulse in the body that he called the Breath of Life. This primary energy expresses potency and an inherent ordering principle into the cerebrospinal fluid and structure of the body. 

The training program in Craniosacral Biodynamics details ways to work with the energetic forces in the body, the fluid dynamics, and structure and function. The interaction of these dimensions is deeply appreciated and we give equal emphasis to each of these spheres. Craniosacral Biodynamics works simultaneously with structure and function, bones and membranes, fluid dynamics, and the ordering principle of the Breath of Life. We provide the details of traditional skills drawn from osteopathic medicine along with modern insights which increase your effectiveness. Craniosacral Biodynamics allows you to work very specifically with the structure and the physiology of the body, as well as the organizing principle within that. 

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy emphasizes that health is inherent in the body and explores how health expresses itself in every living process. The heart of the therapeutic processes is how to return the body to a greater relationship to this inherent health. Challenges to health such as injury, illness, or trauma are held in the energy dynamics of the body along with the physical structure. The beauty of the Biodynamic approach is that it works with the client’s inherent resources for change and healing.  

 

Potomac Massage Training Institute is proud to welcome as our partner, The Wellness Institute, an international school for energy medicine.

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SEMINAR 1: Overview of Craniosacral Biodynamics

This class examines the three cornerstones of craniosacral therapy:  the inherent motion of the living system, facilitating stillpoints, and skills to resolve inertial patterns and increase the expression of health.  You will develop an appreciation of the unique features and advantages of a Biodynamic approach to Craniosacral Therapy, and discover an essential healing principle that Dr. William Sutherland called the Breath of Life. 

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SEMINAR 2: Principles of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy

Biodynamic CST is founded on five principles that define this healing art. This seminar reveals the heart of Biodynamic healing work through the five interactive principles:  1.Holism, 2. Bioenergy in relation to body structure and function, 3. the Inherent Treatment Plan, 4. Recognition of conditioned stress patterns and their effects on health and well-being, and 5. Healing happens in the present moment.

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SEMINAR 3: Patterns of Experience;   Body Architecture

Explore how the living system holds its experience in the tissues, fluids, and organizing dynamics of living function.  Primary structural relationships in the craniosacral system are addressed in this class, including specific movements of the cranial bones and sacrum, membrane functioning, and underlying motility.  New therapeutic skills will be added for addressing the inertial patterns affecting health.

 

SEMINAR 4: Cranial Base Patterns and Whole Body Dynamics

The cranial base is considered a primary fulcrum, or organizing point, for the structure and function of the entire body.  We will become familiar with the motion dynamics and tissue patterns of the cranial base and learn how whole body connective tissue patterns hold structural relationships to the cranial base.  This class also focuses on in-depth sacrum and pelvic work, transverse diaphragms, and lines of force in the body, revealing craniosacral therapy as a whole body therapy. 

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SEMINAR 5: The Inherent Treatment Plan

The idea that the treatment plan emerges from within the client and is built from the available resources in the client is a valuable paradigm shift within health care.  Accessing the inherent treatment plan is at the heart of the Biodynamic approach.  It creates a truly holistic, client-centered therapeutic process.  We will appreciate deep ways of helping the relevant treatment process emerge and healing to express itself.

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SEMINAR 6: Central Nervous System Motility

Discover the tissue motility of the central nervous system, the movement and functioning of the ventricles within the brain, and how the condition of the spinal fluid influences these.  Venous sinus drainage for reducing fluid stasis and revitalizing the system is taught.  We will also explore the relationship of bioenergy with the cerebrospinal fluid and the inherent motion dynamics in the living system.  The midline, spine, energetic and structural axis relationships to the CNS are emphasized.

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SEMINAR 7: Visceral Dynamics and Embryological Development

The internal organs express motility and intrinsic motion which is a natural part of their physiology.  Learn to work skillfully with internal organ dynamics, their connective tissue envelopes and attachments, and develop an appreciation of the embryological development and life intention of each organ.

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SEMINAR 8: Facial Dynamics and TMJ Issues

The importance of the structure and functioning of the face, neck, throat, and temporomandibular joints is significant in craniosacral therapy.  We will examine detailed clinical skills for working with these areas and for addressing post-operative or dental care. 

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SEMINAR 9: Nerve Facilitation and Psychospiritual Impacts

Facilitated nerve pathways are the reason the body and mind get into repetitive behaviors, even at the expense of the health of the organism.  Examples of nerve facilitation include referred pain, chronic pain syndromes, trigeminal neuralgia, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and spastic muscles.  Also, depression, anxiety, and compulsive behavior involve facilitation in the central nervous system.  This seminar examines the myriad relationships involved with nerve facilitation, its tiered expression through three orders of facilitation, and important clinical skills for ameliorating nerve facilitation. 

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SEMINAR 10: Birth Dynamics and Integration

This class explores the formative patterns set in place during the birth process and how these affect the craniosacral system.  The influence of birth can be traced to later structural patterns, psychological styles, and behaviors.  Clinical skills for integrating these imprints in both infants and adults will be sensitively worked with.  This seminar develops a deep understanding of the holistic nature of life’s dynamics. Graduation occurs during the tenth seminar.

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