somatica
Craniosacral Therapy & Nervous System Integration
somatica
Craniosacral Therapy & Nervous System Integration
Welcome. I'm Francesca.
I trained at the College of Cranio-Sacral Therapy (CCST) in London with Thomas Attlee, mastering an integrated biomechanical and biodynamic approach to this practice.
My interest in Craniosacral Therapy originates from personal experience. For years, toxic mold exposure left my health fractured by chronic fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, and nervous system dysregulation.
Believing that the body has an innate wisdom to heal is one thing, experiencing it is another. For me, true healing only became possible when I began listening to my body's hidden holding patterns.
Earlier in my career, I earned a master's degree in communications and lived the demanding life of an entrepreneur. Navigating high-pressure environments is how I came to understand, from the inside out, what a nervous system in chronic overdrive feels like.
My practice is a reflection of both my personal health journey and clinical background. My work is trauma-informed and anchored in Polyvagal Theory, Irene Lyon's SmartBody™ SmartMind™ (SBSM) framework, and deep somatic awareness. My approach is further shaped by the pioneering insights of Peter Levine and Dr. Gabor Maté.
I am registered with the Integrated Biodynamic Cranio-Sacral Therapy Association (IBCSTA).
Bring a chronically overtaxed or depleted nervous system back to a regulated baseline where your body can finally rest, digest, and recover.
Address deep-seated holding patterns along the spinal column and sacrum to relieve chronic compression and structural strain.
Help your body find restful sleep and the space it needs to regenerate and gradually rebuild your natural vitality.
Unburden the body from held emotional weight, expanding your capacity to meet daily life from a centered and clear space.
Ease compression and chronic tension in the jaw, head, and neck that contribute to teeth grinding and recurring head pain.
Gently support the resolution of long-held physical and emotional shock from past traumatic events at your body's own pace.
Sessions are conducted by appointment and are offered in both English and Italian.
Please allow around 75 minutes for your first visit. The initial consultation includes a brief intake conversation to review your health history and tailor the session to your system's specific needs. Regular sessions last 60 minutes.
Please wear comfortable clothing; you will remain fully clothed throughout the treatment.
My regular practice is primarily tailored to the physiological needs of adults. However, I welcome inquiries for babies and children: please get in touch so we can discuss your child's specific situation before booking.
Please send an email to francesca@somatica.ch and we will find an appointment that suits you.
Treatments take place in Zurich.
Please give at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Appointments cancelled at shorter notice, or missed without notice, may be charged in full.
Sessions are self-pay (paid out of pocket). Single appointments are paid at the end of the session by Twint, cash, or Bitcoin (BTC). Packages are paid in full before the first treatment of the package, via the same methods or by bank transfer. An invoice for your records is provided.
Craniosacral work supports the whole person rather than just treating isolated symptoms. Because the nervous system communicates closely with your muscles, fascia, and fluids, physical or emotional strain is rarely contained to just one area. When your system is stuck in a state of chronic imbalance, it can manifest as a cluster of overlapping issues that impact your daily life, energy, and comfort.
At the center of this practice is a focus on the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround, nourish, and protect the brain and spinal cord. Because this core system forms the bedrock of your central nervous system, its subtle, rhythmic motion can be felt throughout your entire body. When physical injuries, illness, or chronic stress cause tissues to contract anywhere in the system, it creates localized areas of tension and restriction. These blockages can disrupt your healthy fluid flow, creating a ripple effect that compromises surrounding muscles, nerves, and organs.
Using a non-invasive touch, a therapist monitors these internal rhythms to locate exactly where your body is holding strain. Instead of using heavy force or physical manipulation, the therapy supports your tissues as they naturally release these structural blockages. By addressing these hidden restrictions from the inside out, this approach helps your physiology drop its defensive bracing, relieving deep-seated physical tension, improving nervous system function, and restoring your body's natural capacity to self-regulate, balance, and heal.
Fascia is the continuous, fluid-filled network of connective tissue that wraps around every muscle, organ, nerve, and bone in your body. When you experience physical injuries, surgeries, or prolonged stress, this tissue reacts by tightening and locking into place to protect the area.
Over time, these contractions become deep, physical holding patterns that restrict fluid movement, trap emotional tension, and create chronic structural blockages that traditional massage or stretching cannot reach.
Fascial Unwinding is the natural process of physical release that happens when these restrictions are met with a supportive, non-forced touch. Because your physical structure and nervous system are completely linked, this work is built naturally into your Craniosacral treatments.
By tracking these areas, a therapist assists your tissues as they spontaneously move, unravel, and drop their defensive bracing, safely releasing these long-held structural blockages and stored physical strain from within, and restoring fluid movement and true ease to your entire system.
Reach out to book a session, or with any questions you may have. I am always happy to discuss whether my integrated approach is a good fit for your current needs.
francesca@somatica.ch