Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy focuses on restoring and/or achieving healthy breathing, sleep quality, speech clarity, and efficient chewing and swallowing. Each session is tailored to each individual and an evaluation and subsequent treatments address the root causes and aim to significantly improve clients' overall health. Therapy can improve:
-Breathing: establishing a tongue up, lips closed, nasal breathing posture. It can help eliminate/reduce sleep apnea by strengthening the muscles that support the airway. Improved breathing can lead to better sleep and improved energy levels.
-Speech Clarity: By strengthening and retraining the oral muscles, myofunctional therapy can improve articulation and enunciation.
-Improved chewing and swallowing: improve the coordination and strength of the muscles involved in chewing and swallowing. It can address issues related to tongue posture and swallowing patterns, making these functions more efficient and comfortable.
-Reduced Snoring and Sleep Apnea: By strengthening the muscles that support the airway, myofunctional therapy can reduce the severity of snoring and help manage sleep apnea.
-Improved Facial Appearance and Self-Esteem: OMDs can lead to visible changes in facial structure, such as an open mouth posture. Myofunctional therapy can help correct these issues, leading to a more balanced and harmonious facial appearance.
-Supporting Orthodontic Treatment: Myofunctional therapy can improve the outcome and stability of orthodontic treatment by retraining the tongue and oral muscles to maintain proper tooth alignment.
- It can also help prevent orthodontic relapse, where teeth shift back to their original positions after treatment
Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy
BCST can be helpful for alleviating various types of pain, including headaches, migraines, back pain, joint discomfort and more.
By working with the body's natural rhythms and subtle movements BCST addresses the physiological, neurological, and energetic aspects of trauma creating a safe and nurturing environment, facilitating the gradual regulation and integration of traumatic experiences on a somatic level.
BCST works with the autonomic nervous system to regulate the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. Shifting the body to a state of calm and relaxation.
BCST can enhance proprioception and interoception leading to improved coordination, balance, and overall performance. As well as assisting you in cultivating a deeper relationship to your body and it's needs.
Meet Liz Crawford
I am a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist (BCST) and Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) provider. I find absolute joy in the work that I do. I graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2013. Since, I have been practicing Speech and Language Therapy with adults in a rehab/TCU setting and in pediatrics. I found a passion for myofunctional therapy in 2016. I have since been learning and gaining skills in the tongue tie and airway world.
My life changed in 2021 when I became a mom. I found my journey into the craniosacral therapy field when my son was born. I realized I had a passion in this area and wanted to delve deeper and in 2024 I knew I wanted to make this part of my practice. I completed my BCST training in March 2026. I am practicing in my "she shed" located on our property in Ham Lake, MN. Surrounded by natures beauty of trees, wetlands, wildlife, I believe this is a great place to begin healing and growth.
Outside of BCST and SLP, I have a passion for the outdoors! I enjoy hiking through county, state, and national parks. Backpacking, tenting, and spending time in the wilderness. I love water: lakes, beaches, oceans. I enjoy playing pickleball, grounding, watching sunrise/sunset, exploring new places. It has been quite an adventure growing and learning who I am as an individual, spouse, and a parent. It it truly amazing watching my kids grow and learn.