Havening

Havening, is an[1] alternative therapy developed by Ronald Ruden and popularized in part by hypnotist Paul McKenna; it relies on "amygdala depotentiation" that purportedly can help people with psychological problems, particularly those related to phobias, post-traumatic stress and anxiety.[2][3]

Havening involves instructing the patient to recall emotionally disturbing events while the practitioner gently touches the patient's palms, arms and face.[1][4] Havening shares features in common with another alternative therapy method, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.[5][1][6]

Methodology

Havening works through a change agent, a brain delta wave, generated by a simple soothing touch on the palms, upper arms and forehead. This wave interacts with the voltage dependent calcium channel on a glutamate activated neuron in the lateral amygdala. This interaction produces an intracellular calcium oscillation activating a phosphatase which acts to remove a traumatically placed AMPA receptor. The selective activation of the amygdala neuron associated with the emotional component of the recalled memory from the traumatized event is critical to making that neuron susceptible to the change agent. It is this selectivity that allows us to target specific memories. In addition, as the client begins treatment immediately after recall, the distress of the client is minimized.[7]

Assessments of claims

The official "Havening" website includes a listing of testimonials about Havening's effectiveness,[8] however, the "Havening Research" page does not link to any research studies assessing the claim that Havening is an effective therapy for any of the disorders listed on the site.[9] One study has been published designed to assess that claim.[4] In that study, 27 participants completed self-report measures of depression, anxiety, and social adjustment before, and one week and two months after, a Havening intervention. Scores on the different measures were better after the intervention than before. The authors note that the study is limited by "its small sample size" and "lack of control group". Because of the lack of a control group, there is no way to know if the change in scores on the self-report measures is a result of the Havening intervention, a placebo effect, or some other factor related to the passage of time.[6][5][1]

Proponents claim that Havening "increases the levels of serotonin which can disrupt reconsolidation of the link between the traumatic memory of the event and the distress it causes."[4] Although Ruden and McKenna each make this claim, neither provides any direct evidence for the validity of the claim. However new evidence has been provided recently on two publications regarding Havening. Those are the direct evidence for the validity of the claim.[10][7]

References
  1. Jarrett, Christian (May 9, 2013). "Can The New Havening Technique Really Cure Trauma and Fear?". Psychology Today.
  2. Ruden, Ronald. "About Havening". Havening Techniques. The Havening Techniques. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  3. Iley, Chrissy (January 15, 2012). "Paul McKenna: 'I'm not built for relationships'". The Telegraph. United Kingdom. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  4. Gursimran, T.; Deborah, T.; Gould, M.; McKenna, P.; Greensberg, N. (2015). "Impact of a Single-Session of Havening". Health Science Journal. 9 (5): 1–5.
  5. Herbert, J.; Lilienfeld, S.; Lohr, J.; Montgomery, R.; O'Donohue, W.; Rosen, G.; Tolin, D. (2000). "Science and pseudoscience in the development of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: implications for clinical psychology". Clinical Psychology Review. 20 (8): 945–71. doi:10.1016/S0272-7358(99)00017-3. PMID 11098395.
  6. Arkowitz, H.; Lilienfeld, S. (2012). "EMDR: Taking a Closer Look". Scientific American. SA Special Editions 17 (4S): 10–11. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1207-10sp.
  7. Ruden, Ronald A. (1 May 2019). "Harnessing Electroceuticals to Treat Disorders Arising From Traumatic Stress: Theoretical Considerations Using A Psychosensory Model". Explore. 15 (3): 222–229. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2018.05.005. PMID 30598286., Volume 15, Issue 3, May–June 2019.
  8. Ruden, Ronald. "Havening testimonial". Havening Techniques. The Havening Techniques. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  9. Ruden, Ronald. "Havening Research". Havening Techniques. The Havening Techniques. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  10. Gursimran, Thandi; Deborah, Tom; Matthew, Gould; Paul, McKenna; Neil, Greenberg. "Impact of a Single-Session of Havening" (PDF). Health Science Journal. King's College London. ISSN 1791-809X. 2015, Vol. 9 No. 5:1.

Further reading
  • Ruden, Ronald (August 23, 2010). When the Past Is Always Present: Emotional Traumatization, Causes, and Cures. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415875646.
  • Pickens, Harry (2017). Fifteen Minutes to Freedom.
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