With almost 50 years in the field, I have made some interesting discoveries that have lead up to the current Gillespie Approach.
I found that virtually everyone was living with the effects of trauma in space (head to toe) and time (back to conception).
I discovered that many diseases responded well to therapy. I never saw that coming.
I was totally amazed that virtually any fussy baby with many incurable issues could become a happy baby—just with this therapy.
I discovered that many childhood and adult conditions were rooted in soft tissue birth trauma.
I found early on that we could work with the craniosacral fascial system through clothing. That made the office flow much better where patients could get on and off the table quickly without wasting time with clothing changes, body oil, therapists washing sheets, etc.
I discovered that I could use the patient’s hands as my third and fourth hands. That led to the connect-the-dots concept that is so critical to our work. It allows the therapist to dig deeper in revealing the body’s secrets to expedite therapy.
I also found that a fifth or sixth hand—a dad, a child, or whoever—could be added. Graduates of the Gillespie Approach Foundation Training similarly have experienced ten hands on their body through clothing in the web technique.
Problem: Men and women were presenting with pelvic floor conditions, and the Pennsylvania state massage law prohibited me from touching that area, even through clothing. Problem solved with the above work.
Since the web can strain anywhere in the body where A is pulling on B, the above work can solve that problem, too.
When a tooth is worked on, a fascial strain can go from that tooth to anywhere in the body. Funny, I never learned that in my six years of dental education. That can explain why some patients may have vague distant body issues after a dental procedure.
In neck therapy, the fascia can pull hard into the facial tissues, causing a red flushing appearance. When the fascia releases, the face can quickly retain its normal color.
I found that the body does not necessarily peel back its onion of trauma sequentially in time. Fetal trauma for a child or adult may appear on the first visit.
I found in the 1970s how conventional orthodontics can restrict brain motion and undo our work.
I discovered in 1980 that metal frame glasses can cause the brain cycle to go to zero seconds for many patients. Sunglasses also count.
I am totally fascinated with the eye work as being an integral part of the fascial web. I believe that someday the Gillespie Approach will be a game-changer in ophthamology.
What really blew me away was the potential length of the brain cycle in seconds. From learning 50 years ago that 10 seconds (5 seconds in expansion and 5 seconds in contraction) was “normal” to my present-day brain cycle of 1,680 seconds (14 minutes in expansion and 14 minutes in contraction), I do not know what the upper limit is and do not know its full ramifications.
I found that the work at birth is the key for the future. It will change obstetrics, neonatology, pediatrics, mental health, dentistry, and education.
Every day that I go to the office, I wonder what new discovery will be presenting next. Thank you for joining me on this journey.
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Foundation Trainings
Gillespie Approach Foundation Training is designed for students to work with children and adults.
2026 Dates:
- January 22–24 | Melbourne, FL
- March 19–21 | Greenville, SC
- May 14–16 | Westfield, IN
- June 25–27 | Bozeman, MT
- August 6–8 | Boise, ID
- October 1–3 | Olathe, KS
- November 9–11 | Newtown Square, PA
- November 12–14 | Newtown Square, PA
Infant Trainings
Gillespie Approach Infant Training is designed for students to work with infants.
2026 Dates:
- January 25–27 | Melbourne, FL
- March 22–24 | Greenville, SC
- May 17–19 | Westfield, IN
- June 28–30 | Bozeman, MT
- August 9–11 | Boise, ID
- October 4–6 | Olathe, KS
- November 15–17 | Newtown Square, PA
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