Columbia Woman Discovers the Power of Compassionate Touch... Now She's Sharing it with Others

By Rachel M. Anderson, Contributing Writer

(Columbia, Md.) – It wasn’t so long ago that Susan Mathason of Columbia, Md., was miserable. “I felt like I was in a brain fog,” she said.

Back in 2006, Mathason was dealing with a myriad of health problems, including asthma, allergies, food sensitivities and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). She had also begun experiencing motor coordination issues. “I was involved in the sport of competitive roller skating at the time, and all of a sudden for no apparent reason I was falling down a lot and got frightened,” she said.

So, she went to see her primary care physician and underwent a series of tests. However, the blood tests, cardiac tests, brain scans, bone scans, and lung function tests didn’t reveal anything.

“The doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with me that allopathic medicine could treat, but I was sick and miserable and not functioning,” said Mathason. “The doctor even said those dreaded words, ‘There’s nothing more that I can do for you.’”

Mathason decided to pursue alternative care, and she went to see a doctor at the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine. Dietary and lifestyle changes made a huge difference, but the brain fog and motor coordination problems persisted. It was then that her doctor recommended CranioSacral Therapy.

CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, noninvasive method of evaluating and enhancing the function of the craniosacral system, a physiological system that consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face, and mouth--which make up the cranium--down to the sacrum or tailbone. Developed by John E. Upledger, DO, OMM, this manual therapy enhances the body’s natural healing processes and has proven effective in treating a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.

The first time she saw a CranioSacral Therapy practitioner, Mathason had no idea what to expect, but says she was amazed by the results. “They were so profound from the first session,” she said, “I just knew that this was something really important.”

After the first month-and-a-half of treatment, Mathason began asking her therapist all kinds of questions, like “How does this work?” “Why does this work?” and “What is the basis of it?” The therapist encouraged her to enroll in the introductory class he taught in CranioSacral Therapy and it wasn’t long before, with no prior

healthcare experience, she was on the road to a new career helping people reconnect with their body, mind and spirit to heal themselves.

According to Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), a national association for massage therapy professionals, CranioSacral Therapy is useful for treating such ailments as migraines and headaches, chronic neck and back pain, motor-coordination impairments, chronic fatigue, stress and tension-related problems. After completing her introductory 12-hour class in 2007, Mathason began asking friends and co-workers if she could practice the techniques she had learned on them.

“The people who tried it were blown away by the results,” said Mathason, who was so encouraged by the response, she decided to attend massage school and become licensed as a massage therapist so she could start treating people professionally. “Becoming a licensed massage therapist ended up being a choice because it really deepened my knowledge and understanding of the conditions I am treating and the structures I am touching,” she said.

Mathason continues her training in CranioSacral therapy and is now an advanced practitioner. She also leads the local CranioSacral Therapy study group, which meets monthly to help other practitioners develop their skills, and she is an International Alliance of Healthcare Educators (IAHE) teaching assistant for CranioSacral Therapy.

From 2009 until early 2016, Mathason worked part time as a licensed massage therapist specializing in CranioSacral Therapy. In March, she took an early retirement from her job at Baltimore Gas and Electric to work full time as a therapist in private practice in Columbia, Md.

Among the services she offers are CranioSacral Therapy and SomatoEmotional Release, both of which involves gentle holding and/or moving of various body parts to support the body's innate ability to self-regulate and heal. She also incorporates Swedish massage as needed into her sessions to support the healing process.

“Compassionate touch made a huge difference in my health, wellbeing, and spirit. It gives me joy to share that with others,” said Mathason.

For more information or to make an appointment with Susan Mathason, visit www.mindfulbodyworkLLC.abmp.com, call or text 443-538-4858, or send an email to smathason@hotmail.com.