Cranial Osteopathy Hackney, East London.

Yourbodyknows

thewayhome

Book with Ben

Bodies can be a pain. I offer a safe space where you can begin to access a deeper state of rest.

Ben Katz, osteopath

I'm an experienced cranial osteopath with specialist training and over twenty years in practice. I'm a faculty member at the Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy and I have been practising in London since 2004.

  • 20+ years in practice
  • SCCO Cranial educator
  • 9yrs Biodynamics of Osteopathy training
  • MSc Paediatric Osteopathy

What does cranial osteopathy involve?

Cranial osteopathy is a profoundly relaxing way to reconnect with your body's innate capacity for health. Here's what I offer:

  • Expert insight

    I will look beyond your symptoms to see the bigger picture and dig deeper to find the root of the problem.

  • Personalised care

    I will listen to your story to understand what's really important to you and work with you to figure out what you need.

  • The human touch

    I will help you rediscover that state of deep rest where you remember how it feels to be at home and at ease.

Ben is an exceptionally skilful and caring osteopath and I highly recommend him.

Dawn Thein

What can cranial osteopathy help with?

Cranial osteopathy is a holistic, person-centred approach that focuses on promoting health rather than treating conditions.

Andrew Taylor Still, founder of osteopathy

"To find health should be the object of the doctor.
Anyone can find disease."

Andrew Taylor Still
Founder of Osteopathy

People come to me for a variety of reasons. Cranial osteopathy can't solve everything — but rebuilding your relationship with your body can make a profound difference to how you feel.

How do I know if cranial osteopathy is right for me?

The things we hold onto often make life more difficult than it needs to be. Here are some of the common reasons people seek my help:

Something doesn't feel quite right

Sometimes our bodies don't behave how they're supposed to. Whether it's a minor discomfort, a nagging tension, or just the feeling that you're not quite at home — cranial osteopathy offers a different approach.

The tension is rising

When life gets on top of us, the tension can quickly mount up. Cranial osteopathy goes deeper than deep tissue — meeting you as a person, not a muscular machine. If you want to recover your capacity for rest, I'm here to help.

When the quick fix fails

Pain is not the enemy, it's a call for attention. The quick fix rarely lasts because the body never forgets — until its message has been heard, it cannot truly rest. If you're ready to explore what your body's trying to tell you, I can help you hear its call.

Find the way home

Whatever you're holding, my aim is to meet you where you are, so you can begin to let go of what's not needed anymore. A cranial session is an opportunity to remember — you can trust your body, it knows the way home.

I found Ben's treatment amazingly relaxing and I feel he has also improved my wellbeing overall.

Kat Dixon

What do cranial osteopaths do?

This is how I work:

Listening to your story

I will make time to listen to your story so I can fully appreciate what you've been through and what led you to seek my help.

Observing your posture and movement

I'll pay careful attention to how you hold yourself. I'll observe your posture and gently assess how freely your body moves. This can give me important clues about what you're holding and how it might be contributing to the way you feel.

Identifying the cause

I will use my hands to gently listen to your body, so I can evaluate where you're holding tension, what impact it's having, and what kind of support it needs to let go. I may also carry out standard clinical tests, like checking your reflexes or listening to your chest.

Helping you make sense of what's happening

There are many reasons why we struggle. I'll use my clinical knowledge and experience to help you understand what's going on in your body and figure out what kind of support you need.

Finding ease

The aim of treatment is to help you access a deeper state of rest. I'll gently support your body so the parts that are tense can begin to let go.

Beyond the clinic

Alongside the treatment, I provide individually tailored advice on anything you can do to support what we've started. If there's something that requires further investigation or another kind of treatment, I may recommend that you see another health professional or discuss it with your GP.

Ben is a terrific osteopath, who has genuine concern for his patients and their wellbeing. He has extensive knowledge and a very calm and reassuring manner and is my “go-to” for a treatment when I feel my own wellbeing needs a boost.

Catherine H

How does cranial osteopathy work?

Much of the tension we experience in everyday life comes from the adaptations our bodies have made to things that have happened to us in the past. For example, accidents, illnesses and injuries often leave us with unresolved stresses and strains. This is a normal part of life — and our bodies have an incredible capacity to compensate — but, as the tension mounts up, it can start to impact on our quality of life. The cranial approach reframes the way we think about what this means:

Pain is not the enemy

Every tension or strain is a call for attention. Every symptom or struggle is a message from the depths. The more we fight it, the more we suffer — and the longer we ignore it, the louder it must shout.

The body never forgets

We have forgotten how to listen. So we push on through. But the quick fix rarely lasts — because the body never forgets. Until its message has been heard, it cannot find its way home.

The path home

We need help to remember that the moment has passed – to listen to the body so we can let go and be whole. Take a moment to breathe and listen to your body. How does it respond when you truly hear its call?

An invitation

Whether you are struggling to find ease, or simply searching for a deeper connection, I offer a safe space to rebuild your relationship with your body. I will help you find your way back to that state of deep rest where the tension and the tumult can start to drop away, so you can make peace with your body and find your way home.

Ready to book with Ben?

It’s weird not to feel the manipulation as it happens. But it’s wonderful to realise the problems go away little by little.

Antonella Montressori
Read more of my reviews on Google

Ben Katz

BOst, MSc, PgCert, FSCCO, FHEA

Ben Katz, osteopath

I believe that osteopathy can make a meaningful difference to people of all ages, whatever challenges they face with their health.

I've been practising cranial osteopathy in London since 2004 and I enjoy working with people from all walks of life.

As a faculty member of the Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy, I teach osteopaths who are training in the cranial approach. In addition to the SCCO's ten module training pathway, I completed James Jealous' renowned nine year Biodynamics of Osteopathy programme in 2021.

I am a Clinical Tutor at the Osteopathic Centre for Children, an international centre of excellence for paediatric osteopathy. I have extensive experience working with babies and children of all ages, including at the OCC's service for premature babies in the NICU at Barnet Hospital.

Giving something back has always been important to me. I am a former President of the Institute of Osteopathy and served as Secretary for the Osteopathic Alliance. On behalf of the Osteopathic Development Group, I led development of guidance for osteopaths who work with children.

Frequently asked questions

What is cranial osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathy is a non-invasive form of assessment and treatment that uses therapeutic touch to help people to be more comfortable in their bodies — without the need for strong manipulation. Despite the name, the principles and techniques can be applied to the whole body.
What does a cranial osteopath do?
Cranial osteopaths apply a modern scientific understanding of anatomy, physiology and psychology to the use of therapeutic touch. They use their hands to identify areas of tension or imbalance in the body and try to make sense of where it's come from, what impact it's having and what kind of support it needs to resolve. During the treatment, they will hold different parts of your body to support them to rebalance. The treatment is very gentle and most people find it deeply relaxing.
What can cranial osteopathy help with?
Cranial osteopathy is a holistic, person-centred approach that focuses on promoting health rather than treating conditions. People come to me for a variety of reasons — from a feeling that something doesn't quite feel right, to rising tension that isn't shifting, or a problem that hasn't responded to other treatments. Cranial osteopathy can't solve everything — but rebuilding your relationship with your body can make a profound difference to how you feel.
How is cranial osteopathy different from craniosacral therapy?
Craniosacral therapists and cranial osteopaths use a similar treatment approach. The main difference is the training and regulatory frameworks that govern their practice. Osteopaths have a statutorily appointed regulator and must complete a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised clinical practice during their 3–4 year undergraduate degrees. This is in addition to any specialist training in cranial osteopathy after they qualify. Craniosacral therapists are not licensed to diagnose problems independently in the UK, which means they may not be able to give you the same level of insight into what's happening.
What does a cranial osteopathy session feel like?
The techniques I use involve less force than you might use when holding a kitten. People can feel a range of sensations in their bodies — or nothing at all. Some people describe it as similar to meditation. Most find it deeply relaxing and people sometimes fall asleep.
Is cranial osteopathy safe?
Every osteopath in the UK is registered with the General Osteopathic Council, the government-appointed regulator that sets the standards for safety and quality in clinical practice. Choosing an experienced cranial osteopath who has completed specialist training will give you the confidence that you are in safe hands. I have been practising cranial osteopathy in London since 2004 and I am a faculty member at the Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy.

Other ways I can help

  • Children's osteopathy

    As your baby grows, osteopathy adapts with them. Find out about specialist care for children.

    Children's osteopathy

  • Pregnancy & postpartum

    I also work with pregnant women and new mothers. Find out how osteopathy can support you through pregnancy and recovery.

    Pregnancy osteopathy
Not sure yet? Book a free telephone consultation Book an appointment