All About Havening Techniques
What is Psychosensory Therapy?
Psychosensory therapy is a form of healing that uses touch to support the brain in processing and releasing trauma. One effective approach within this field is Havening Techniques®.
Havening Techniques are powerful tools that can be used to alleviate the consequences of traumatic or stressful events and are described as ‘gentle, thoughtful, and thorough.’
Traumatic experiences are often stored in the brain’s amygdala, which plays a key role in our emotional responses and survival instincts. When we encounter danger or stress, the amygdala triggers a 'fight or flight' reaction, activating stored negative memories to help us stay safe, and alert. While this system is designed to protect us, it can also lead to lasting emotional and physical impacts, such as anxiety, PTSD, phobias, and other stress-related conditions.
Havening is a scientifically-backed therapy that uses soothing touch to shift the emotional charge of past trauma. By gently applying touch to specific areas of the body, this technique stimulates the brain’s neurochemical pathways, helping it to reframe the emotional associations tied to traumatic memories. This process allows the brain to “de-traumatize” those memories, helping individuals find emotional healing and balance. At completion of successful therapy, the client will remember the event, but without the emotional response. It may be described as feeling far away from the event, reading a story about an event that happened somewhere and sometime, with no feelings attached to it.
Who would benefit from an appointment?
Whilst Andrea has a special passion for working with health professionals, women and young people, she offers appointments to anyone who is experiencing the negative effects of a trauma, anxiety, phobia, fear or negative belief. Please see more extensive information below about when these Psychosensory techniques can be helpful.
Havening.org states Havening can be used everywhere conventional psychotherapies and coachings are used. The spectrum of application can be divided into reduction of undesirable and strengthening of resources.
Reduction of undesirable include:–
Phobias, chronic pain, separation, loss and mourning, persistent grief, depression, reduction / resolution of stressful emotions, trauma, multiple or complex trauma, PTSD/ cPTSD, rage issues, fear of loss, chronic stress, lack of self-esteem, addictive disorders, panic disorder / generalized anxiety disorder, common fears, presentation, speech and social anxiety, emotional, physical and / or sexual abuse, eating disorders, constraints.
Strengthening Resources include:–
Coaching for Life, Reconciliation with the inner child, courage strengthening, increase self-confidence and optimism, improvement of self-discipline, sports mental training, optimization of own flexibility, creativity enhancement, promotion of learning, memory and recall skills, memory and concentration training.
What to expect during your appointment?
Ensuring Client Safety
‘Havening’ is about creating a ‘safe space (haven)’ for you.
Ensuring your safety is of the utmost importance to me. This includes your physical, emotional and spiritual safety. When working with Clients, I always assess the level of emotional resilience and vulnerability. Sometimes we may need to build in extra ‘safety’ for you prior to exploring the underlying issues. I will always explain what we are doing and why, so you feel relaxed and safe at all times. You will not be re-traumatised during your Havening session.
Our first session is about getting to know you, what you would like to gain from the appointment, what issues you are wanting to work on, and what are your goals. I introduce you to Havening, providing you with easy to understand explanation, resources and an opportunity to ask any questions needed. This is all done in a safe, kind and compassionate manner. Together we make a plan for the session. I will use a combination of my nursing experience and knowledge, Havening and Coaching to best address your goals.
You will never be asked to share more than you are comfortable with sharing. In this therapy, we can work completely content free if needed. This means if you don’t want to tell me any details of the issues you are wanting to work on, you don’t need to. You will be sitting in a chair and you remain fully clothed the entire session. I will sit on a chair near you. Havening does involve therapeutic touch and I will always ask your permission before applying this touch. The areas of touch are the ‘hands’, ‘shoulders to the elbows’ and ‘face’. The nerves in these areas release neurochemicals and create delta waves in the brain to soothe the brain's emotional centre – the amygdala. If you are not comfortable with me touching you, this is absolutely okay. I will demonstrate to you, so you can apply the touch to yourself. The environment will be private and peaceful.
The entire session takes about 75 minutes.
I usually see my Clients face-to-face, however, if you are unable to attend a face-to-face session with me, I do offer remote session via zoom. In this instance, the session will be the same as described above, with the only difference being, I will instruct you how to do the ‘havening touch’ to yourself whilst I guide you through the therapy session.
I have allocated limited remote sessions per week, so please book online for these sessions and be sure to click ‘ZOOM SESSION’ option. Any worries with this, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email.
After the Session:
Most people report feeling calm, relaxed, and ‘light’ following a Havening session. Some clients may feel the full benefits of Havening after only one or two appointments, however the typical course of Havening will be 4-6 sessions. Further sessions may be needed if there is more complex trauma, or if you are wanting to use a combination of Havening and Coaching to achieve a specific goal or work toward a life vision.
You are in the driver’s seat and therefore there is no obligation to have more sessions than you need or wish to have.
I will contact you the week following your appointment to see how you are feeling.
You are welcome to contact me, or book online, should you wish to have follow up appointments, or for any specific concern or question.
The effects of the therapy are expected to be long-term.
For more information, including links to research publications, and videos. go to - www.havening.org
*Andrea Brockbank is a Certified Havening Techniques Practitioner.
Havening Techniques is a registered trade mark of Ronald Ruden, 15 East 91st Street, New York. www.havening.org
Self-havening is a technique where individuals use the havening touch—stroking the arms, face, or hands—while focusing on a specific issue or emotion. This can reduce anxiety and promote calm and wellbeing.
It’s helpful for those without access to a practitioner or who want to continue therapy at home, providing a tool to manage emotional wellbeing independently.
Let’s Work Together
Get in touch so we can start working together.
