Asclepeion Center for Body Mind Therapy

Children's Services
The Asclepeion Center is proud of its integrative pediatric program—an intensive holistic approach to helping infants, toddlers, children, teens, and their families struggling with the effects of sudden or chronic health problems.

These early intervention programs and protocols seek holistic solutions to common health and adjustment problems of infants and children.

Asclepeion Center staff use gentle, noninvasive holistic approaches in treating children, including CranialSacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Myofascial Release, Body Mind Healing, Homeopathy, nutrition counseling, allergy elimination technique, and other techniques.

Hands-on Assessment and Healing
Allergy Elimination Technique
Conditions We Treat
Protocols for Children
Programs for Pregnant Mothers and Newborn Babies
Solving Parenting Problems
Children’s Services Staff

Hands-on Assessment and Healing
For infants, we typically use a hands-on healing approach with a male/female treatment team that allows the child to simultaneously draw on the energetic strengths of both a mother and father figure.

Holistic, hands-on assessment techniques have a unique capacity to identify and work with small dysfunctions that could grow into bigger problems. That is why a few CranialSacral Therapy sessions may be especially recommended after a difficult pregnancy or birth or for an infant that is having problems. (See article, “Craniosacral Therapy: New Applications: Non-Invasive, Gentle Treatment for Colicky, Fussy Babies,” by Ronald Murray and Martha Bramhall)

As holistic medical providers, Asclepeion Center staff are sensitive to difficulties that may begin in delivery or during pregnancy, affecting a baby in ways that traditional medical practitioner may be unaware of.

For example, if a young baby has chronic ear infections, and if the mother had a caesarean section, forceps, or vacuum delivery, it might be suspected that a contributing cause may be subtle tensions in the infant’s ears created by the impact of sudden changes in the fluid pressure in the uterus or birth canal, characteristic of such deliveries. In such cases, the simple, noninvasive manipulations of CranialSacral Therapy may normalize the pressure and end the cycle of re-infection and repeated rounds of antibiotics.

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Allergy Elimination Technique
For childhood allergies (and for adult allergies also) we utilize allergy elimination technique (AET). AET addresses the relationship between an allergy or hypersensitivity and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Using AET, it is possible to assesses the allergy, why the hypersensitivity occurs, and then work to “clear” the reaction, normalizing the nervous system’s stress response.

AET uses small amounts of allergens (contained within small vials), combined with gentle biofeedback techniques. It aims to effect a change in the ANS, normalizing the system and making it stronger and more capable of supporting health. AET makes use of applied kinesiology (muscle testing), simple eye movements, breathing patterns, color input, and stimulation of specific points on the patient’s body. Healing modalities such as CranialSacral Therapy and homeopathic remedies may also be helpful.

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Conditions We Treat
Our Early Intervention Protocols address many childhood conditions:

	Allergies, including respiratory, food, metals. (More at Allergies.)

	Birth problems and birth defects, including: birth trauma, premature birth, cleft palate, colicky baby syndrome, fussy baby syndrome, suture overlay, aftermath of delivery by forceps or caesarean section. (More at Fussy Baby Syndrome, Floppy Baby Syndrome, Infant Feeding Problems, Cerebral Palsy.)

	Emotional and developmental difficulties, including: autism; non-specific pervasive development disorders; sensory integration disorder; depression; anxiety; speech delays; the aftermath of sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or rape trauma; repetitive behavior disorders. (More at Developmental Delays; Obsessive Compulsive Disorders)

	Learning problems, including, cognitive disorders, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (More at Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Learning Disabilities,.) See article, “OT Teams with Other Modalities to Boost Whole Brain Learning,” by Mari Miyoshi

	Muscular-skeletal problems, including brain and spinal cord injury, scoliosis, postural imbalances, headaches, cranial-sacral imbalances, dental problems. (More at Muscular-Skeletal Pain.)

	Sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep apnea, excessive fatigue, chronic nightmares.

	Weight problems, including obesity, anorexia, bulimia, failure to thrive. (More at Weight Problems and Eating Disorders.)

	1. Innerlinks, 3-Month Intensive Program. Designed for children from birth to age 18, Innerlinks helps patients form new links within themselves that will foster fuller outward growth on the physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual levels. We also strive to help family members feel more understood by, supported by, and linked to each other. Staff also strive to connect deeply with these families that come to us for help and build strong links with the children and their families.

	2. Mother & Newborn Assessment and Intensive. This 6-week program provides intensive care, with a follow-up care plan, for mother and child who have experienced a difficult delivery, want to ease postpartum stresses, or simply desire to have extra wellness support during this new beginning.

	3. Infant Intervention. This program is designed for babies in their first year. The program is geared to children who have entered the world with difficulties, such as a premature or cesarean birth or a difficult delivery, or have serious health problems, such as colic, fussy baby syndrome, cerebral palsy, or developmental delays. (More at Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays, Fussy Baby Syndrome, Infant Feeding Problems.)

	4. Infant, Toddler, Children, & Teens Holistic Assessment/Physical Exam. This battery of assessment approaches meets the requirements of a basic physical exam, along with a holistic overview and a Cranial assessment.

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Programs for Pregnant Mothers & Newborn Babies
Our Early Intervention Protocols are easily tailored to the unique needs of pregnant mothers and newborns.

For example, a mother-to-be may want to come in for a few prenatal CranialSacral treatments. Such treatments could help to prepare for a labor and delivery that has been predicted to be difficult or complicated, or simply to make the labor and delivery go more easily.

After the baby is born, we may follow up with some postnatal CranialSacral Therapy treatments for mother and baby. This is especially valuable for newborns with feeding problems or other difficulties.

We also offer a well baby check up or a mother and newborn assessment and re-balancing of the CranialSacral system.

CranialSacral Therapy is especially helpful to colicky and overly fussy babies. (More at Fussy Baby Syndrome, Infant Feeding Problems.)

Solving Parenting Problems
We also provide parent/couple counseling, family therapy, and parenting skills training.

Assessment Process
As preparation to treating a child, we take a detailed, written health history from the mother, father, and child. Other wellness assessment tools may be used as well.

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Asclepeion Center Children’s Services Staff

Program Director: Ronald S. Murray, PT, ND, Dr. of Integrative Medicine with over a decade of practicing CranialSacral Therapy and other holistic healing modalities. Guest lecturer and partner with George Washington University's Center for Integrative Medicine. Teaching Assistant for Upledger Institute. Director of Washington D.C. CranialSacral Therapy Study Group and Mentoring Program.

Family Case Coordinator: Martha Bramhall LICSW. 20+ years experience as a psychotherapist, CranialSacral therapist, and Body Mind Healer. Specialist in couple’s counseling and family therapy.

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