Both Havening Therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) are therapeutic approaches aimed at helping individuals process distressing experiences, including those that can manifest as anxiety. While both can lead to significant relief, they differ in their methods, perceived speed, and the nature of client engagement. Both Havening and EMD are types of psychosensory therapy.
One notable difference lies in their application speed. Some practitioners find Havening Techniques to be faster than EMDR, with the possibility of addressing trauma-related issues in a single session, whereas EMDR might require several sessions solely for initial setup.
The mechanisms involved also differ. Havening Techniques are understood to work by promoting the depotentiation of encoded traumatic memories in the amygdala through specific types of therapeutic touch, often combined with distraction techniques. This touch, applied to areas like the arms, face, or palms, is thought to generate delta waves in the brain, leading to electrochemical changes that process and “un-link” the emotional charge from the memory. EMDR, on the other hand, primarily utilises eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation, which are thought to facilitate the processing of traumatic memories, potentially by replicating processes that occur during REM sleep.
A significant advantage highlighted for Havening Techniques is the ability to work in a content-free manner. This means that clients do not necessarily need to verbally disclose the details of the traumatic event to experience healing. For individuals who find recounting distressing experiences difficult or re-traumatising, this can be a key benefit. While some level of detail is needed in EMDR, Havening allows the focus to remain on the emotional and physical sensations associated with the memory without deep verbal exploration of the content of the disclosure.
Furthermore, Havening Techniques readily enable practitioners to teach clients how to self-haven. This empowers individuals to use the technique on their own outside of sessions to manage stress, build resilience, and address triggers, making it a valuable self-help tool. While self-EMDR techniques exist, self-havening is often presented as particularly accessible and effective for self-application.
Practitioners often describe Havening Techniques as being beautifully integrated with other therapeutic tools and modalities. It can be used alongside conversational approaches or other established practices, serving as a powerful adjunct rather than a replacement for all forms of therapy. The goal is often to help clients access a state where they can feel more in control, even when addressing difficult internal experiences.
While EMDR was initially developed for and taught primarily to trained mental health professionals, Havening Techniques are increasingly being taught to a wider audience, including coaches, nurses, and even lay individuals for self-care and helping others, although depotentiating deeply encoded trauma is still best handled by a certified practitioner due to the complexity involved.
Clients using Havening Techniques report not feeling re-traumatised during the process of healing, which can sometimes be a concern with exposure-based methods. The focus is often on creating a sense of safety and calm while the processing occurs.
Ultimately, both methods aim to resolve the impact of past distressing experiences that can significantly contribute to issues like anxiety about work. While EMDR is a well-established, evidence-based treatment for trauma, Havening Techniques is a newer modality that is gaining traction, with ongoing research seeking to further demonstrate its effectiveness and unique advantages. Practitioners often find that Havening offers a faster and less content-dependent path to processing traumatic memories, providing clients with a powerful tool for self-regulation and healing.
Summary: Havening vs EMDR
Both Havening Techniques and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) are methods for addressing distressing experiences, including those related to work anxiety. Key differences include the perceived speed of the techniques, with Havening often described as faster. Havening can be performed content-free, meaning verbal disclosure of details is not always necessary, unlike EMDR which typically involves more recounting. The mechanisms differ, with Havening focusing on depotentiation of encoded traumatic memories in the amygdala through touch, and EMDR using eye movements or other bilateral stimulation. Havening is also easily taught for self-application and can be effectively integrated with other therapeutic approaches. Havening clients report not being re-traumatised during the process. While EMDR is an established trauma treatment, Havening is a newer approach focused on rapid processing and client empowerment.