There’s this thing that happens sometimes on the table during a CranioSacral Therapy (CST) session. I have my hands gently resting on someone’s foot or knee, or supporting the base of their skull, when suddenly, the vibe of the moment changes. I can almost feel it in the air before it happens...Then the client starts crying. People who’ve cried during a massage often describe it the same way: it came out of nowhere. In CranioSacral Therapy, we call this SomatoEmotional Release (SER).
Most of the time, the client apologizes, and I tell them there is absolutely nothing to apologize for. Tears are a normal part of bodywork. There’s no awkwardness on my end, and I’m definitely not watching the clock. If anything, these are some of my favorite moments in my work.
It can be hard to describe. Something moves inside you physically and an emotion or memory comes to the surface. You might not know why. Not everything your body holds onto comes with words attached.
Emotional release happens organically and doesn’t occur in every session. Some people come in with the intention of experiencing emotional release. Others come in with a headache and are surprised when they start recounting memories of their grandmother. However it starts, whatever comes up is totally allowed- even if that’s nothing at all.
What is SomatoEmotional Release?
SomatoEmotional Release (SER) is an extension of CranioSacral Therapy developed by John Upledger, one of the fathers of CST.
🤓 Nerd Alert: In this post, we’re talking about the Western version. People all over the world have been crying, laughing, dancing, and shaking their way through hard moments for as long as humans have been around. Upledger just gave it a name and a framework.
In Upledger’s model, when something happens like an injury, a loss, or a really tough year, the body doesn’t always finish dealing with it. Some of it gets left behind and stored in tissue. He called this an “energy cyst.” It’s like having a rock in your shoe. You adjust your stride, and after a while, the accommodations start to feel normal.
When an energy cyst releases, the emotions or memories that came with it can surface, too. In SomatoEmotional Release, we explore them with conversation and imagery. Sometimes, that means asking your shoulder what it’s been holding onto. (Yes, really! More on that later.)
Why do Emotions Come Up During Bodywork?
Have you ever noticed your shoulders creeping up toward your ears during a stressful day of work? Or a lump in your throat when you hold back tears? Your body and your emotions are in constant conversation. Muscles can tighten around energy cysts, and over time, they learn to stay that way. When your body finally relaxes, maybe for the first time in a long time, those emotions have a chance to surface.
A release doesn’t always mean tears. Laughing, sighing, an urge to stretch, and even falling so deep into relaxation that you wonder if you were asleep. Whatever comes up, I’m here for it. I’ll check in with you, ask what you’re noticing, and make sure we land somewhere steady before you walk out the door.
What Does a SomatoEmotional Release Session Look Like?
Emotional release in a CranioSacral Therapy session can look a lot of different ways, but it starts like a normal CST session. You lie on the table fully clothed, maybe propped up all comfy in a pillow fort to support your knees, low back, or head. I use the same light CranioSacral touch, about two grams of pressure, to find areas of restriction and then gently rest my hands there. I listen to your body and follow its guidance on where to go rather than telling it.
Sometimes a session starts with the intention of SomatoEmotional Release; other times, it happens organically. You are in charge the whole time. I never force an emotional release. It wouldn’t work, anyway. It happens when your body is ready. I’ll never ask you to relive trauma, and you don’t have to talk at all if you don’t want to. The process can be completely internal.
The dialogue usually starts with what you’re experiencing. I might ask, “What are you noticing?” There is no wrong answer. It could be a physical sensation, an emotion, an image, the temperature of the room, and other senses might chime in. It’s all welcome, and it doesn’t have to make sense.
Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of people feel embarrassed about what comes up. They’re afraid to sound silly or irrelevant. This is when I encourage people to think of it as a game. Children are masters at this because they don’t have the self-judgment barrier most of us adults have. They are open, creative, and not worried about what I’m thinking.
I believe that SomatoEmotional Release is a way to use our innate creativity to help us heal. (Even if you don’t believe you are creative, I can promise you it’s in there.) If you find yourself crying- or having any emotion- during a bodywork session, see if you can suspend self-judgment. It tends to go more easily if you're curious rather than critical. Weird is welcome.
Is it Normal to Cry During Bodywork?
Yes, very. It happens more often than you might think. (You should see our Costco bill for tissues.) And not crying is totally normal, too. It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you or that the session didn’t work. Plenty of shifts are subtle, and you might not notice until a few days later.
SomatoEmotional Release vs. Somatic Experiencing
If you’ve been researching somatic work for a while and found yourself in a rabbit hole or two, you’ve probably heard of Somatic Experiencing. The two are similar in spirit (I’d call them close cousins), but have different backgrounds and training.
Because SomatoEmotional Release is an extension of CranioSacral Therapy, it includes hands-on bodywork. (Although I have created a somatic meditation based on the tools of SomatoEmotional Release that doesn’t require any touch at all.)
If you’re curious about how that works, try this short guided meditation.
These two practices are more similar than they are different. Both are led by the client’s experience, not the practitioner’s protocol or agenda.
Is SomatoEmotional Release Right for Me?
SomatoEmotional Release can be helpful for anyone who feels stuck. If you sense that your body is holding onto something- like stress, anxiety, trauma, or anything that just feels “off,” then it may be a good fit for you. If you’re working through trauma, SER can be a gentle complement to counseling. SER is not talk therapy, and I’m not a counselor. If you’re carrying something especially heavy, I may recommend working with one. I can work with the body side of things, and a counselor can help with the rest. Nowadays, more and more therapists are trained in somatic work, which pairs really well with bodywork.
People who get the most out of SER are those who come in with curiosity, openness, and a desire to participate actively.
If any of this sounded familiar, or you’re just curious what it feels like, I’d love to work with you.
or
if you have a question I didn’t answer here.