About Me
Melanie Kassewalder
CranioSacral Therapist specialising in SomatoEmotional Release and trauma work.
I am Melanie Kassewalder. I work with people who sense there is more behind their symptoms — and who are ready to look more closely.
My work connects precise body-oriented therapy with current knowledge from neuroscience and trauma research. I work calmly, directly and without false promises. My goal is not for you to become dependent on therapy — but for you to learn to trust your own body again.
I offer sessions in German and English.
My training — and why the timing is an advantage for you
I am in the final year of my professional training as a Complementary Therapist OdA KT, method craniosacral, at the Upledger Institute Switzerland — one of the most respected training institutions for this method worldwide.
This means: current knowledge, ongoing supervision, and a scientifically grounded training standard. Booking now means you benefit from my full attention, a small client volume, and deliberately fair introductory pricing — until health insurance recognition follows directly after my final exam.
My Specialisations - already completed
This is the area that shapes my work most deeply — and that distinguishes me from the majority of CranioSacral therapists in Switzerland.
SomatoEmotional Release 1 & 2 — Upledger Institute Switzerland The complete two-level training in body-oriented emotional work according to Upledger. I guide people in recognising and releasing emotional tension through body awareness — in the place where the mind no longer has access.
Traumatology according to Upledger Specialisation in traumatic experiences and their physical manifestation in tissue and the nervous system. How trauma is stored — and how it can safely release through the body.
Therapeutic Presence & Dialogue The ability to be fully present as a therapist — without steering or interpreting. To accompany the client's inner process, not direct it. This is the foundation of all deep body work.
Memberships:
Upledger Institute International — upledger.com
Cranio Suisse — craniosuisse.ch
The Upledger Institute — The Global Standard in CranioSacral Therapy
The Upledger Institute International was founded by Dr. John E. Upledger and is today the world's leading training and research institution for CranioSacral therapy. Headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, it trains therapists in over 100 countries.
Training at the Upledger Institute is grounded in a scientifically rigorous approach — anchored in neurology, anatomy and trauma research. The method is continuously developed and supported by clinical studies.
My complete training — CranioSacral foundation training, SomatoEmotional Release 1 & 2, The Brain Speaks 1 & 2, Beyond the Cranial Base, Traumatology and Therapeutic Presence & Dialogue — is based on the curricula and standards of the Upledger Institute.
Learn more about the Upledger Institute: upledger.com
Research & further reading
The Upledger Institute provides research materials and specialist information on Craniosacral therapy. The following documents offer an insight into the scientific basis of the method.
Upledger CST Paradigm 2023
Exploring the Value of CranioSacral Therapy
Searchable Article Database
CranioSacral Therapy — Gentle Support for Body and Mind
CranioSacral therapy is a gentle, manual treatment method that places the craniosacral system (CSS) at its centre. The CSS is a closed, self-regulating system formed by the skull, sacrum, spine, meninges and cerebrospinal fluid. It surrounds the central nervous system — the brain and spinal cord.
John E. Upledger describes the CSS as a core system in which the regulatory mechanisms of body, mind, soul and emotions are interconnected — the deepest level of human existence. Through fascial connections, this system is closely linked to the entire body, allowing interactions from the inside out and vice versa.
When this system falls out of balance, disturbances and dysfunctions can arise. CranioSacral therapy aims to support the body's natural healing processes by releasing tensions and restrictions. Therapists use light touch to sense the rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid and identify irregularities. Gentle pressure and targeted impulses activate the body's self-healing capacity and help restore equilibrium.
Dr. John Upledger
The origin of the method
Dr. John E. Upledger (1932–2012) was a US osteopathic physician and neuroscientist. In the 1970s, while working as a surgical assistant, he discovered the craniosacral rhythm — a subtle, measurable movement of the cerebrospinal fluid system.
From this he developed an independent manual therapy method based on the body's inherent self-healing capacity. He founded the Upledger Institute International in Florida, and his work has shaped body-oriented therapy worldwide.
His further development — SomatoEmotional Release — remains to this day one of the most profound methods in body-oriented trauma and emotional work.