About Gentle Strength

Bryony2020_KwaiLam-02370-2My name is Bryony Smith and I am a registered Craniosacral Therapist (RCST) with a qualification in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. I am also trained in Somatic Trauma Therapy.

I came across Craniosacral therapy by chance about 15 years ago.  Faced with a sudden physical problem someone recommended I try it. I gave it a go and was immediately impressed by its profound impact on my whole system and sense of well-being.  Since then I have continued to receive regular treatments which help in reaching deeper levels of my system and positively impact on my whole life and experience in profound and subtle ways.

I also have a Bachelors degree in Psychology and  Masters degree in Occupational Therapy. I initially worked in trade union research and then moved to the NHS and began working in  Mental Health. I have also worked as a support worker for children with Additional Support Needs.   In the NHS I worked with various client groups in different settings, including people with long-term mental health problems and older people with mental health problems.   I then moved to a monastery and spent 7 years living as a Buddhist Nun.  On leaving the monastery I began training in  Biodynamic Craniosacral therapy with Ged Sumner and Steve Haines of Body Intelligence. This included anatomy and physiology as well as the philosophy that lies underneath Craniosacral work.

During my Craniosacral training I realised how all my previous education, interests, meditation and life experience can come together and greatly support my work as a Craniosacral therapist. I feel very passionate about Craniosacral therapy and its potential benefits for everyone. I find it a deeply positive and profound approach to health, affecting all levels of our experience from physical aches and pains, our emotional experience, to our overall well-being, and our relationships with ourselves, others and the world.  It is a truly  holistic  approach  which  recognises  the interconnectedness of all aspects of ourselves and with our environment  and this in itself brings for me a deep relief, and sense of recognition and validation of our lived experience – a healing in itself!
In my clinic I found that many people are recovering from some sort of trauma – whether it be physical or emotional, due to one specific event or several life events.  I wanted to develop my skills to be able to offer support with this.  To this end I then decided to train in Somatic Trauma Therapy with Simonetta Logan of the School of Holistic Therapy, Edinburgh.  Simonetta had trained with Peter Levine and Babette Rothschild and has had many years of clinical experience in the field.  I am delighted that on completion of my training in 2020 I am now able to offer Somatic Trauma therapy as a separate approach as well as use new skills within Craniosacral therapy sessions.

Please call 07890189757 to book an appointment or discuss how craniosacral or somatic trauma therapy might help you.dark gren r i i

 Training and Education
  • BSc (Tech) Applied Pyschology, UWIST, Cardiff
  • BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
  • MSc Occupational Therapy, Tufts University, Boston, USA
  • Diploma in Biodynamic Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Body Intelligence. 2013
  • Somatic Trauma Therapy, School of Holistic Therapy, Edinburgh. 2020
Post Graduate Training
  • Working with Babies, Children and Families. Resonance Trainings.  January 2014
  • The Speech of the Embryo. Japp Van Der Waal, CTET. May 2014
  • The Shamanic Body.  Conscious Embodiment Trainings. July 2015
  • Feather Stone Energy Healing, Levels I &II, Edinburgh Shamanic Centre. September & December 2015
  • Case History and Case Report Writing, CSTA. April 2016
  • Introduction to Somatic Trauma Therapy.  School of Holistic Therapy, Edinburgh. July 2017
  • Cranio-Sacral Therapy and the Human Microbiome, CSTA. July 2017

Supervision and Professional Registration

I am a Registered member of the Cranio-Sacral Therapy Association.

I am insured through Holistic Insurances.

I am a member of the PVG scheme under Disclosure Scotland and am CRB – Enhanced Disclosure cHecked.

I receive professional supervision.

(Photography by Kwai Lam)

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