Palms, face, and arms from shoulder to elbows.  All humans are born with these areas being especially receptive to the comforting touch of our mother primarily.  We sooth a child by stroking their head and face, we may instinctively sweep from the bridge of our nose down to the bottom of our outer jaw when stressed or tired, we rub our hands together or rub our palms on our legs when nervous.  We do these things instinctively.  When someone is upset, we may touch them on the back of the arm to show compassion.  By systematically using touch in these areas, we can create Delta waves in the brain which relax the brain and body to such an extent that it dissolves the receptor that produces the emotional trigger for that trauma. It’s gone.

Havening can be undertaken by the practitioner, the client themselves, or someone else the client trusts under the guidance of the practitioner.  It is completely up to the client; however, online havening sessions naturally require the client to self-haven or have someone else with them under my guidance to carry out the havening touch. The effect is the same whether it is in person, self-havening or online.

Psychosensory therapy can be defined as a form of therapeutic treatment that uses sensory input (i.e. touch, sight, sound, taste, smell) to alter our thoughts, mood, and behaviour). (Wikipedia)  

First, we need to understand how a trauma is encoded. The amygdala is the central actor in encoding a traumatic memory.  Put simply when a trauma is coded into our memory it is done by way of an electro chemical response and the sympathetic nervous system has us in fight or flight (or fawn) mode with Gamma waves being the dominant electro wave in place.  Once a trauma is encoded in a receptor site it is like a superglue and permanent.  The good news is that we can induce another electro chemical response by way of Delta waves to dissolve that receptor so that the traumatic encoding is eliminated.  The objective memory and wisdom is left untouched as it is stored elsewhere in the brain. Delta waves are typically only produced when we are asleep or unconscious, but we can induce them while in a lucid state too.  Havening works because we cannot be in a fight or flight mode and asleep at the same time.  The two are biologically incompatible.

There are various types of havening techniques that a certified havening techniques practitioner can utilise to get the best result for the client.  The main appeal for clients is that minimal time talking or remembering the trauma is required.  Much of the time we are using distractions to not focus on the memory which essentially helps to dissolve the receptor in the amygdala also known as depotentiation.  

Yes, it is very safe.  For complex trauma it is best to work with a certified havening techniques practitioner, but it is safe to quickly calm anyone who is stressed in the moment including ourselves with self-havening.  It would be wonderful for teachers and parents to use with young children, caregivers to use with our older people etc.

I have used havening for childhood sexual abuse, blackmail, PTSD, first on the scene of a fatal car accident through to fear of public speaking and the list continues to grow.  It helps build resilience and confidence while significantly reducing generalised anxiety and depression symptoms.

When we resolve emotional trauma, we often resolve physical symptoms also.  For example, if someone often feels stressed, they likely tighten their shoulders and jaw, they may suffer from migraines, back pain, or develop an inflammatory condition due to the high levels of cortisol in the body.  When we resolve the trauma, the cortisol drops and often the chronic pain resolves itself too.

The first session is usually 90 minutes so that we can have a good discovery conversation so that I understand your goals and challenges and to use some of the techniques so that you benefit from the very first session.  Ongoing sessions are usually 60 minutes with some clients preferring 90 minutes.

It depends on what the client presents with although many clients are surprised to learn how quickly they feel better.  Typically, 4 sessions is enough to allow someone to truly move ahead.  Many clients like to have a top up session monthly, every quarter, six months or annually.

Weekly works well for many clients to maintain momentum but it is what works for the client and what they are wanting to achieve.

Yes, in most cases the changes are permanent as we are deleting the receptor in the amygdala, where the emotional response to a trauma is stored.  The objective memory and learning is stored elsewhere in the brain so you are still aware that an event occurred but it no longer bothers you in the same way it did.

Imagine the sensory input coming into the brain via any one of your senses but your mind no longer registers it as a threat in the same way it did.  It doesn’t disappear you still know that the event(s) have occurred, and you have the wisdom and learning.