Introducing the Havening Touch: The Neurobiological Superpower We Hold in Our Hands
The havening touch is an actionable tool that we can invite into both our self-healing program and into therapeutic work that works to shift the way our brain is functioning in the moment. The havening touch involves a gliding touch over the brow and cheekbones, crossing the arms to the shoulders and gliding downward to the elbows in a moving hug, and gently rubbing the palms together as if washing hands. Through our largest sensory organ, our skin, the havening touch allows us and our clients to engage with our physiology to promote healing and rapidly shift into a greater state of physical and emotional calm.
How Does Havening Work?
Our skin has tiny receptors embedded in it called C-tactile fibers that transmit the sensory information from touch on our skin to our brain. This is how your brain interprets the sensations you’re experiencing. Some receptors respond to fast touch, and others to slow touch. These receptors are what create the unpleasant sting of a pinch versus the soothing comfort of a tear being wiped away.
The havening touch uses the power of soothing touch to transmit information up to our insula as well as different areas in our prefrontal cortex to shift the way our brain is interacting with the present moment.
How Does It Benefit Our Clients?
Soothing touch has been shown to:
- Decrease the presence of cortisol and norepinephrine in the brain, two excitatory neurochemicals that cause us to feel anxiety and stress.
- Increase oxytocin, a neurochemical that plays a critical role for our brain and body in feeling safe and connected to others and the world.
- Decrease blood pressure.
- Enhance heart rate enhances heart rate variability – a valuable reflection of how fluid and responsive we are able to be to the world around us.
- Create a prosocial sense of connection to and engagement with self,
- Support building an intentional and mindful connection with the brain and body.
An added benefit of the havening touch is that it is simple. It does not require a lot of executive function or attention to maintain, which means our brain can be engaged in other cognitive activities while we apply the touch. This combination is what empowers the Havening Techniques protocols exponentially whether it be self-healing protocols like CPR for the Amygdala or the Creating Possibilities Protocol, as well as the more in-depth clinical healing protocols that work with developmental trauma, chronic pain, optimal performance, etc.
Integrating the havening touch with other therapeutic interventions, such as mindfulness training, parts work, and even during the process of cognitive challenging in CBT allow the body and nervous system to remain grounded and soothed while the thinking mind is more accessible and present in the healing work. When the body is soothed and regulated, the thinking brain works better.
See how easy it is to utilize the havening touch in this brief video:
The havening touch is an actionable tool to incorporate into your own healing program and bring it into your therapeutic space. It is a powerful way to support your brain and your body in being actively engaged in the healing journey and enhance positive clinical outcomes by integrating insights from neuroscience.
Wouldn’t it be great having highly effective easy-to-use tools that directly address the emotions keeping your clients stuck in painful pasts and unable to realize a brighter future?
Utilizing similar mechanisms as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Havening Techniques are a new suite of neuroscience-based interventions designed for fast and effective treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and other fear-based disorders such as anxiety, panic disorder, and phobias – whether your clients are in session, at home or on the go – whenever difficult emotions come at unexpected times!
Join Havening Techniques Certified Trainer and Global Director of Continuing Education, Dr. Kate Truitt, for this must-see webcast and discover her secrets for creating a gentle, clientcentered approach to trauma-informed, neuroscience-based, and resiliency-focused care.
Dr. Kate Truitt, a clinical psychologist, applied neuroscientist, and international bestselling author, is an expert in trauma, stress, and resilience. She is the founder of the educational platform Truitt Institute and leads her award-winning clinical team at Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates. As a member of the Goldie Hawn Foundation’s MindUP Scientific Advisory Committee and a co-developer of the Havening Techniques®, as well as an expert contributor to the Kevin Love Fund and Girl Scouts of America, Dr. Truitt passionately advocates for mental health literacy and personal empowerment globally. Her voice in the mental health arena extends to her role as a speaker and media consultant, including being featured in BBC and Today, and speaking at prestigious platforms like the United Nations and the United States Department of Defense. Dr. Truitt founded and is the chairman of the board for the Amy Research Foundation, a 501c3 organization focused on advancing research into the innovative treatment realm of neuroscience-based mental health and wellness interventions. As the author of her memoir, #1 top new release Keep Breathing: A Psychologist’s Intimate Journey Through Loss, Trauma, and Rediscovering Life and the international bestseller Healing in Your Hands: Self-Havening Exercises to Harness Neuroplasticity, Heal Traumatic Stress, and Build Resilience, she is dedicated to advancing the treatment of traumatic stress while making significant strides in destigmatizing mental health and fostering resilience worldwide.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Kate Truitt maintains a private practice. She is the CEO of the Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles. Dr. Truitt is the executive director and founder of Viva Excellence and Amy Research Foundation. She is the executive director to American Cognitive Training Association. She is the Chief Strategy Officer to The Havening Techniques. Dr. Truitt is a scientific advisor and board member to Anti-AgingGames.com and Goldie Hawn Foundation. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. All relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations have been mitigated.
Non-financial: Dr. Kate Truitt is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the American Cognitive Training Association, and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
