What is Havening?
Havening is a psychosensory therapy developed by Dr. Ronald Ruden and his brother Dr. Steven Ruden. It is a set of techniques that leverage touch, attention, and positive visualisation to relieve emotional distress and promote healing, particularly for trauma, anxiety, and stress. It is based on the idea that the body is an electrochemical system and that touch can create delta waves in the brain, promoting relaxation and altering the neural pathways associated with traumatic memories.
While Havening utilises techniques that humans naturally use, like touch and comforting words, it is distinguished by its strong foundation in neuroscience and its ability to produce rapid and significant changes in emotional well-being.
Here’s a breakdown of key aspects of Havening:
How Does Havening Work?
- Amygdala Depotentiation: The amygdala, a part of the brain responsible for processing emotions, especially fear and anxiety, plays a central role in Havening. Havening techniques aim to ‘depotentiate’ or reduce the strength of the neural pathways in the amygdala that hold traumatic memories. This depotentiation is achieved through the generation of delta waves in the brain.
- Delta Waves and GABA: Havening Touch, a key element of Havening, stimulates specific areas of the skin, triggering the release of delta waves in the brain. These delta waves are associated with relaxation and deep sleep. Havening is believed to work by creating a paradoxical state where an individual is awake but experiencing the neurochemical environment of deep sleep. This, in turn, is thought to increase the production of GABA, a neurotransmitter that inhibits the release of stress hormones like norepinephrine and serotonin.
- Electroceuticals: Havening employs what Dr. Ruden terms ‘electroceuticals,’ utilising the electrical activity of the brain to create healing, rather than relying on pharmaceuticals or traditional talk therapy.
Havening Techniques:
There are several types of Havening techniques, each designed for a specific purpose:
- Event Havening: Addresses the emotional charge of specific traumatic events.
- Transpirational Havening: Designed to diffuse chronic emotional states and release the emotional content of multiple, potentially unrelated, traumatic events.
- Affirmational Havening: Focuses on reinforcing positive feelings and qualities to build resilience and a more positive outlook.
- Hopeful Havening: Used to instill a sense of hope and optimism, typically at the end of a session.
- Outcome Havening: Aims to alter the outcome of a recalled traumatic event to empower the individual and replace feelings of victimisation.
- Role Havening: Involves the practitioner taking on the role of a person involved in the trauma to offer comfort and potentially mitigate the emotional impact.
- Iffirmational Havening: Developed by Tony Burgess, this technique helps individuals who struggle to accept change and challenges negative self-beliefs.
Applications of Havening:
- Mental Health: Havening is widely used to address a range of mental health concerns, including:
- PTSD
- Phobias
- Panic attacks
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Trauma
- Depression
- Physical Health: Havening is believed to have positive effects on physical health, including:
- Boosting the immune system
- Reducing inflammation
- Alleviating pain
- Relationships: Havening can contribute to healthier relationships by:
- Improving communication skills
- Enhancing empathy and emotional intelligence
- Building stronger connections with loved ones
Who Can Benefit from Havening?
While Havening was initially primarily practiced by certified practitioners, there is a growing movement toward self-havening, where individuals can learn and apply the techniques to themselves.