Initially sessions are usually a week to a fortnight apart. With long-term treatment the frequency of sessions usually reduces. Such subtle qualities of touch are used in Craniosacral Therapy work that it is one of the safest therapeutic forms. When practised by a qualified therapist, it is a very safe method. To ensure that a practitioner is qualified, check that they are registered with the Craniosacral Therapy Association.
Craniosacral therapists study cranial work exclusively for a minimum of one year.
The current two year training is open to beginners and hence is a longer course. Cranial Osteopaths train initially in osteopathy, a more mechanical tissue based approach, and then do postgraduate training of variable length. Craniosacral work tends to be more integrated with a core psychotherapeutic understanding, while cranial osteopaths are generally more directive and analytical. There is a variable amount of overlap between individual approaches in the two professions depending on personality and which particular training was followed. Understandably, there is some rivalry between the two professions.