Defining Psychosensory Therapy
Psychosensory therapy is a type of treatment that uses sensory input to effect beneficial changes within the brain, either temporarily or permanently. Instead of relying primarily on talking (psychotherapy) or medication (psychopharmacology), psychosensory therapy uses non-specific sensory stimulation to generate an extrasensory response. The active ingredient in psychosensory therapy can be considered an ‘electroceutical’, which broadly includes anything that employs electrical stimulation to modify brain functioning, whether generated externally or through the stimulation of receptors within the body.
Examples of Psychosensory Therapies
Many techniques fall under the umbrella of psychosensory therapy.
- Havening Techniques®
- Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Thought Field Therapy (TFT)
- Yoga
- Acupuncture/Acupressure
- Exercise and related activities
- Aromatherapy
- Craniosacral Therapy
- Meditation/Relaxation
- Biofeedback/Neurofeedback
- Music Therapy
- Massage Therapy
- Somatic Experiencing®
- Sensorimotor psychotherapy
- Mindful touch
- Havening Therapy.
These therapies can be broadly grouped into those where the mind is directed to a particular memory and those where it is not. Therapies that engage with specific memories have the potential to de-encode the emotional, cognitive and sensory components of a distressing event.
Havening Therapy: An Expanded Explanation
Havening Techniques®, also known as Delta Wave Techniques, is a psychosensory therapy that utilises simple touch to permanently eliminate unwanted feelings, both somatic and emotional, associated with distressing memories and events. It is also used to promote personal and professional growth. The method is grounded in current neuroscience.
Mechanism: Havening touch involves gentle rubbing of the upper arms, face, and palms. This touch is believed to change the electrochemical state of the brain, specifically by generating delta waves. This process can depotentiate traumatically encoded experiences in the amygdala, allowing the brain to release these experiences that might be acting as a trauma filter for present-day information processing. By providing a calming ‘bath’ of feel-good experiences, self-havening can offer the amygdala a safe haven to heal.
Applications: Havening has a wide range of potential applications, including:
- Reducing the impact of distressing memories and trauma.
- Removing phobias.
- Helping individuals dealing with nightmares and flashbacks.
- Addressing physical conditions with a stress or trauma origin.
- Managing pain.
- Working content-free, meaning clients do not necessarily need to disclose the details of their experiences.
- Assisting clients to access a relaxed, hypnotic state while maintaining control.
- Managing stress and emotions for better performance and well-being.
Touch in Therapy: While touch has historically been avoided in talk therapy due to potential for misinterpretation, Havening therapy explains the neuroscience behind the touch, reframing it as a tool for safety and healing rather than something sexual. Many practitioners explain the neurological basis of the touch to clients to ensure it is understood as a therapeutic technique. Clients can also be taught self-havening techniques.
Integration with Other Modalities: Some practitioners integrate Havening with other therapeutic approaches like hypnotherapy and NLP, viewing it as a complementary tool. It can be seen as one of the ‘legs’ supporting client work, alongside understanding language and utilising hypnosis.
Psychosensory Therapy in Anxiety Coaching
An anxiety coach may integrate psychosensory therapy techniques, such as self-havening, into their coaching process to help clients manage their anxiety and stress. For example, an anxiety coach working with a client experiencing heightened anxiety in social situations might teach them self-havening techniques to use in the moment to reduce feelings of overwhelm and promote a sense of calm. This provides the client with a tangible tool they can use independently to regulate their emotional state.
An anxiety coach might also use the principles of psychosensory therapy to explain the connection between physical sensations and emotional responses, helping clients to understand that anxiety manifests not just in thoughts but also in the body. By focusing on sensory input, the coach can help the client shift their attention away from anxious thoughts and towards present moment physical experiences, potentially disrupting the cycle of anxiety. Furthermore, by teaching clients techniques like mindful touch or self-havening, the coach empowers them to take an active role in managing their anxiety, fostering a sense of control and self-efficacy.
Aims of Using Psychosensory Therapy in Anxiety Coaching
By incorporating psychosensory therapy, an anxiety coach hopes to achieve several outcomes for their clients:
- Reduce immediate anxiety and stress levels: Techniques like Havening can provide rapid relief from overwhelming feelings by directly influencing brain activity.
- Promote emotional regulation: By learning psychosensory tools, clients can develop a greater capacity to manage their emotional responses to triggers and stressful situations.
- Facilitate the processing of past experiences: Some psychosensory therapies, like Havening, can help to de-potentiate the emotional charge associated with distressing memories without requiring detailed recounting.
- Increase self-awareness: Focusing on sensory experiences can enhance a client’s awareness of their body’s signals related to anxiety, allowing for earlier intervention.
- Empower self-help: Teaching self-applied psychosensory techniques gives clients practical tools they can use independently, increasing their sense of agency over their anxiety.
- Improve overall well-being: By reducing anxiety and promoting emotional regulation, psychosensory therapy can contribute to an enhanced sense of peace, calm, and overall well-being.
- Support behavioural change: By lessening the intensity of anxiety, clients may feel more able to engage in behaviours they previously avoided due to fear.
Summary: Psychosensory Therapy
Psychosensory therapy offers a unique approach to addressing anxiety and emotional distress by utilising sensory input to influence brain function. Examples range from touch-based techniques like Havening to movement-based practices like yoga. Havening, in particular, uses gentle touch to potentially reduce the impact of traumatic memories and current anxiety. Anxiety coaches can effectively integrate psychosensory therapy to provide clients with immediate relief, enhance emotional regulation, and promote self-reliance in managing their anxiety, ultimately aiming for improved well-being and the ability to lead a more fulfilling life.