Havening helps retrain our nervous system to heal the past, support our present and create a future we would like for ourselves.
Havening is a psychosensory therapy that uses gentle touch to help rewire how your brain responds to emotional stimuli. It activates calming brain waves in the amygdala, the part of the brain involved in emotional processing. In this deeply relaxed state, the brain can release unwanted thoughts, automatic reactions, and ingrained behavioural patterns. Havening can be self-applied or facilitated by a trained practitioner.
Healing the past
Havening helps release the emotional charge from past trauma, stress, or painful memories. Gentle havening touch soothes the nervous system and creates an opportunity to rewire the brain’s response to distressing events, allowing you to move forward with more peace and clarity.
Building resilience in the present
In moments of anxiety, overwhelm, dissociation, or anger, havening helps regulate your emotional state. It brings you back into the body, calms the mind, and supports a sense of safety—helping you feel more grounded and able to respond with intention.
Creating the future you would like
Havening can also be used to strengthen positive states and step into the future you’d like to live. Through affirmations, role havening, and guided visualisation, you can begin to embody new possibilities and create lasting, meaningful change.
Havening is an ideal tool for everyday challenges, soothing the nervous system and helping you feel safe and grounded and clear. It’s especially useful when stressed anxious or overwhelmed, whether at work, in tough conversations or when stepping outside your comfort zone. It’s a gentle way to build resilience, compassion and emotional strength.
I found Havening after exploring many other modalities to support my own health and wellness, using nutrition, health coaching, breathing practices, fasting, and Nonviolent Communication. I have come to believe Havening works well to support the effectiveness of other modalities transforming thoughts, patterns, and emotional responses in a gentle and lasting way.
More recently I have to formalised my Havening practice and have completed my Havening practitioner training. Currently I am offering one-on-one sessions. I love sharing this gentle and powerful tool in ways that feel accessible, grounded, and genuinely supportive.
Prior to havening my work background has involved building websites both in the corporate sector and as a freelancer. Recently I have been working in the community sector setting up and leading www.timebankauckland.nz. In my experience with havening I have seen how positively people respond to it as the seek different tools to support them through life.
How Havening works
The Havening touch involves gentle, rhythmic stroking on the arms, hands, or face. This touch activates calming delta brain waves in the amygdala, the emotional processing part of the brain. Once activated the automatic responses can be reprogrammed leading to healing and greater emotional freedom.
The power of integrating havening with Non-violent Communication and other tools
In my practice I combine havening with complementary tools such as Nonviolent Communication (NVC), breathwork, sound, and guided visualisation to create a richer and more personalised experience.
NVC helps build clarity and compassion by identifying feelings and unmet needs, creating a strong foundation for emotional understanding and growth. Breathwork and sound support nervous system regulation, while visualisation encourages insight and integration. This layered approach allows for deeper emotional processing and helps you reach calm, connection, and inner strength.
Frequently asked questions
What is havening?
Havening is a psychosensory technique developed by Dr. Ronald Ruden with the support of his brother Steven. It uses gentle touch, on the arms, hands, or face, combined with guided tools like breath work and visualisation to calm the nervous system and help rewire the brain’s response to stress or trauma.
What can I expect from a 1 on 1 session?
Each session is supportive and tailored to you. We begin with a short NVC-style check-in to explore your feelings and needs, then focus on one thought, memory, or emotion using havening touch. You can choose a fully guided session or learn a simple self-havening practice to use at home. Sessions last around 40–60 minutes.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies. One session can create change, especially for single-event trauma. For deeper, long-term patterns, 3–5 sessions are often enough to see lasting shifts and establish a solid home practice. We’ll work at a pace that feels right for you.
Is havening backed by science?
Yes. Havening is based on neuroscience and creates calming delta brain waves that help deactivate distressing emotional responses. This state allows the brain to rewire itself and unlink memories from stress responses, promoting healing, calm, and resilience. Â
What is havening?
Havening helps release the emotional charge from past trauma, stress, or painful memories. Gentle havening touch soothes the nervous system and creates an opportunity to rewire the brain’s response to distressing events, allowing you to move forward with more peace and clarity.
Get started with Havening
Havening Techniques® are easy to learn and apply:
In just one session, you can learn basic havening techniques to incorporate into your daily routine.
With regular practice, these techniques can bring about profound life changes.
As a self-help tool, you can apply the technique independently, any time.
There are different havening techniques to address your needs and goals.
Treatment options include in-person sessions or online is workable as well.