Making Wellbeing Visible and Measurable

As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening professional standards and increasing the visibility of Craniosacral Therapy in Ireland, CranioSacral Ireland is introducing the Measure Well Hub and the Warwick Holistic Health Questionnaire (WHHQ-25) as a pilot initiative for practitioner members. This evidence-informed, whole-person outcome measure offers a meaningful way to capture and demonstrate the impact of our work, while remaining fully aligned with the principles of client-led practice. By participating, we have an opportunity to build a credible Irish evidence base, enhance professional confidence, and support the continued development and recognition of our profession.

To support this initiative, we are hosting a free online talk with Dr Nicola Brough (PhD, MPhil, RCST), who will introduce the Measure Well Hub and WHHQ-25 in more detail, outlining its background, purpose and practical application. The pilot scheme is open to 10 members, and we warmly invite expressions of interest.

Following the webinar with Dr Nicola Brough, we will invite 10 practitioner members to take part in the pilot scheme. Participation in the pilot will be fully funded by CranioSacral Ireland. It provides practitioners with meaningful, evidence-based research data for their own practice, while simultaneously building a shared national evidence base that enhances the credibility and visibility of Craniosacral Therapy in Ireland.

Measure Well & the Warwick Holistic Health Questionnaire (WHHQ-25)

Craniosacral Therapy supports change across physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual dimensions of health. Measure Well was developed to help practitioners capture these whole-person outcomes in a way that is both clinically meaningful and methodologically robust.

At the heart of Measure Well is the Measure Well Hub and the Warwick Holistic Health Questionnaire (WHHQ-25), a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) developed and validated using gold-standard psychometric methods. The WHHQ-25 is the first validated PROM designed specifically to capture outcomes reported by CST clients.

Dr Nicola Brough (RCST), with over 20 years’ experience, explains:

“When we work in a client-led way or allow space for an inherent treatment plan, there is no fixed protocol. The WHHQ is one tool we can use consistently at the start and end of a series of sessions, offering a way to benchmark and track changes that are meaningful to clients.”

Using a whole-person wellbeing measure enables practitioners and organisations to evaluate practice systematically while remaining true to the principles of CST. Gathering practice-based evidence in this way supports professional credibility, raises the profile of CST, and strengthens funding and research opportunities.

Benefits for Practitioners

• A standardised, psychometrically validated assessment tool
• A simple total wellbeing score (0–100) available in real time
• Clear identification of concerns most important to the client
• Real-time summary reports showing change over time

Using a PROM can also enhance the therapeutic encounter by supporting communication, prompting discussion, engaging clients in their own care, and monitoring the effects of therapy.

Practice-Based Evidence

A group of CSTA UK members have been using the WHHQ-25 within their clinical practice. Early findings show significant positive improvements in whole-person wellbeing across clients, with consistent outcomes observed across practitioner practices throughout the UK.

CSTA Chair Andrew Radley shared his experience:

“Positive, practical, easy to use, and clinically relevant — the Measure Well Hub and WHHQ have become essential in my day-to-day practice. I value them as tools that directly support my clients’ wellbeing and reflect my commitment to the highest levels of professional practice.”

CranioSacral Ireland Pilot Scheme

CranioSacral Ireland is now inviting 10 practitioner members to take part in a pilot scheme using the Measure Well Hub and WHHQ-25 within their clinical practice.

This pilot offers an opportunity to:

• Contribute to building an Irish evidence base for CST
• Support the continued development and visibility of the profession
• Strengthen professional credibility through real-world outcome data

Participants will receive free access to the Measure Well Hub and WHHQ-25, onboarding, educational resources and training for the duration of the pilot.