Havening Techniques®

Creating a Safe Haven in the Nervous System

The word "Havening" comes from the word "haven"—to put in a safe place. It is a psychosensory method that uses gentle touch to trigger a specific chemical response in the brain, helping to "de-link" the emotional distress from a traumatic memory or a chronic physical "hijack."

If you feel like your nervous system is stuck in a loop of high anxiety or "bracing," Havening is a powerful tool to help signal to your brain that the crisis is over.

The Science of "Depotentiation"

When we experience something overwhelming, the "splinter" of that pain gets encoded in the amygdala (the brain's alarm system). Traditional talk therapy often struggles to reach this deep-seated encoding.

Havening works by using Havening Touch—a gentle stroking of the arms, palms, or face. The touch is done by the therapist or the client.

This specific touch creates Delta waves in the brain. These waves prompt a chemical process called depotentiation, which essentially "unplugs" the emotional charge from the memory.

The memory stays, but the "sting," the panic, and the physical bracing begin to fade away.

How I Use Havening with You

In our sessions, Havening is often a collaborative and empowering standalone therapy or additional tool.

• Facilitated Havening: We decide on an issue to target, then I step you through the Havening process.

• Self-Havening: I often teach you how to apply the Havening touch to yourself. This gives you a tangible tool you can use outside of our sessions whenever you feel your system starting to "tread water."

• Building Resilience: Beyond clearing old pain, we use "Affirmational Havening" to help wire in feelings of safety, calm, and confidence. Replacing the old patterns and reactions with new possibilities.

A Path to Settling

Clients often describe the experience of Havening as a profound "settling." It is a way of physically showing your brain that you are safe in the present moment. By calming the alarm system at the root, we create the space needed for true processing and long-term change.

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