Our therapists are all fully certified and very experienced. 

OUR CO-FOUNDERS

Robert Harris, RMT, Craniosacral Therapist, Instructor and co-founder of the CTC

With a prior background practicing and teaching hatha yoga, Robert F. Harris’ start as an R.M.T. began more than twenty eight years ago.  He has specialized in craniosacral therapy since 1986, co-founding and directing The Cranial Therapy Centre in Toronto with his partner Alix McLaughlin.  Robert has been an instructor since 1990, at times having taught more than 500 students in a year.  In 1998 Robert moved away from teaching at the Upledger Institute, to begin offering courses of an accelerated intensive nature.

Years of international teaching, training parents, combined with an extensive full time clinical practice has led to Robert’s development of a unique course format that enables rapid in-depth student learning, rich student experiences and accuracy not found elsewhere.  Robert’s years as a craniosacral specialist enables him to teach at the most basic level, as well as with professionals seeking to upgrade their skills or engage in a preceptorship or focused training.

Alix McLaughlin, RMT, Craniosacral Therapist, Instructor and co-founder of the CTC

Alix co-founded the Cranial Therapy Centre in 1987.  Her involvement in bodywork began in 1978, when she became a registered massage therapist and  practiced  for 7 years.  Then, while seeking treatment for post-surgical pain and scar tissue, she experienced Craniosacral Therapy for the first time. It brought her a more effective reduction of pain, inflammation and restricted motion in just two sessions than she had gained after weeks of physiotherapy, massage and acupuncture. It was at that time that she decided to devote herself to helping her patients achieve similar remarkable and lasting results.

Alix was fortunate to complete all the cranio-sacral training personally with osteopath Dr John Upledger, in Florida.  In 1989, she became an instructor for the Upledger Institute and for the next 14 years trained health professionals and practitioners in Canada, the United States and abroad.

She treats clients of all ages at her practice in Toronto. She has a passion for treating babies and believes that early release of the pressures of birth on an infant cranium may avoid many learning disabilities and brain dysfunctions later on in life.  She has successfully treated newborns and infants for many conditions including birth trauma, nursing difficulties, excessive crying, colic and asymmetrically shaped heads.

She has also successfully treated children for developmental delays, behavioural disorders, strabismus, learning disabilities, musculoskeletal problems and pain.  Adults come to her for low energy, pain, injuries, headaches and some neurological conditions.

Her training also includes visceral manipulation  (Dr Jean Pierre Barral D.O. France), Biodynamic Cranial (Franklyn Sills Institute), Milne Cranial  (Dr Hugh Milne D.O.), Cranio-Structural Integration
(Dallas Hancock), Cranial and Fascial  Release (Dr Guy Voyer D.O.), Zero Balancing (Dr. Fritz Smith D.O.) and Mindfulness Meditation.

Alix has a particular interest in personal growth and self-awareness and aims to help her patients find their inner calm and peace.

Interview with Alix on Craniosacral Therapy.

CTC THERAPISTS

Anne Harris, RMT, Craniosacral Therapist

Anne believes that everyone’s body will give clues to how it can heal and balance itself. With sensitivity, gentleness and years of experience, Anne works to address each client’s needs regardless of age or symptoms.

Her practice is enhanced by a diverse and longstanding background of other bodywork which includes the following: Sivananda Yoga Teacher training (1973), Feldenkrais Method Training-both Awareness Through Movement and Functional Integration (1984-1988), Registered Massage Therapist in 1991, Visceral manipulation courses, A&B Voyer and Craniosacral Pediatric courses by Robert Harris.

A personal goal of Anne’s is to empower her clients, whether it be through an individualized stretching program, awareness through movement, educational self-care methods, pain management or whatever works best with each individual. Craniosacral therapy is the main part of her practice. She first studied craniosacral in 1989 with the Upledger Institute and completed all levels up to the advanced. Since then, she has also instructed study groups and given individual tutorials in Craniosacral, plus been a teacher’s assistant for many courses.

Some of her personal interests are spending time with nature, making a good soup and meditating.

Izabella Kossobudzki, MA, DSHomMed, RMT, RCST

Izabella Kossobudzki has been in practice for over twenty years in the fields of alternative health, specializing in Craniosacral therapy and Homeopathy.

A large part of her Craniosacral work deals with head injuries, central nervous system issues and chronic conditions (such as chronic pain, migraines, anxiety, fibromyalgia, arthritis).  In addition, she has a particular interest in working with babies, children, pregnant women and the elderly, covering a gamut of issues from colic and ADHD to allergies and low energy.

Her Craniosacral work is complemented by her training as a homeopath, nutritionist and practitioner in specialized kinesiology.  Izabella teaches classes in nutrition, and in neuromuscular and energy balancing.  She is also a qualified instructor in all 4 levels of the Touch For Health certification series – a specialized method of muscle/energy testing and balancing.

Outside of the clinic, Izabella relaxes with her husband on their farm property where they both enjoy growing their own organic vegetables and their new apple orchard, and working on small wetland conservation project designed to encourage the nesting habits of native birds and wildlife.

A graduate of the Upledger Institute, Biodynamic Craniosacral Training, Toronto School of Homeopathic Medicine, Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, International Kinesiology Institute, and the M.A. program from the University of Toronto, Izabella is also a registered massage therapist, and a member of CST

A/NA, IAHP, and IKCS.

Karen Morch, Craniosacral Therapist, Energy Intuitive

Karen’s experience and training in the healing arts spans over twenty years, developed through a wide range of modalities.  She is passionate about Craniosacral therapy as it offers the opportunity to treat a wide range of conditions encompassing all systems of the body as well as emotional, and/or spiritual aspects of health and well being.

With over a decade of experience and advanced Craniosacral trainig she is inspired by the success rates achieved in pain relief, particularly for chronic headaches/migraines, sciatica and TMJ, just to mention a few.

Karen also has over 15 years of extensive training in Shamanic Healing techniques and engages these paradigms of wellness and healing when requested.  This frequently includes “Sound Healing” sessions.  Upholding a fundamental belief that the body knows best how to heal itself, she offers her clients self-healing techniques.  These include aspects of the Alexander structural re-alignemnt technique, breathe and energy clearing through Qi Gong, and the remarkable Denis Chagnon Grounding techniques.  As an outdoors-person, professional dancer and past Olympic athlete she has an in depth knowlege in the repair and maintenance of optimal physical performance.

Whatever presents itself, Karen is willing to work with you from your experience and individual frame of reference, whether you are seeking structural realignment or soft tissue release for tramautic or chronic injury; the regular wear and tear of life; a specific health condition or disease; or personal growth and development.  She is an enthusiastic, skilled practitioner.  Her intutitive skills provide unique assessment and therapeutic abilities.   Combined with a ready sense of humour her work is powerful, transformative and uplifting.

Mark Riddell, Craniosacral Therapist, RMT

Mark was first exposed to Craniosacral Therapy while attending the Sutherland-Chan massage program and knew immediately that it was where his future lay. He took two Upledger Courses in 1987, and upon graduating from Sutherland-Chan in 1988 began a full-time practice as a Craniosacral Therapist. He has a keen interest in working with infants and children, and is experienced in treating birth trauma, developmental delay and autism.

Mark’s varied practice includes extensive work with adult clients as well, and he has a special interest in trauma, brain injuries and chronic fatigue. His wide-ranging clinical experience has been supplemented with additional training in SER, visceral manipulation and more recently, biodynamic Craniosacral.

Mary Margaret Heron, Craniosacral Therapist, RMT, DO

Mary Margaret has practiced Craniosacral Therapy since 1994. She was drawn to the subtle touch of the work, and the powerful results that it brought about.

Mary Margaret is particularly interested in working with structural dysfunctions and visceral manipulation, seeking to restore the natural balance of the body, and it’s natural expression of health. She has completed the five-year core program at the Canadian College of Osteopathy and is a licensed Osteopath.

Her background also includes skating, rowing and martial arts, as well as study in commercial art and jewelry design.