Kid's Clinic
craniosacral and fascial methods for infants

Welcome Parents!

We offer low-to-no cost treatment sessions of gentle, effective manual therapy. This method draws from craniosacral therapy, structural integration and visceral mobilization. It is particularly able to support an infant's nervous system and soft tissues.

The overall goals of the Kid's Clinic are:

• to offer care to families who might not otherwise receive it;
• to provide a way for practitioners to deepen their skills in a supervised setting; and
• to foster a collegial circle of practitioners interested in working with babies.

Thank you for your interest in participating. Contact us if you have any questions about the work, the practitioners or how the clinic runs. Email us cstkidsclinic@outlook.com.

What you can expect

A practitioner will greet you at the entrance and bring you to the clinic space. (The host facility asks that we remove our shoes upon entering.) The room is a large and open, with gentle lighting, cork floors, couches and cushions. Please let us know how you can be comfortable in this setting.

One or two practitioners will work with your child during the session. They will ask you about your concerns for your child as well as your birth experience and their early health history.

Infants remain clothed and don't need to be quiet or still. We work with their movements to enhance freedom and organization in their system. Treatments can be interrupted for feeding, diaper changes or simply settling the system in their parent's arms. Parents remain with their child throughout the session and are welcome to ask questions at any point.

Supervisors may introduce themselves and are on-hand throughout the session. Alongside the practitioners working directly with your child, additional practitioners will be in the room. Some may be involved in their own sessions, and some may be observing at a distance.

At the end of the session, we'll ask you to complete a short evaluation of the clinic experience.

What kinds of concerns are appropriate for this setting?

We welcome newborns and infants, up to 1 year old. It is best if the child is generally at ease with new environments and people (allowing for expressions of attachment, boundaries, and caution).

They may be healthy on the whole, receiving bodywork in support of their well-being. Or they may have specific concerns, such as:
• feeding/digestive challenges: latch or suck, colic, gassiness, constipation, diarrhea (as long as there is not active infection)
• restriction or asymmetry in movement: arms, legs/feet, trunk or head rotation
• generalized challenges with overstimulation, sleep disruption, 'difficulty to soothe'

Children with more complex profiles might benefit from this setting, as long as they are also being screened and treated by other health care providers. This kind of work can assist a child's system in meeting these challenges even if it can't directly resolve them. Conditions such as:
• pre-/post-operative conditions (hernia, lip/tongue tie, etc.)
• orthopedic conditions (club foot, hip dysplasia, shoulder dystocia, etc.)
• physiological challenges (jaundice, post-covid, birth complications, etc.)

If you have questions about whether or not this clinic is an appropriate match for your child, please email us: cstkidsclinic@outlook.com.

Who are the practitioners?

All practitioners are fully-licensed professionals, who are learning to work with children. They have established practices with adults, and have training in craniosacral, visceral and/or myofascial methods. Most have studied directly with Lauren Christman; some have studied with teachers who Lauren knows and respects.

Who are the supervisors?

• Lauren Christman, LMT, CCST, CBSI — Lauren has worked with infants since 1995. Babies have deeply informed her understanding of healing—especially how to trust the child's process to guide a treatment. Her practice with clients of all ages is more creative, fun and effective because of her experience with babies! She has been teaching pediatric methods since 2013. Learn more about her here.

• Loretta Arvizu, LMT, CCST — Loretta has worked with babies in a number of ways throughout her career: as a nurse, as a lactation consultant and as a craniosacral practitioner. She brings decades of experience supporting families and infants, as well as supporting students as they deepen their skills. Learn more about her here (scroll down).