Daska Hatton

I am a well established Alexander Technique Teacher and Craniosacral Therapist. I work from a dedicated studio in Notting Hill, West London.

A long time ago, during a period of extreme stress, the Alexander Technique saved my life. From first hand experience, I started to see the ways in which our bodies hold on to trauma causing pain and discomfort on both physical and emotional levels. The experience set me on the path to becoming an Alexander Technique Teacher and Craniosacral Therapist with a particular interest in how stress affects the body.

I’ve been using these disciplines to help clients with stress, tension and physical pain for over 20 years. My approach combines the Alexander Technique and Craniosacral Therapy with stillness and deep, spacious listening to bring balance to body and mind, leading to healing and long-term change. In order to enhance my practice I am currently training as a Transpersonal Integrative Psychotherapist.

I am the co-author of 'Every Body Tells a Story', (https://tinyurl.com/jhkp3t6) a fascinating account of the relationship between teacher/therapist and client – its innovative approach has gained widespread praise, including from acclaimed psychotherapist Susie Orbach.

Describing a unique journey through ten bodywork sessions from the standpoints of a fictional client ‘Anna’, and her therapist, ‘Sarah’, we take you behind the scenes to witness the client’s voyage of discovery, and how the encounter appears to her therapist during the course of treatment.

Listen to an interview for the Heart’s Happiness podcast explaining how I approach healing from trauma - https://tinyurl.com/yxwrebzu.

How Therapy can Help You

In a typical session, you will usually lie (or sometimes sit) fully-clothed on a treatment couch. The therapist will make contact by placing their hands lightly on your body.

The first thing you will probably notice is a sense of deep relaxation, which will generally last throughout the session. This release of tension often extends into everyday life.

Sometimes the benefits are not immediately noticeable but become obvious on returning to a familiar environment. The work is often deeply moving and exhilarating.

To fully benefit you may need more than one or two sessions. Together we decide on how many sessions will be best for you. Some people respond well after 3 – 5 sessions, others find that our sessions become an on-going valuable resource that supports both their health and well-being.

The Alexander Technique teaches us to become aware of how we use our minds and our bodies in daily activity. Through a series of lessons we begin to recognize and prevent habits of tension in our everyday lives. It is a simple and practical way in which to improve ease and freedom of movement, balance, support and coordination.

Craniosacral Therapy aims to create the conditions in which change can occur. Through a gentle contact the therapist seeks to encourage the body to release long held anxieties and tensions. It is a form of listening without words and as such it can be a powerful and useful support to the talking therapies.