About Havening Techniques®
What is Havening?
Havening is a gentle, soothing technique designed to help you move from a state of stress to a state of safety. The word comes from "haven"—to find a place of shelter.
It is a psychosensory/neurosensory therapy approach, which is just a scientific way of saying we use the power of gentle, comforting touch to change how your brain and body feel. By using specific stroking movements on the arms, palms, and face, we signal to your brain that the "alarm" can be turned off.
We have nerve endings and receptor sites located on certain parts of our skin, particularly on the palms of our hands. When gentle pressure is applied they generate Delta Waves in the brain. These brain waves are calming and help soothe anxious feelings which have a positive effect on the limbic system.
Feel good hormones are also produced in the brain such as oxytocin, a hormone that bonds mother and child invoking feelings of trust and attachment. Gaba, a neurotransmitter which promotes calm and sleep restoration and Dopamine which is a neurotransmitter and hormone, often called the "feel-good" chemical, that transmits signals between nerve cells in the brain and body.
Havening works to de-potentiate (basically neutralize) the emotional charge of a memory. It works with the amygdala to change the electro-chemical landscape of the brain to de-traumatize the memory and remove its negative effects from psyche and body sending a signal of safety to the amygdala.
Havening helps reduce anxiety, panic and phobias. It builds resilience and a more grounded calm baseline for daily life. The soothing comforting touch of skin tells your brain, you can let this go. The sensation of touch sends the message that you are loved, you are not alone and all is well.
How It Works (The Science of a Hug)
When life gets hard, our brain's emotional center (the amygdala) can get "stuck" in a loop of stress or fear. Havening uses gentle touch to create Delta waves in the brain. These are the same calming waves we produce during deep, restorative sleep.
When these waves are present, your brain can:
Release the emotional grip of stressful memories.
Calm the nervous system instantly.
Create a chemical environment of peace and resilience.
What it can help with
Phobias
Memories of painful events
Grief and sadness
Post-traumatic stress
Persistent feelings of anxiety, fear, and panic
Unwanted cravings
Short-term or chronic pain
Addictions, Alcohol abuse, Drug abuse, Food addiction, Anger management, Anxiety, Fear of flying, Panic attacks, Phobias, Bruxism (teeth grinding), Childbirth, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Eating disorders, Exam nerves, Low self-confidence, Low self-esteem, Obsessions and compulsions, Pain management, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Relaxation, Insomnia, Stress, Grief, Unusual tendencies, Self-Belief, Shyness, Confidence, Empowerment, Breathwork
Click the button below for a helpful handout from Dr. Kate Truitt:
CPR for the Amygdala®: Creating Personal Resilience for the Amygdala
Calm your nervous system and optimize your thinking.