Riverways Craniosacral
& Somatic Practice

Nope. Craniosacral is not a massage. You'll remain fully clothed and I will use focused gentle, energetic touch to to release blockages and allow your inner rivers to run wild and free again. Craniosacral therapy and healing-touch practices are distinct from massage therapy. Sessions are gentle and non-invasive and do not involve massage techniques or therapeutic manipulation as defined under Connecticut massage-therapy law. I provide gentle, energetic craniosacral work, light touch, somatic education, not deep tissue massage or manipulation of soft tissues for therapeutic massage.

Somatic release is a body-based way of working with experiences of overwhelm through awareness, sensation, and choice. The body and mind are deeply connected, and sometimes talking alone doesn’t fully capture experiences that felt too much, too fast, or too soon. Somatic work invites attention to what is happening now in the body, rather than analyzing or revisiting events. People often notice that challenging experiences can be accompanied by patterns of tension, holding, or discomfort. In somatic sessions, we gently explore present-moment sensations and responses, allowing space for the body to reorganize and settle in its own way. This may include noticing physical sensations, emotions, or images as they arise—always at a pace guided by the client. Imagery is one way we may work together. Many people naturally access creative inner images when invited to slow down and listen inwardly. These images are treated as personal, subjective experiences that can support awareness and integration during a session. Kristen is not a licensed mental-health therapist or medical provider. She works as a somatic educator, offering wellness-oriented, non-clinical support focused on body awareness and nervous-system education.

Somatic Experiencing™ (SE) is a body-centered, educational approach that focuses on increasing awareness of physical sensation and nervous-system responses in the present moment. Rather than analyzing events or reliving past experiences, SE invites gentle attention to sensations such as tension, movement, temperature, or breath as they arise during a session. Through this process, many people learn to notice patterns of activation and settling in their bodies and to develop greater capacity for self-regulation. Sessions are paced slowly and emphasize choice, safety, and curiosity. SE-informed work may feel supportive for people who are interested in: Building awareness of how stress shows up in the body Increasing a sense of grounding or stability Exploring body-based tools for navigating everyday challenges Experiences during sessions are subjective and vary from person to person. This work is educational and wellness-oriented and does not involve diagnosing or treating trauma, anxiety, pain, or medical or mental-health conditions. Kristen is not a licensed mental-health or medical provider and offers SE-informed sessions as a somatic educator, focused on nervous-system awareness and embodied learning. Note: Kristen is a SE™ student.

Emotional responses can sometimes arise as the body settles. Sessions are held with care and respect, but they are not therapy. If you feel you need therapeutic or psychological support, I can encourage you to seek appropriate licensed care.

Somatic and craniosacral sessions focus on body awareness, nervous-system regulation, and supporting the body’s own capacity for settling and reorganization. They do not involve psychotherapy, clinical assessment, or treatment of mental-health conditions. If you are seeking mental-health care, I encourage you to work with a licensed therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. I am not a licensed medical provider, psychotherapist, or massage therapist. The services I offer are non-clinical, wellness-oriented somatic practices and do not involve diagnosis, medical treatment, or mental-health therapy.

Sadly, no. I dream of a world where insurance companies pay for holisitic care without batting an eye, but alas, we aren't quite there yet. So, Riverways accepts credit cards, PayPal, Venmo, and cold-hard cash. You'll get a receipt for the service, so please feel free to be a vigilante and submit it with your fingers crossed and my blessing!