The Havening technique is a psychosensory treatment that uses touch to address and eliminate negative feelings associated with distressing memories and events. It’s considered a self-healing method that can reduce stress, anxiety and trauma. Havening aims to release the body from a fight-or-flight response and promote relaxation by engaging the amygdala and releasing emotional memories. The technique involves simple, pleasant touch that calms the brain and creates feelings of ease and relief.
Havening is thought to work by disrupting negative brain pathways and creating positive associations through touch, attention and positive visualization. By applying Havening touch, the technique introduces electroceutical delta waves that have a profound effect on neuronal function. This creates a paradoxical situation where the individual is aroused, yet feels safe, which has a depotentiating effect on encoded memories. It is believed that Havening can target the neurons that hold traumatic experiences, empowering the brain to release these experiences.
There are different variations of the Havening technique, including:
Havening is considered more effective than some traditional approaches to treating anxiety for several reasons:
Havening can bring about rapid and gentle relief from anxiety symptoms. It is considered to be a fast-acting method that produces long-lasting results. It works by directly addressing the encoded traumatic memories in the brain, leading to quick and effective changes.
Unlike some other methods, which focus on managing symptoms, Havening gets to the root of the problem quickly by depotentiating the traumatically encoded experiences in the amygdala. The technique is thought to work on the electrochemical environment in the mind and body. By dealing with the underlying trauma, Havening can help individuals achieve actual changes in their quality of life, rather than just managing symptoms.
Havening can be used alongside other approaches. It is a versatile method that can enhance the effectiveness of traditional approaches by removing the amygdala filter from the process. This can lead to deeper levels of healing in a safer way, breaking through resistance in a soft and gentle manner.
Havening can be effective even when the individual does not want to discuss the details of their traumatic experience. This content-free approach makes it easier for individuals to seek help without needing to face disclosing difficult events.
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