Cherionna Menzam-Sills PhD

Cherionna Menzam-Sills draws on her extensive background in prenatal and perinatal psychology, embryology, bodywork, Continuum, and other somatic therapies, as well as years of working with her husband, Biodynamics pioneer Franklyn Sills, to enhance her writing, teaching and clinical practice. She is certified as a teacher of Craniosacral Biodynamics with the Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America (BCTA/NA), and as a supervisor by the Craniosacral Association of the UK. Authorized in 2007 as a Continuum Movement Teacher by Continuum founder, Emilie Conrad, she integrates Continuum into her work, to enhance embodied understanding and experiential exploration of important concepts. Continuum is a mindful movement practice involving perceptual shifts and healing potential similar to those of Biodynamics. Incorporating many years experience teaching and practicing various therapies since the late 70s, including mindfulness practices, somatic movement, bodywork, occupational therapy, psychotherapy and prenatal and birth psychology, Cherionna has taught students of somatic and dance/movement psychotherapy, as well as prenatal and perinatal psychology at graduate and under-graduate levels at Naropa University and the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. Cherionna’s doctoral work led her to develop a uniquely embodied approach to teaching embryology, which she has continued to develop since the mid-90s, incorporating it into her teaching and writing. Her somatic understanding of embryology enhances her sense of our fluid nature and universal Biodynamic forces guiding our formation both in the womb and in Biodynamic session work. Cherionna has taught Biodynamics and Continuum across North America and Europe, often with her husband, Biodynamics pioneer, Franklyn Sills. Before becoming a senior tutor at Karuna Institute, teaching alongside its co-founder, Franklyn Sills, she taught her own Biodynamic trainings in Canada and the U.S., as well as guest teaching at the Craniosacral Therapy Educational Trust in London, UK and Stillpoint in NYC. As well as having taught seminars and workshops in Europe, the US and Canada, she teaches globally via the online school that she and Franklyn Sills established at www.resourcingyourlife.org. Courses include Craniosacral Biodynamics, Continuum, and Pre- and Perinatal Psychology/Therapy. Cherionna teaches a training for practitioners to support healing and awareness of prenatal and birth-related issues called Our Journey Here. Cherionna has studied Pre and Perinatal Psychology and therapy since the mid-90s with pioneers in the field, William R. Emerson, and Ray Castellino. She has facilitated small womb surround process workshops based on Castellino's approach since 2012. She also offers training for practitioners in Pre and Perinatal Psychology. Cherionna has contributed three chapters to Franklyn’s pivotal texts, Foundations in Craniosacral Biodynamics, Volumes 1 and 2, as well as having helped edit them. Through her relationship with Franklyn, Cherionna has accessed new levels of clarity in her understanding and ability to articulate this powerful work. Teaching and discussing Biodynamics with Franklyn have enabled her to embrace an updated, more purely Biodynamic approach to Craniosacral Therapy. She has been immersed in the Biodynamic community through being on the Board of Directors of the BCTA/NA and extensive mentoring with Anna Chitty, a major teacher of Biodynamics in Boulder, CO. She also has presented at Biodynamic conferences in the U.S., UK, Germany and Spain, integrating her somatic creativity to engage her audience in the profound mysteries of this beautiful work. Originally from Canada, Cherionna lives with her husband in Devon, UK, where she has a private practice, currently emphasising online supervision and mentoring. More information on Cherionna and her work at www.birthingyourlife.org