FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

William, what do you do? (The conventional response.)

I evaluate your needs based on our conversations and my observations. I then select from about a dozen different therapy modalities that I have mastered to support your healing. The principle ones for your body are CranialSacral Therapy, Acupressure, Visceral Manipulation, Decompression Somatics, Somatic Neural Awareness, and various other massage modalities. I work with your clothes on.

As a holistic therapist, I also use conversational modes of therapy as well. People refer to this as mentoring, life coaching, or counseling. Potent conversation forms a vital core for healing stress and helping you to live a life you wholeheartedly love.

What is CranialSacral Therapy?

CranialSacral Therapy is the gentle manipulation of the bones of the head and the pelvis primarily to influence the deep fluid structures in the body.

Life expresses itself as motion. At a deep level of our physiological functioning all healthy, living tissues subtly "breathe" with the motion of life - a phenomenon that produces rhythmic impulses which can be palpated by sensitive hands.

The presence of these subtle rhythms in the body was discovered by osteopath Dr William Sutherland over 100 years ago, after he had a remarkable insight while examining the specialized articulations of cranial bones. Contrary to popular belief Dr Sutherland realized that cranial sutures were, in fact, designed to express small degrees of motion. He undertook many years of research during which he demonstrated the existence of this motion and eventually concluded it is essentially produced by the body's inherent life force, which he referred to as the "Breath of Life."

Furthermore, Dr Sutherland discovered that the motion of cranial bones he first discovered is closely connected to subtle movements that involve a network of interrelated tissues and fluids at the core of the body; including cerebrospinal fluid (the 'sap in the tree'), the central nervous system, the membranes that surround the central nervous system and the sacrum. Dr. Michael Kern.

Therapists use CranialSacral Therapy as a preventive health measure and curative mode, favoring it for its ability to bolster resistance to disease. It performs well because it wonderfully complements your body's natural healing processes. Very cool stuff.

Therapists also love it because of its effective benefits for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.

Obviously, patients love it because of its effectiveness. Perhaps, even more they love its profoundly deep gentleness. People often feel quite tranquil at the end of their session.

A partial list of conditions that CranialSacral Therapy addresses well -

• All Headaches Including Migraine Headaches
• Chronic Neck and Back Pain
• Motor-Coordination Impairments
• Colic
• Central Nervous System Disorders
• Orthopedic Problems
• Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
• Scoliosis
• Learning Disabilities
• Chronic Fatigue
• Emotional Difficulties
• Stress and Tension-Related Problems
• Fibromyalgia and Other Connective-Tissue Disorders
• Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
• Neurovascular Immune Disorders
• Immune Disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Post-Surgical Dysfunction

CranialSacral Therapy forms the core of BodyTherapy. I have been using it since 1974.

How does CranialSacral Therapy work?

It works with the body's almost infinite reflexes, fluids, glands, brain, and the nervous system. The brain "breathes" cerebrospinal fluid like the ocean tides. This potent fluid nourishes the brain and the spinal cord. This tide directly influences the immune system. By working with the tides, I can help your immune system, your glands, your boney structure, both your central and autonomic nervous systems. In short it works with all of you.

In addition, the cranial bones are linked mechanically to all the bones of the body, so I can bring more balance anywhere in your body by accessing this cranial rhythm.

The effects of cranial therapy are far reaching and only partially known. We are engaging a body-wisdom beyond our ken. I "listen" and follow its lead. The work is extraordinarily gentle, long lasting, and effective.

Do you offer conversational therapy, life coaching, mentoring, without the hands on work?

Yes. I offer this in my office, and I sometimes see patients in my home in West Seattle for conversational therapy on Wednesdays. For the most part, you will find the therapy is much more powerful when you combine the multiple physical modalities with the conversational work. This is Body & Soul Mentoring.

What kinds of things do people see you for?

People schedule an initial visit for the whole range of physical complaints. They continue to come because they discover that they are able to do their deep healing work with me.

Your reason will be unique to you. It may not make perfect sense to you, but it should feel right.

Have you ever worked on _______________?

In over three decades of helping people and working in a few amazing clinics, I have worked with just about everything. Have I helped these people? Yes, for the most part. But as you know by now, healing is a complex mix of many things. Can I help you? Call me; let's talk about your concerns. (See above under CranialSacral Therapy for more.)

What about stress?

"Mental tensions, frustrations, insecurity, aimlessness are among the most damaging stressors, and psychosomatic studies have shown how often they cause migraine headache, peptic ulcers, heart attacks, hypertension, mental disease, suicide, or just hopeless unhappiness." Hans Selye

One school of thought says stress is the source of all disease. I think that's right. A physician once said to me, "All symptoms go away on vacation and return when you do." Have you noticed this?

"It's not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it." Hans Selye

My conversational therapies and my BodyTherapy act to support you in living in ways that keep stress in balance. Goldilocks said, "Not too much, not too little, but just right." This is our aim.

I read that you are "the massage therapist of physicians", do you mentor professionals?

I love to work with other therapists, counselors, and doctors. I am honored to help them.

What hours do you see patients?

I see patients Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and some Saturdays in my Madison Park office between the hours of 7:30 AM and 1:00 PM. On Wednesdays, I see patients in my home by appointment for conversational therapy modes only.

How long is a session?

One hour.

How often do people come to see you?

When people consider how often to come, they weigh the effectiveness of the sessions, their physical, mental, spiritual needs, their finances and their schedule. Some come weekly, some once every season. If the time between sessions becomes longer than once a season it becomes more difficult to make progress.

Rhythm works well for your body and your emotional self. Every week or every two, three, or four weeks works very well. Three weeks is a physical cycle and four weeks is the well known lunar cycle and works well for emotional strengthening. (Clearly, two weeks is a half cycle and works well, too.)

I prefer the three week cycle. It allows time for your body to integrate the work and for you to explore the ideas and insights that arise in your session. And it give you time to generate the next level of questions and steps. Obviously, it's less expensive in time and money, too.

I hear you work eight weeks in the office, then take a two-week sabbatical, is that so?

Yes. I find this rhythm restores me, keeps me fresh, inspired and delighted to work with people.

Have you written anything?

I hear you have a wonderful newsletter, how do I get it?

Methods of payment?

My preferred payment is by check. I can take Visa and MasterCard. If you talk to me, you can use PayPal. You may pay in cash, but as often I don't have change, please bring exact amount.

Insurance & Medicare

Although I am no longer a specific provider for any companies, your insurance may have "out of network" coverage or wording like that for massage therapy. Check with your carrier.

I sometimes take personal injury insurance, but mostly I reserve this for people who are already patients of mine or their families.

Medicare doesn't cover massage therapy at the moment.

What about missed appointments? Do you have a fee?

I require 24 hours notice or I will charge you for the session simply because I save that time just for you. Historically I have found it difficult to fill your appointment. Please use the phone to notify me - 206.328.2073 -- as I am not likely to get your email until after your appointment.

Obviously, the more lead time the better for me and for you as it will be easier to find a new appointment time that works for you.

Can I make appointments through email?

Yes, it is often easier than voice mail. Note: I read my mail at 5:30 AM and in the afternoon. During the day after 5:30 AM, I won't see your email. Use the phone, please - 206.328.2073

Do you make referrals to other healers?

Yes. I interview great healers and find ones I trust will do a great job for you. I find that each branch of medicine looks with different eyes, they see different aspects of health. So what one misses the other finds easy. You can imagine, the acupuncturist see things very differently from the surgeon.

Over the years, I have referred to massage therapists, chiropractors, physiatrists, MDs, acupuncturists, osteopaths, shamans, psychics, surgeons, physical therapists, spiritual directors, pastors, priests, dentists, naturopaths, psychiatrists, counselors, teachers, and mentors.

Does your daughter, Sasha Wittmann, LMP, do the same things you do?

Sasha is a massage therapist that does unique work that complements my work very well. It does not replace mine. Although it could be a better fit for you than my work. I see her as a patient and refer patients to her frequently, not just because she's my daughter. (She works afternoons in our office.)

William, how do I make referrals to you?

What do the letters after you name mean? (William Wittmann, M.Ed. LMP)

The M.Ed. refers to my master's degree in education from Antioch University where I focused on counseling/psychology. The LMP stands for Licensed Massage Practitioner.

What do you do? Really. How do you do the magic you seem to do? (The philosophical response.)

What I do isn't so important. It's what happens in our relationship that creates the healing. It's who we BE.

Another way to address this is to say, "God does the healing." Although that's certainly true, it doesn't satisfy, does it?

I hold a space for healing to take place in. Sure, I have studied for decades to refine my therapy skills. But it is the hours and hours of time I spend in silence, time I spend in Presence that really allows me to hold space for you, or to hold space for the work to take place. This is a space where your highest and best can show up to handle anything that presents itself.

Here's a therapy phenomenon that few will share. When people make an appointment with me, the very moment they make the appointment, they start to heal. I haven't done anything. Unscrupulous therapists will say, "See how powerful I am… You get well before you even enter the office."

More enlightened ones may ask, "So, since you made the commitment to come see me, what's gotten better." This points out to the patient how powerful their own intention is, how powerful their commitment to heal is.

One of my favorite doctors said, "You know, William, most of what we do is boiling water, waiting for the ten minute conversation that changes everything."

For me that is about as close as it gets to the truth.

Another cool example -

After people have been seeing me for awhile, they can simply ask themselves between session when a problem comes up, "What would William say?" When they report the answers they get, it's always brilliant and usually much better than I would have come up with.

Having said all that, I notice nothing happens without me either. It the alchemy of the healing relationship that does the work.

If you want more on this mystery called healing, you can talk to me. Or you can read more on this site.

You may contact me if you want more information.