We are so excited to be welcoming a new practitioner to our team at Craniosacral Center of Grand Rapids, Erin O’Brien-Jenison! Erin is an incredibly talented therapist who has a wonderfully calming presence and deep knowledge about the power of craniosacral to provide wholeness and healing. We love her, and we know you’re going to love her too!
Erin completed her training at the prestigious Upledger institute and been practicing as a therapist since 2022. Erin has completed extensive training with Upledger, including CranioSacral Therapy levels 1 and 2, as well as SomatoEmotional Release 1 and CranioSacral Therapy for Pediatrics.
To help you get to know Erin, we interviewed her and asked her to share her experiences and knowledge with us. Read on to learn more about Erin and don’t forget to book your appointment with her before her schedule fills!
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Grand Rapids?
I was born in Ann Arbor and grew up in Kalamazoo, but I’ve called Grand Rapids home for the past 18 years. I studied Spanish and elementary education at Grand Valley State University, and I was a Spanish immersion educator at Forest Hills Public Schools for 10 years. As a teacher, I loved helping students grow their abilities while fostering their sense of community. We had lots of fun in our classes, with lots of creative expression, mindful movement, time in nature, and laughter. I always taught a lot of science, and I was always fascinated by scientific processes, specifically how the body works and how everything is interconnected.
What drew you to craniosacral therapy?
Kelly was our doula for our first child, and we had an amazing connection. She is such a warm, rooted person. So when I heard she was offering craniosacral therapy, I decided to give it a try for a stubborn shoulder injury that was causing me pain. I had been to physical therapy, but I hadn’t seen much progress. While lying on the table in my first session, I felt my shoulder completely open up and relax. It was amazing! I thought to myself, “What is this amazing modality? I need to know more about this.”
What made you decide to study craniosacral therapy?
I was listening to Kelly speak about craniosacral therapy on a podcast interview. She talked about helping a woman with her grief during her sessions and how the weight of grief was manifesting in her body. Her sessions took her from a place of deep despair to feeling renewed and euphoric. I thought, “The body is amazing. I want to help people in that way.” I had this instant knowing that I was meant to do this work. Thankfully, I was able to take a year off from teaching and pursue my studies at the Upledger Institute. On my first day of training, I had a clear sense that I was in my element; it was such a natural fit for me. I remember sitting in my first class and thinking “Wow! I'm learning from Dr. Upledger's colleagues and students!” They spoke about him with such love and reverence. He was truly ahead of his time and it is an honor to be part of continuing his legacy.
What do you love about craniosacral therapy and being a craniosacral therapist?
I absolutely love how the body responds when you give it that space to communicate what it needs. It’s like a puzzle to solve, but the body guides you. I love how gentle it is, yet so effective. A lot of health care is deciding what the body wants, doing it and seeing what happens. With craniosacral, we observe the symptoms and say, “Let’s figure out what the body wants to work on first,” and then we go from there. It’s incredible the progress you can make when you start from working with the body, rather than against it.
It’s a big change from being a teacher to being a craniosacral therapist. How has that been for you and what similarities have you found?
Actually, I feel that I’m continuing with very similar work, just in a different way. As a teacher, I loved helping students grow and giving them a sense of community. I loved seeing where each child was at and helping them on their journey, especially those who needed extra support. I’ve always known that I was meant to continue helping families, but just in a new way. I’m really excited to help children, families and adults that need that extra support. And in the same way, I’m still teaching people — helping them tune into their own bodies to find healing and understanding what it means to commit to your own health. I can tell them from my own experience what it’s like to come to craniosacral therapy occasionally, versus really committing to it and seeing a huge shift in my health. So for me, it’s the next step on the same journey of caring for people and supporting them.
What experiences have you had as a craniosacral therapist that have been meaningful for you?
I really love each and every session. At the beginning of each session, I set the intention to be of service, allowing the session to unfold, trusting my knowledge and intuition to guide the process. It is so energizing to share in the progress that my clients experience. I have had a lot of clients come to me with anxiety, who have been so amazed how much more calm and centered they felt by calming the central nervous system.
One of my clients experienced Bell's Palsy, which had affected the vision on one of her eyes. After a few sessions, she noticed that she could see better out of the eye that was affected. The only logical explanation was that we were allowing the bones of the skull to be where they wanted to be and freeing up the tissue surrounding those bones, which allowed the cranial nerves to function better. I was very honored to support the body in that way.
Why are you excited to work at the Craniosacral Center of Grand Rapids?
Since Kelly was our doula, I’ve been able to watch her progression from her dedicated doula work to full time craniosacral therapist, and it’s really exciting to see how many families she has been able to help. I love the space at CSTGR. It is so inviting and relaxing to be in a space with views of nature. The work that we do with clients is centering and it is joyful, too. A lot of health care environments are very sterile, and that can feel uncomfortable. The comfort that we provide our clients is just really beautiful.
What are some fun facts about you?
Well, I have three kids, and my husband is very creative - he’s a musician, painter and chef. We have lots of dance parties and family art projects. We build Lego creations together. We love being in nature, like taking walks in the park or swimming in the lake. I love Greek, Indian, Thai, and Mexican cuisine. I am fluent in Spanish and I am super friendly so I naturally meet new people wherever I travel.
What words of wisdom guide you or what mantras do you live by?
“Be the light and keep shining, so others can shine, too. When the clouds overwhelm you, immerse yourself in water or put your feet on the ground in the forest and let your heart be renewed.”
When are you in the office and how does someone get on your schedule?
Currently, I am working Mondays from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 to 5 p.m. To book an appointment, you can call or text the office at (616) 433-3003 or book online at this link. I can’t wait to see you on the table and see what healing we can create in your life together!