Inspiring Conversations with Renn Pruitt of Red Maple CranioSacral

Today we’d like to introduce you to Renn Pruitt.

Hi Renn, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I’d love to. I’m Renn (they/them), I’m non binary trans and AuDHD. I live in Grand Rapids with my partner Luca (they/them), our two young kids, two cats and our corgi. I’m a CranioSacral Therapist and the owner of Red Maple CranioSacral located in Eastown. For those who are unfamiliar, CranioSacral therapy is a light touch, somatic therapy based on nervous system tension reduction for increased parasympathetic function, also knowns as rest and digest. More details can be found on my website.

 

I received my first CranioSacral therapy session in 2010 when I was struggling with what I now understand to be the intersection of Autism, ADHD, gender dysphoria, and PTSD. Within the first three sessions, I experienced rapidly reduced somatic discomfort and my very noisy, ever-present internal dialogue significantly quieted. I was in awe. My neurospicy brain dove deeply into what has become the longest-lasting special interest of my life; CranioSacral Therapy and the body’s ability to heal itself. I couldn’t get enough, still can’t, and became determined to learn how to facilitate this kind of change for others.

I began training to be a CranioSacral therapist in 2013 and started regularly practicing, at first with volunteers to grow my skills and then with paying clients as I continued to receive my own sessions to untangle the many layers of my experiences and neurotype. I watched my own process get matched by my clients’ processes time and time again, feeling that each time I worked through another layer of my own story, people would come to me ready to work through something remarkably similar.

After many years of practicing on the side, in 2021 I felt ready to step into my practice full time. I refreshed, renamed, and rebranded my business to be what it is today – Red Maple CranioSacral – so that it fully mirrored and aligned with my own authenticity before sending it out into the world as a trans and queer celebrated space. It has evolved with me in the last few years to now be an intentionally neurodivergent affirming and celebratory space as well.

I’m unendingly dedicated to doing my work, knowing my AuDHD, unmasking, flowing with my gender, and dismantling my own internalized societal isms to unearth myself in order to replant in what will fully nourish my true authentic self. I hope to see you there, and will genuinely, happily meet you there in any part of your journey.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m not sure I’ve ever been on a smooth road, to be honest. But adversity is what cultivates nervous system expansion and growth, so I’ve got that going for me!

Though I’ve worked very, very hard to get through immensely difficult experiences in my life and have found more ease and expansion because of it, I respect that I will always have a unique set of challenges as an AuDHD, nonbinary trans person in a neurotypical, heteronormative world. The self awareness and evolution I’ve been able to cultivate for myself so far through CST is what motivates me to turn what I’ve learned into resources that can be supportive to others who are also invested in their own evolution and expansion.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Red Maple CranioSacral?
When I was looking to rebrand my business, I saw that there weren’t any bodywork practices that focused on celebrating trans and queer people. I wanted that for myself so I made it.

Red Maple CST goes beyond the common phrase “queer-friendly” and dives deeper into a celebration of gender identity, diversity, and expansiveness. Because without basic safety to simply exist in the world authentically, it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to rest and relax, let alone process and heal from trauma. I believe CST is an underutilized resource for more holistic healing that happens with neutral presence and being witnessed in our trauma – because healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Healing happens in relationship.

Additionally, we’re learning more and more about the intersection of gender expansiveness and neurodivergence, and I feel ready to hold space for all of it. Red Maple will continue to be a place for people to bring their unique stories and neuro-spice blends and hurts so we can move through them together.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Unmasking Autism by Dr Devon Price is my most recommended resource for clients and friends. Personally, I read a lot of Elephant and Piggy books by Mo Willems and Star Wars books with my 4.5 and 6-year-olds. I do want to give a shout-out to the Everywhere is Queer app, though because it’s a beautiful collaboration and community connection for queer business owners like myself.

Pricing:

• $170 intake
• $125 for 60 minutes
• $190 for 90 minutes
• $255 for 120 minutes
• Pediatric sessions are also available

Contact Info:

• Website: www.redmaplecst.com
• Instagram: @redmaplecst
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/redmaplecst

Image Credits
Melissa LaHaie