At the STAR Institute we recognize that health is never lost and is a deep, abiding principle of each person’s essential nature. We seek to support the inherent health and wholeness in each person at the personal, interpersonal and community levels, and assist people in settling their nervous systems in order to experience more balance, vitality and well-being. We offer a diverse assortment of classes, trainings and individual therapies for this purpose.
We also seek to support new human beings in their gestation and birth processes, recognizing that the precious gifts they bring hold the future of our world. We believe that the future is bright if little ones can be nurtured and protected so that they grow up to reach their full potential.
About Gary Peterson, RCST®
Gary Peterson is the founder of the STAR Institute and is a Registered Craniosacral Therapist (RCST ®) and approved teacher with the (BCTA/NA) Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America.
Gary has been teaching and practicing energetic therapies for over 30 years, and teaches the STAR Institute’s Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy foundation trainings around the U.S.
He also teaches trainings in Polarity Therapy and in his own therapeutic modality (called Settling®), as well as a variety of shorter workshops and classes in Settling®, Biodynamic Skills, birth imprinting and other therapeutic work with the nervous system.
A UNIQUE APPROACH
Gary’s teaching and private practice are inspired by his strong desire to understand and alleviate the deep causes of suffering brought about by stress and trauma to the nervous system. He is especially motivated to help babies, moms and their families to resolve the crippling effects of traumas and stresses that happen during gestation, birth and early neonatal life.
Each private session with Gary features a unique approach to healthcare.
Rather than over-focusing on our clients’ symptoms, we at the STAR Institute give our attention to the subtle but dynamic presence of Inherent Health in each person. In this revolutionary approach, we notice and palpate (touch, sense) your Inherent Health as slow, rhythmic, whole-body movements of expansion and contraction, which we refer to as the Tide. We also follow the Tide as it goes into resting periods which we call stillness. As we track (follow) the Tide in its movement throughout the body, patterns of pain, resistance and trauma are also revealed. We track the interaction of these patterns with the Inherent Health of your system. This interaction of pain patterns and Inherent Health gives rise to a more concentrated level of Health, which we call the Inherent Treatment Plan. This deep intelligence, arising from within you, begins to gently and powerfully resolve the patterns, bringing improvement to a wide range of symptoms and conditions.
GARY’S BACKGROUND
Gary studied Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy with Franklyn Sills, a longtime teacher and practitioner of the “Breath of Life” model advanced by Dr. William Sutherland. Franklyn Sills is the author of The Polarity Process, Being and Becoming, and Foundations in Craniosacral Biodynamics, Volumes 1 & 2.
Gary also studied Prenatal and Birth Therapy with Dr. Ray Castellino and works with babies, children and adults in private practice. His clinical practice is inspired by his increasing desire to understand and work with the deep causes of suffering found in shock and trauma to the nervous system. To help people relieve the effects of stress and trauma, Gary founded a school and clinic based in the San Francisco Bay area of California: The Settling Touch and Resource (STAR) Institute.
Gary’s first book, due in print soon, is titled Settling: Simple Ways to Calm Your Nervous System. This self-help manual gives everyone a unique set of skills and understanding for regulating their nervous system in order to find balance and relaxation. Gary and his wife Bonnie have three grown children and live in Petaluma, California.
Testimonials
“Gary’s life-long commitment to this work has made him exceptionally skilled as both a teacher and practitioner. The healing he has brought to my children and myself is great beyond measure. I cannot thank him enough.” (S.E., Body Therapist & Mother)
“Having Gary as a teacher and craniosacral practitioner has been life-enriching and highly supportive. Not only is he highly intelligent with vast knowledge in his field, he is warm, accessible, and funny, with a bright spark that fills the room. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to complete a three-year BCST training but as I got to study with Gary his enthusiasm and support have kindled within me a deep awe and curiosity for this modality. I am very grateful that he shares his gifts.” (C.C., Mother, Somatic Therapist and Attorney)
“Gary coveys the daily living principles of biodynamic craniosacral and polarity healing modalities in every step throughout his classes. You will not find a more profound learning experience both in class and during private sessions.” (C.A., psychotherapist)
“One thing I deeply appreciated about Gary as a teacher and mentor was his willingness to hear, indeed, solicit diverse points of view. He was never stuck on one dogma, rather, he was eternally curious and desirous of inclusion of all possibilities. This made the ‘space of BCST classes’ with Gary always feel alive! With deep gratitude. (S.B., Bodyworker, Entrepreneur)
“I have studied craniosacral with multiple teachers, but Gary is the only one who has taught me how to be a practitioner. As any experienced therapist could tell you, craniosacral is not about techniques–it is about how to settle your own nervous system so that you can connect to primary respiration, what Franklyn Sills calls “the re-orientation to the Divine.” Gary’s teachings changed my private practice, for now I know this one essential skill of how to be, how to make my center still and my field wide. Only in this state of being can healing happen.” (M.N., Craniosacral Therapist)
“Gary Peterson has been a pivotal mentor and teacher in my life and spiritual practice. He shares the wealth of knowledge accumulated through his life journey and practice in an embodied and practical way, which has greatly facilitated my own healing. Gary’s offerings create a container of peace and community; he is a steward of the new Earth emerging through all of us!! I am forever grateful for his spirit of vulnerability and grace.” (C.P., Elementary Teacher & Therapist)
“Gary Peterson is a truly remarkable teacher and practitioner whose work profoundly impacts both individuals and communities. His unique approach combines deep expertise in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy with a heartfelt commitment to honoring the inherent health and wholeness within each person. As a mentor, Gary creates a learning environment that is both deeply nurturing and intellectually stimulating, encouraging students to connect with the Breath of Life and develop skills that bring lasting healing and balance. His compassion, wisdom, and dedication make him an extraordinary guide in this transformative field.” (H.H., Non-profit Administrator)
“Gary’s 35+ years of experience with biodynamic craniosacral healing and polarity energy healing blend in a truly masterful way. His wisdom, expertise, intuition, and genuine care for each client come through in his therapeutic touch and in his holistic approach to healing the mind, body, and spirit. Gary is truly gifted, both as a teacher and as a practitioner.” (K.P., Polarity Therapist)