Havening Techniques®

Havening Techniques® is somatic method designed to de-traumatize your nervous system by removing, altering, or diffusing the intensity of the emotional memory of your traumatic or stressful life event and its negative effects. 

If you would like to shift uncomfortable feelings, and feel a sense of well-being and lightness, and be free from the memory that’s been running your feelings subconsciously, then this is an effective somatic tool.

If you find your self repeatedly experiencing worry, sadness, overwhelm, feeling anxious, or you find yourself having more intense reactions than what a particular situation calls for, then Havening Techniques® might be helpful for you.

How Havening works with trauma

When you perceive an event or experience as traumatic or stressful at some time in your life, it becomes immutably encoded in your brain and body, causing you to feel triggered over and over again when faced with experiences that create similar feelings.

Havening creates Delta waves, the slowest brain waves, which release oxytocin, seratonin, dopamine, and GABA, which are responsible for a neurochemical reaction that releases traumatically encoded memories that are stored in the amygdala. This leaves a person feeling calmer, centered and resilient.

Havening is a technique that is easy for clients to learn to use on their own to help mitigate stress and anxiety and to use as a resource to regulate the nervous system.

Sessions dedicated to Havening are offered on their own, as well as integrated with other trauma-informed somatic work.

For more detailed information about Havening Techniques, click here.

 

Havening Techniques® Can Benefit Emotional Stress in Connection with:  

  • Abandonment

  • Physical or verbal assault

  • Childhood memories

  • Bullying

  • Traumatic accidents

  • Witnessing disturbing events

  • Relationships with parents, partners, bosses or colleagues, children

  • Anger, frustration

  • Guilt

  • Sadness

  • Shame, humiliation

  • Body image issues

  • Physical discomfort associated with stress

  • Sports performance enhancement

  • Emotional resilience and wellbeing

  • Nervousness

  • Persistent worrying

  • Everyday stress

  • Feeling overwhelmed

  • Test anxiety

  • Fear about illness 

  • Fear of heights

  • Afraid of the dark

  • Fear of flying

  • Fear of animals

  • Fear of abandonment

  • Fear of being out of control

  • Grieving

  • Caregiver support

  • Death of a loved one or pet

  • Letting go of past relationships 


What My Clients Say:

Havening Therapy with Susan Van Note has been truly life changing! I was struggling with anxiety related to family dynamics and career stress. I was feeling overwhelmed, lost, and exhausted. Susan introduced me to a cutting-edge technique called Havening. Apparently Havening is incredibly effective at quieting the overstimulated central nervous system. It turns out that when the CNS takes a break you begin to get clarity and direction in abundance. This was my experience anyway. After only three sessions I can truly say that I feel more calm, confident, and have a great deal more clarity in all areas of my life. I would highly recommend working with Susan! She has a kind, nurturing, and calming presence. She’s infinitely patient and wise, and she really knows her stuff! Havening with Susan was one of the best decisions of my life and I’ll continue to see her when new issues arise!
— Kelly, Boulder, CO

Susan was a compassionate, skillful presence as we ventured into this gentle, but powerful work of Havening. I let go of things I didn’t know I was still holding onto from the past. She helped me learn more about myself and gave me skills for calming my nervous system in an accessible way. I now use these tools everyday, and she has inspired me to learn more about this work. Words fall short in expressing my gratitude for Susan. She is a sparkly gem in a sea of wellness offerings.
— Shelly, Baltimore, MD

I had been struggling with moving forward on a new business venture and with all of my efforts, I simply was not moving forward because I had problems following through or completing tasks. I felt stuck, full of frustration and panic. Working with Susan in the Havening process helped to identify emotional blocks. She helped me to clear a few of them, and gave me the tools to continue to work on others. Her intuition was spot on and she truly listened to and heard me. I am finding it easier to acknowledge other issues, not blame myself for them (or anyone else), and create behaviors to move beyond them.
— Cheryl, Lakewood, CO

I had the opportunity to participate in a havening session with Susan around a past event in my life that continued to anger me. I have talked to a therapist about this issue, and talking about the issue alone would often make me feel angry all over again.

With havening, I was able to break past that anger. As Susan coached me through the havening technique, I realized that I had been wanting to stay angry. Havening helped soothe my hurt feelings and sense of betrayal, and calmed me to the point that I was ready to begin to experience a different emotion. I feel like the anger no longer pops up out of nowhere—like I am reliving it.

I’m still working through this issue, but I’m not interested in feeling “angry for the sake of being angry” about it anymore, and am instead feeling productive about getting myself to a better space, and learning about myself and how I handle some situations. Havening helped me see that I am deserving of other feelings beyond anger.
— Katie, Washington, DC

Want to learn more about what it’s like to work with Susan?


Recent Blog Posts about Havening Techniques®


Havening Techniques is a registered trademark of Ronald Ruden, 15 East 91st Street, New York. www.havening.org.