What is Havening?

#6 in the series Doing the Work of Trauma-Based Healing

Photo by Emma Harper on Unsplash

Havening is presented here as an example of the growing number of trauma-based therapy techniques being utilized by therapists. Though I explain my experience with Havening and suggest videos, I recommend accessing professional help from a certified practitioner. You can find a directory of certified Havening practitioners at this link.

My Experience with Havening?

Several years ago, I was introduced to Havening during an online conference on trauma-based healing practices. During the session, the instructor led us through the Havening process. I was stunned when I realized how effective it was in resolving my tendency to ruminate on situations that dysregulated me. An example would be the memory of a conversation that haunted me later in the day as I wondered if I had said the correct thing—and it became something I couldn’t move past. During the session, I decided to work through the process with something I had said the previous day. After completing the process, the ruminating for that particular event was gone.

It felt much like the ocean image chosen for this newsletter.

Would this technique be as effective for others? Many believe it is. I agree with the following caution on the website and would never suggest using this for healing overwhelming traumatic memories.

“Please do not use the Havening Technique with yourself for a serious trauma or if you suffer from any psychological disorders. We advise that you seek the help of a professional mental health care provider who is certified in the Havening Technique if you have experienced severe trauma or suffer from a psychological disorder.”

What is Havening?

My initial impression of the Havening practice was that it felt much like a guided meditation combined with bilateral stimulation, visualization, and reframing techniques. There are variations in how it is done, but the following is a summary of the example shared in the session:

Note: This explains the elements but does not detail the sequence.

• During the entire process, your arms are crossed as you stroke your upper arms—this is called Havening Touch (can be done by a therapist or the individual).

• The process went through two visualizations —one walking on the beach and another in a garden—while counting aloud.

• The emotions of the difficult event or memory were compared with those of happy or peaceful memory and rotated quickly between the two.

Again, this is not the process, only the elements. The following video is similar and also includes techniques not used in the presentation I watched.

The website mentioned at the end can be found here.

Additional Information:

The simplicity of the technique belies the science behind it which is explained in the following video. I watched several videos and found this one the very best at explaining Havening as a psychosensory therapy.

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Note: All information and resources presented in these newsletters are drawn from my personal story and those of my guest authors and do not replace professional psychological care for mental health issues. My legal and ethical advice is always to seek professional help.