Working with babies and their parents is a service and a mission that is dear to our hearts here at the STAR Institute. We agree with the wisdom of the adage, “However we treat the child, the child will treat the world.”  When babies are seen as fully conscious beings, and are loved, protected, nurtured, and treated with respect, they generally grow up to be kind and compassionate human beings who make valuable contributions to their families and communities.  So to help babies and their parents resolve distressful birth traumas and imprints, we practice and teach an eclectic skill set derived from:

• Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy
• Polarity Therapy
• Prenatal / Birth Therapy
• Settling Touch and Resource (STAR) Process
• Other gentle and non-invasive trauma therapy skills

The New BCST Skills Working  for with Babies Series is a comprehensive set of classes intended to introduce birth workers, craniosacral / bodywork practitioners and other caregivers to  this unique skill set for supporting babies and their parents.

These skills provide a gentle, compassionate and highly effective way to help babies and their parents resolve the primary and secondary effects of prenatal and birth traumas. These painful effects may include latching-on difficulties, immune, digestive and respiratory challenges, ear infections, cranial, spinal and pelvic compressions, umbilical shock, learning dysfunctions, bonding and attachment disruptions and any number of other painful conditions that may thwart the baby’s ability to grow and thrive, and dampen the potential for the newborn experience to be as magical and joyous as it might possibly be for both baby and her family.

Introduction to BCST Skills for Working with Babies
February 16-18, 2024 in Santa Cruz, CA

This 3-day class is a prelude to the 5-part series described below.  Students can take this 3-day Intro without any obligation to take the 5-part series.

New BCST Skills for Working with Babies (Part 1 in a 5 part series)

Working with the Effects of Prenatal Stress and Trauma (2-day class)

Only in the past 30 or so years have we begun to understand and advocate for the well-being of prenates as sentient (aware and conscious) beings. This workshop will help us deepen into that understanding, and will introduce us to perceiving prenates as “fluid beings,”  and thus vulnerable to “fluid shock and trauma.” This particular type of suffering, unique to prenates and newborns, can have an insidious effect on the little one’s autonomic nervous system (ANS) development and can result in symptoms and patterns that may last a lifetime. We’ll discuss and work with Biodynamic skills for resolving fluid shock and trauma in prenates and newborns.

The complete BCST Skills for Working with Babies Series (each class is 2-3 days, depending on location and time availability)

Part 1: Working with the Effects of Prenatal Stress and Trauma
Part 2: Working with the Effects of Anesthesia and Chemical Imprints
Part 3: Working with the Effects of Surgery and other Medical Interventions
Part 4: Working with the Effects of Umbilical Complications and Premature Cord-Cutting
Part 5: Working with Challenges to Secure Bonding and Attachment

About the Presenter

Gary Peterson is a Registered Craniosacral Therapist (RCST ®) who has been teaching and practicing energy therapies for over 30 years. He teaches Craniosacral Therapy trainings, Settling trainings and Working with Babies classes at various locations around the United States, as well birth surround workshops and other therapeutic work for the nervous system.

His teaching and private practice are inspired by his strong desire to understand and alleviate the deep causes of suffering found with 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.

Gary studied Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy with Franklyn Sills, a pioneer in the field of Craniosacral Biodynamics and author of several books in the field. Gary also studied Prenatal and Birth Therapy with Ray Castellino, himself a pioneer in the field of resolving birth traumas and imprints for babies and their families.

Gary’s first book, Settling: Simple Ways to Calm Your Nervous System, will be published soon.  This self-help manual provides you with a set of vital skills for regulating your nervous system to experience balance and relaxation. Gary and his wife Bonnie have 3 grown children and two grandchildren, and live in Sebastopol, California.

Questions? Feel free to contact Gary at gary.peterson@starinstitute.us