MOD066 – Havening Techniques

Definition

Havening Techniques are a psychosensory therapy developed by Dr. Ronald Ruden that uses gentle touch, distraction, and eye movements to reduce distress and anxiety associated with traumatic memories and negative emotions.

Explanation

Havening Techniques aim to alter the way traumatic memories are encoded in the brain, potentially reducing their emotional impact.

Key aspects of Havening include:

1. Touch: The core of Havening involves specific touch patterns, such as stroking the arms, face, or palms. This touch is believed to generate delta waves in the brain, promoting relaxation and emotional regulation.
2. Distraction: While applying touch, practitioners use various distraction techniques like counting, visualisation, or humming to engage the mind.
3. Eye movements: Similar to EMDR therapy, Havening may incorporate eye movements to aid in processing traumatic memories.
4. Neuroscience basis: Havening is rooted in the concept of synaptic depotentiation, theoretically altering the brain’s encoding of traumatic memories.
5. Applications: Practitioners use Havening for various issues, including PTSD, anxiety, phobias, chronic pain, and emotional distress.
6. Self-application: While often facilitated by trained practitioners, individuals can also learn self-Havening techniques for personal use.
7. Rapid effects: Proponents claim that Havening can produce quick and lasting results, sometimes in a single session.

The technique aims to create a “safe haven” for individuals, allowing them to process and release negative emotions associated with past experiences. By combining touch, distraction, and visualisation, Havening seeks to interrupt the brain’s typical stress response and create new, more positive neural pathways.

While some individuals report positive experiences with Havening, it’s important to note that scientific research on its effectiveness is limited. As with any alternative therapy, it should be approached with an open but critical mind and not used as a replacement for evidence-based treatments for mental health conditions.

Evidence to Efficacy

There is growing evidence to demonstrate the efficacy of Havening Techniques as a promising approach for addressing various mental health concerns. Several studies conducted in the UK have shown positive outcomes:

A 2015 study by researchers at King’s College London examined the impact of a single Havening session on self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. The results showed significant reductions in scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7), and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) at both one-week and two-month follow-ups. This suggests that Havening can have lasting positive effects on mood and functioning.

More recently, a 2020 study by Cardiff Metropolitan University investigated the effects of Havening on individuals with Type D personality characteristics, who are more prone to anxiety and depression. The research found that participants who received Havening treatment experienced significant reductions in negative affect and social inhibition, as well as improvements in stress biomarkers such as heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels.

A 2022 study conducted at Nottingham Trent University explored the impact of Havening touch on subjective distress, mood, and brain function. The findings indicated that sessions including Havening touch led to greater reductions in subjective distress compared to sessions without touch. Additionally, EEG results showed changes in brain activity associated with relaxation and emotional regulation.

These studies highlight the potential of Havening Techniques to offer rapid and effective relief for various psychological concerns. The approach’s ability to combine touch, visualisation, and positive affirmation appears to create a powerful therapeutic effect.

Practitioners report that Havening can be particularly helpful for addressing trauma, anxiety, phobias, and stress-related issues. Its non-invasive nature and focus on empowering individuals to manage their own emotional states make it an appealing option for many seeking to enhance their mental wellbeing.

As research continues to expand, Havening Techniques show promise as a valuable addition to the toolkit of mental health professionals in the UK and beyond.

Neuroscience & Physiology

Neuroscience Perspective

At its core, Havening works by targeting the amygdala, a key structure in the limbic system responsible for processing emotions and storing traumatic memories. When a distressing event occurs, the amygdala encodes it as an emotionally charged memory. This encoding can lead to heightened fear responses or chronic stress when triggered. Havening aims to “depotentiate” these traumatic memories by reducing their emotional charge and altering the neural pathways associated with them.

The process involves generating delta brain waves – slow-frequency waves associated with deep relaxation and healing. Gentle touch applied to areas like the arms, face, and hands stimulates sensory input that activates delta waves. These waves play a crucial role in calming the nervous system and facilitating neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to reorganise itself by forming new connections.

Havening also engages the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for higher cognitive functions like decision-making and emotional regulation. By guiding you through visualisation or affirmations while applying soothing touch, Havening helps shift activity from the reactive amygdala to the rational prefrontal cortex, fostering a sense of control and safety.

Physiology of Emotional Release

Havening induces changes in the autonomic nervous system (ANS), particularly by activating the parasympathetic branch – the “rest and digest” system. This activation reduces heart rate, lowers cortisol levels (the stress hormone), and promotes relaxation. The gentle touch used in Havening is thought to stimulate C-tactile afferent fibres in the skin, which are specialised nerve endings linked to feelings of comfort and calmness.

The therapy also influences neurotransmitter activity. Delta wave activation enhances the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation and emotional well-being. Oxytocin, often referred to as the “bonding hormone,” is released during soothing touch, further promoting feelings of safety and connection.

Havening’s ability to depotentiate traumatic memories is linked to calcium signalling within neurons. During a traumatic event, calcium ions flood into neurons via NMDA receptors (a type of receptor involved in memory formation), strengthening synaptic connections that encode fear responses. Havening disrupts this process by altering calcium dynamics within these neural circuits, effectively “unhooking” the emotional charge from the memory.

Quantum Physics Perspective

From a quantum physics lens, Havening aligns with concepts of energy flow and coherence within the body’s biofield. Trauma can create energetic blockages or disturbances that affect both mental and physical health. Havening’s gentle touch and delta wave activation restore coherence by harmonising energy flow across neural networks.

Quantum entanglement offers an intriguing perspective on how Havening might influence interconnected systems within the body. By altering one aspect of your energetic or neurological state – such as depotentiating a traumatic memory – it creates ripple effects across other systems, fostering holistic healing.

Additionally, Havening resonates with quantum principles like wave-particle duality: delta waves function as vibrational signals that influence both physical neuronal structures and energetic states simultaneously.

Emotional Integration

Havening goes beyond trauma resolution by fostering emotional integration. By depotentiating distressing memories, it allows you to reframe your experiences without being overwhelmed by negative emotions. This process enhances resilience by creating new neural pathways associated with calmness, empowerment, and safety.

 

Havening Techniques offer a powerful blend of neuroscience, physiology, and even quantum physics principles to address trauma at its root. Through gentle touch, delta wave activation, neurotransmitter modulation, and neural depotentiation, it transforms emotional distress into calmness and clarity. By working with your brain’s innate capacity for neuroplasticity and healing, Havening provides an accessible yet profound pathway for lasting emotional well-being.

Governing Body

Here’s a overview of training, certification, and oversight for Havening Techniques in the UK:

Havening Techniques International: The primary organisation overseeing Havening Techniques globally is Havening.org, founded by Dr. Ronald Ruden. This body provides the official certification process and maintains standards for practitioners worldwide, including those in the UK.

Training Process: The training typically involves:

• Attending a 2-day accredited training event
• Completing 30 case studies
• Submitting two video sessions
• Passing a science review questionnaire
• Signing an ethics policy

After completing the training and requirements, practitioners pay a fee to register as a Certified Havening Techniques Practitioner. This certification needs to be renewed annually.

Professional Integration: While there’s no UK-specific governing body for Havening, practitioners often integrate it into their existing professional practices. They may be members of other professional bodies related to their primary fields, such as:

• British Psychological Society (BPS)
• UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

While Havening Techniques doesn’t have a UK-specific governing body, the combination of international certification, established trainers in the UK, and integration with existing professional standards provides a framework for maintaining quality and ethical practice in the field.

What Good Looks Like

In the context of Havening, a positive and effective experience should encompass several key elements:

• You should feel a deep sense of safety and comfort throughout the session. The practitioner should create an environment where you feel at ease and able to open up about your concerns.
• The touch element of Havening should feel soothing and calming. As the practitioner applies gentle, sweeping motions to your arms, face, or palms, you should experience a gradual relaxation of both body and mind.
• You should notice a shift in your emotional state. As the session progresses, any distressing emotions or sensations associated with the issue you’re addressing should begin to diminish, replaced by a sense of calm and wellbeing.
• The visualisation and distraction techniques used should engage your mind fully. Whether you’re counting, imagining a peaceful scene, or focusing on specific thoughts, these elements should help you detach from negative emotions and memories.
• You should experience a noticeable reduction in the intensity of any traumatic memories or distressing thoughts. After the session, when you recall the issue you were working on, it should feel less emotionally charged.
• The practitioner should guide you through the process with clear, reassuring communication. You should feel informed and in control throughout the session, understanding each step of the process.
• You might notice physical sensations such as tingling, warmth, or a sense of lightness as the session progresses. These can be signs that your nervous system is responding to the technique.
• By the end of the session, you should feel a marked improvement in your overall emotional state. You might describe feeling more grounded, peaceful, or empowered to face your challenges.
• The effects should feel lasting. In the days following your session, you should notice that the positive changes in your emotional state and perception of the issue persist.

Remember, a good Havening experience is one where you feel respected, supported, and empowered throughout the process, with tangible positive shifts in your emotional and mental state.

What to Ask a Practitioner

Here are some key questions to help identify an exceptional Havening Techniques practitioner, along with what to look for in their answers:

How do you tailor Havening sessions to address my specific needs?

Desired answer: A detailed explanation of how they customise the process, such as combining different Havening methods (e.g. Event Havening, Transpirational Havening) based on your unique situation.

Can you describe your approach to creating a safe and supportive environment during sessions?

Desired answer: Specific strategies they use to ensure your comfort and emotional safety, such as clear explanations of the process and respecting your boundaries.

How do you integrate Havening with other modalities, if needed?

Desired answer: An openness to complementary techniques and an explanation of how they might combine Havening with other relevant methods for optimal results.

What is your philosophy on the mind-body connection in relation to Havening?

Desired answer: A holistic perspective that acknowledges the interconnectedness of physical sensations and emotional healing in the Havening process.

How do you help clients maintain and build upon the changes achieved through Havening?

Desired answer: Strategies for long-term support, such as teaching self-Havening techniques or providing resources for continued practice.

Can you share an example of a particularly challenging case you’ve worked with using Havening?

Desired answer: A thoughtful response demonstrating problem-solving skills, adaptability, and a client-centred approach within the Havening framework.

How do you stay current with developments in Havening Techniques?

Desired answer: Regular participation in advanced Havening training, workshops, or conferences specific to the modality.

What is your approach to addressing potential emotional reactions that may arise during Havening?

Desired answer: Specific techniques they use to manage intense emotions, showing adaptability and sensitivity within the Havening protocol.

Key items a practitioner MUST include:

• A clear explanation of the Havening process and what to expect in a session
• A commitment to client confidentiality and ethical practice
• Certification from an approved Havening Techniques training programme
• A willingness to work collaboratively with you and respect your boundaries

Self-Study Resources

When the Past is Always Present by Dr Ronald Ruden

The official Havening website for information and self-Havening tutorials

Related Therapies

Neurofeedback (MOD218): Neurofeedback is a specialised form of biofeedback that uses real-time displays of brain activity, typically using electroencephalography (EEG), to teach self-regulation of brain function.

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) (MOD050): Involves tapping on acupuncture points while focusing on specific issues to reduce emotional distress.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) (MOD116): Analyses and alters behaviour patterns learned through experience to improve personal development.

Somatic Experiencing (MOD152): Focuses on releasing physical tension and trauma-related symptoms by regulating the nervous system’s response to stress and trauma.

Hypnotherapy (MOD073): Uses guided relaxation, intense concentration, and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness (hypnosis) that is believed to be conducive to making changes in thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) (MOD026): A psychotherapeutic approach that addresses dysfunctional emotions, behaviours, and thought patterns through goal-oriented techniques, often incorporating mindfulness practices.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) (MOD106): A structured program that combines mindfulness meditation and yoga to cultivate awareness and reduce stress.

Biofeedback (MOD136): Biofeedback is a technique that uses electronic monitoring of bodily processes to train individuals to gain voluntary control over physical and mental functions typically considered involuntary.

Art Therapy (MOD016): Utilises creative techniques such as drawing, painting, or sculpting to help individuals explore and express emotions, reduce anxiety, and increase self-awareness.

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