Havening, is an[1] alternative therapy developed by Ronald Ruden and his brother Steve Ruden; it relies on "amygdala depotentiation" that purportedly can help people with psychological problems, particularly those related to phobias, post-traumatic stress and anxiety.[2]
“Havening, the transitive verb of the word haven, means to put into a safe place.”[3]
"Havening Touch" is claimed to elicit delta brain waves and to act directly on receptors in the brain where trauma is believed to be stored, to down regulate the emotional charge, mostly while the client is distracted. This means the client does not have to stay in, or talk about, upsetting events or feelings.[citation needed] Havening shares features in common with another alternative therapy method, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.[4][1][5]
A study was published in September 2020 in the Journal of Psychophysiology. This clinical trial examined the impact of Havening techniques on trauma responses in 125 participants to measures of Type D (distressed) personality, biological stress markers and resilience. Type D personality encapsulates the stress links with trauma and is associated with predisposition to physical and psychological ill-health. In the treatment group, distress scores decreased significantly (to the extent that most participants no longer fulfilled the criteria for Type D).[6] This study also showed significant decreases in cortisol, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that Type D personality has somatic links with trauma and evidences the effectiveness of the Havening techniques protocols in creating sustainable long-term decreases in biological markers of stress and trauma while encouraging psychophysiological resilience through endogenous reparation.[6]