Vivien Henderson Craniosacral Therapist

05/05/2026

Every thought you think sends a chemical signal to every cell in your body. Let that sink in.

Stress isn't just mental — it's molecular. When you think fearful, anxious, or negative thoughts repeatedly, your body releases cortisol, adrenaline, and inflammatory compounds. Over time, chronic stress thoughts don't just affect your mood — they affect your immune system, digestion, heart, and cellular health.
But here's the extraordinary flip side: calm, hopeful, peaceful thoughts trigger the release of oxytocin, endorphins, serotonin — your body's natural healing compounds.

Your mind isn't separate from your biology. It is your biology.
This doesn't mean toxic positivity. It means being intentional about where your mental energy lives. Meditation, breathwork, gratitude — these aren't just wellness trends. They're pharmaceutical-grade interventions your body can manufacture for free.
You are not helpless. You are the pharmacist.

04/28/2026

April is CranioSacral Therapy month! I spent 4 days last week as a Teaching Assistant for CranioSacral 1 class at the Upledger Institute classroom. Always a pleasure being with instructor Frederick Stahlman, my TA friends and students.

04/28/2026

April is CranioSacral awareness month! I was invited by the Edu-Talk Series, Biotone and The Upledger Institute International to offer a presentation. The topic is Integrating Upledger CranioSacral Therapy across Professions. I really enjoyed presenting, I hope you enjoy it too!

Listen to Viv Henderson in this inspiring EDU-TALK™ as she explores CranioSacral Therapy through real stories and practical insights. 🎥 Now Available to Watch!

Discover how CST can:
✨ Deepen practitioner presence
✨ Support nervous system balance
✨ Reconnect you with the heart of your work

Take a moment to listen, learn, and be inspired 💛

👉 Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA7nKqPNfzE

04/26/2026

Scientists just overturned one of neuroscience's most fundamental assumptions — memory is not stored exclusively in the brain but distributed across the body's entire cellular network, with non-neural cells in organs, muscles, and immune tissue actively participating in memory formation and recall.

Research at the Salk Institute using single-cell RNA sequencing across 47 different tissue types found that learning experiences trigger identical molecular memory consolidation processes in liver cells, kidney cells, muscle cells, and immune cells as those occurring simultaneously in hippocampal neurons during memory formation. The cellular memory process involves epigenetic modifications — chemical changes to DNA packaging that alter which genes are expressed — that encode information about experiences in cells throughout the body with the same molecular signatures as neural memory engrams. Blocking these peripheral cellular memory processes impaired recall even when brain hippocampal function remained completely intact.

The most striking finding came from transplant medicine: organ recipients receiving livers and kidneys from donors with specific phobias showed measurable preference changes and mild acquired responses related to their donor's documented experiences in 12 documented cases — previously dismissed as coincidence but now explicable through cellular memory transfer. Non-neural cellular memory appears to encode emotional and physiological associations with experiences through hormone and neurotransmitter exposure during the original experience.

This discovery fundamentally expands where neuroscience looks for memory and potentially where medicine intervenes when memory-related conditions require treatment.
Source: Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Nature Cell Biology, 2025

04/22/2026

Happy client after recieving CST, 1hr of a 2hr session was releasing tissue restrictions in the nasals connected to years of physical and emotional history! Thank you Kelie Cichoski for trusting the process!

04/18/2026

CranioSacral Therapy: Supporting Trauma Recovery

📖 Learn more:
https://www.iahe.com/storage/docs/articles/Combining-psychotherapy-with-craniosacral-therapy-for-severe-traumatized-patients-1.pdf
or visit the Upledger.com Searchable Article Database

This study explores how CranioSacral Therapy (CST), combined with psychotherapy, can support patients with severe trauma and PTSD—helping reduce physical symptoms and enhance emotional healing.

04/14/2026

In Loving Memory of Lee Nugan

It is with deep sorrow that we remember Lee Nugan, whose presence left a meaningful and lasting impact on so many lives. A dedicated psychotherapist and counselor, Lee also was a compassionate guide and unwavering advocate for the well-being of children.

Lee began working with Dr. Upledger at the Unity Center (West Palm Beach, FL), and in 1985, joined him at the Upledger Institute International. For more than 40 years, she remained a vital force within the Institute and Clinic. As a member of the teaching team, she co-taught the SomatoEmotional Release 2 course and contributed to numerous specialty programs through the John E. Upledger Foundation (formerly The Upledger Foundation), including the Veteran and Concussion programs. Her wisdom, warmth, and dedication helped shape both practitioners and patients alike. Her presence brought a sense of calm, insight, and genuine care that will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of learning from and working alongside her.

Lee also authored two books, The Song: The Transformational Power of Grief and Gee Bear and the Journey Through Sadness, drawing from her deep experience supporting children and adults through the grieving process.

Lee’s legacy lives on in the countless lives she influenced—with her brilliant mind, her generous spirit, and her deep belief in the healing potential within every individual.

She will be remembered with great respect, gratitude, and love.

Rest peacefully, Lee. You will be missed more than words can express. 🤍

04/12/2026

Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is a condition that causes extreme, overwhelming emotional pain in response to actual or perceived rejection, criticism or failure. While most people find rejection unpleasant, those with RSD experience it as an unbearable agony - the word “dysphoria” literally translates from Greek as “difficult to bear”. It is widely considered one of the hardest parts of ADHD because it is an innate, neurological experience that can feel physically painful and is difficult to control with willpower alone.

RSD affects nearly every area of life in those with ADHD. The ADHD brain often lacks the “emotional thermostat” needed to regulate intense feelings. The prefrontal cortex, which should filter these signals, is less active, meaning emotions like shame and sadness hit at a “painfully high volume”. Many people describe RSD as a physical sensation - like being punched in the chest or stabbed-making it far more intense than typical “hurt” feelings.

Unlike mood disorders that shift over weeks, an RSD episode is instantaneous. A single offhand comment or neutral text can cause a complete “emotional tailspin” in seconds. People with ADHD often grow up receiving more criticism and correction than their neurotypical peers. This creates a hyper-vigilance for rejection, where the brain is constantly scanning for even small signs of disapproval.

RSD causes extreme emotional distress from even minor events… which is why sufferers typically receive labels such as “too dramatic” or “psycho”. These minor triggers include delayed text responses, flat tones of voice, constructive criticism, or not being invited to a casual outing. These moments can instantly trigger feelings of shame, rage or deep worthlessness.

While RSD is uncontrollable through willpower alone, there are several coping mechanisms one can practice to help build resilience. I will put a few ideas in the comments section ❤️

SEE PMID: 20160869

04/12/2026

At yesterday's SER focused study group at the UII classroom we held a minute of silence & space in respect for Lee Nugan who recently passed away. We gave thanks for her dedication to the Upledger clinic as a psychological counselor, her contributions to SER work, supporting the veterans at the intensive programs and so much more. Thank you to the therapists that attended and continue to do the work. We had 2 special guests join us, we all know the famous UII woodpecker that regularly attends classes tapping on the window, well throughout each practice session, we heard tapping on the window every time someone experienced Imagery and dialogue on the table but this time it was a bright red Cardinal never seen there before! Didn't get a picture but at the end of the study group after the therapists left our friend Woody came by for a chit chat and a photo.

04/12/2026

The Underrated Treatment Heather Graham Swears By - CranioSacral Therapy.

Heather Graham shares her beauty and wellness secrets, plus where she stands on plastic surgery and Ozempic

04/05/2026

In unpredictable or conditional environments, children develop hypervigilance to track a caregiver’s shifting moods or subtle changes in energy. The nervous system learns to stay ready for a threat at all times. This “fight-or-flight” response becomes the baseline, making true relaxation feel physiologically impossible or even unsafe. Research shows that early life adversity can actually blunt the body’s physiological ability to relax, meaning even when you try to rest, your heart rate and stress hormones may remain elevated.

When love is conditional, children often learn that their value lies in what they do rather than who they are. Doing chores, getting good grades, or being the “responsible one” becomes a way to secure safety and avoid conflict. As an adult, stopping to rest can trigger an intense inner critic that labels you as “lazy” or “unworthy”. This voice is actually a protective mechanism trying to prevent the rejection you once feared if you weren’t being productive.

For someone raised in chaos, quiet and calm can feel like the “calm before the storm”. Without a problem to solve or a task to complete, the brain may scan for hidden dangers or even unconsciously sabotage peace to return to a more “familiar” state of stress. Resting requires a level of vulnerability that was often penalized in childhood. If you were only safe when you were useful, being “useless” (resting) fees like an invitation for abandonment.

If this sounds like you, it’s time to regulate your nervous system. Check out the comments section for a few tips & tricks ❤️

04/05/2026

Children need repetition to build strong brain pathways, but play makes it happen way faster (10 to 20 repetitions vs. 400+) because fun and curiosity activate the brain’s reward system, boosting learning and memory, unlike dull drills which require more effort to form those crucial neural connections for skills and understanding. It’s the difference between boring homework and a favorite game - play makes learning stick effortlessly.

To elaborate, each repetition strengthens the connection (synapse) between neurons, making it easier for the brain to access the information or skill later, like building a road. Consistent practice builds skill, accuracy and a sense of accomplishment. Repeating concepts helps children grasp them deeply and internalize routines, providing security and focus.

Play releases dopamine, activating the brain’s reward system, making learning pleasurable and memorable. When kids are having fun (board games, imaginative play, repeating songs), they’re intrinsically motivated to keep going, making repetition feel effortless and fun. Play involves cognitive, emotional, and communication skills, creating richer, more interconnected neural networks.

In essence, while a child can learn through sheer repetition (like drills), they learn significantly faster and more deeply when that repetition is embedded in play because play leverages the brain’s natural reward and curiosity systems, transforming tedious practice into joyful discovery.

Check out the comments section - you’ll find a variety of repetitive play ideas to strengthen your child’s neural connections fast ❤️

SOURCE: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/07/it-s-kid-s-job