At Ādarśa, we offer Havening Techniques as part of our integrative approach to healing trauma and emotional distress. Based in Brunswick and Strathmore, Melbourne, we use Havening alongside somatic psychotherapy, EMDR and other modalities to help you release what your mind and body have been holding.
If you’re looking for a gentle yet powerful approach to working with difficult emotions, Havening may be right for you.
What Are Havening Techniques?
Havening Techniques (also known as Amygdala Depotentiation Therapy) are a psychosensory approach developed by Dr Ronald Ruden. They use specific patterns of touch, eye movements and distraction to change the way distressing experiences are encoded in the brain.
The science behind Havening is rooted in neuroscience. When we experience something overwhelming, the memory can become “encoded” in the amygdala — the part of the brain responsible for processing threat and emotion. This encoding is what keeps the memory feeling raw and activating, even years after the event.
Havening works by applying gentle, soothing touch to specific areas of the body — typically the face, upper arms and palms — while the client focuses on the distressing memory or emotion. This combination produces delta waves in the brain, which disrupt the traumatic encoding and allow the memory to be stored without its emotional charge.
The result is that you can still remember what happened, but it no longer triggers the same intense emotional or physical response. Many people describe the experience as feeling like the memory has been moved further away, or like it has lost its power.
Havening is gentle, non-invasive and often remarkably fast. Some people experience significant relief in a single session.
How We Use Havening at Ādarśa
At Ādarśa, Havening is never used as a standalone technique. Our founder and lead psychologist, Sharna Arti, integrates Havening within a broader therapeutic framework that includes somatic psychotherapy, EMDR, schema therapy and breathwork.
This means Havening is used when it’s the right tool for the moment — not as a one-size-fits-all solution. Sharna’s clinical experience allows her to assess when Havening is likely to be most effective and when other approaches may be more appropriate.
In a session, Havening might be used to:
- Reduce the emotional intensity of a specific traumatic memory
- Calm the nervous system when you’re feeling overwhelmed or activated
- Release phobias, fears or anxiety responses
- Shift deeply held negative beliefs about yourself
- Support the processing work being done through EMDR or somatic psychotherapy
- Provide a gentle entry point for people who find other trauma approaches too confronting initially
The touch component of Havening can be applied by the therapist or self-applied — whichever you are more comfortable with. You are always in control of the process.
What Can Havening Help With?
Havening Techniques can be effective for a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, including:
- Trauma and PTSD
- Anxiety and panic
- Phobias and specific fears
- Emotional pain from grief or loss
- Anger and emotional reactivity
- Negative self-beliefs and low self-worth
- Stress-related physical symptoms
- Performance anxiety
- Cravings and compulsive behaviours
- Distressing memories that feel stuck
Because Havening works at a neurobiological level rather than a purely cognitive one, it can be effective even when talking about the problem hasn’t helped. Many clients find it particularly useful for experiences that feel “stuck” in the body — a tight chest, a knot in the stomach, a sense of dread that won’t shift.
What to Expect
If Sharna determines that Havening could be helpful for what you’re working on, she’ll explain the process and check that you’re comfortable before proceeding.
During the Havening process, you’ll be asked to focus briefly on the distressing memory or emotion while gentle, rhythmic touch is applied (or self-applied) to your arms, face or palms. At the same time, Sharna will guide you through simple visualisation or counting exercises. The whole process typically takes just a few minutes per memory.
Most people find Havening surprisingly calming. The touch component activates the body’s soothing systems, and many clients report feeling noticeably lighter or more settled by the end of a session.
Havening can produce rapid results, but it works within the context of your broader therapy. Some patterns require multiple sessions and the support of other modalities to fully resolve.
Sessions are 60 minutes and incorporate Havening alongside whatever other approaches are most helpful for you on that day.
Why Choose Ādarśa for Havening in Melbourne?
Integrated approach: Havening is most powerful when used alongside other modalities. At Ādarśa, it’s combined with somatic psychotherapy, EMDR and schema therapy for a more comprehensive healing process.
Clinical expertise: Sharna Arti is a registered psychologist (MAPsych) and somatic psychotherapist. Havening is one tool within a broad clinical toolkit, used with professional judgement and care.
Body-centred framework: Because Ādarśa’s foundation is somatic psychotherapy, the Havening work is always grounded in awareness of the body and nervous system — not just cognitive processing.
Safe environment: The touch component of Havening requires trust. Ādarśa provides a warm, safe space where boundaries are respected and you are always in control.
Funding and Pricing
- Private sessions: $280 per hour
- Medicare rebates are available with a Mental Health Care Plan (up to 10 sessions per calendar year)
- Session packages are available for ongoing therapy clients
Please contact us to discuss your options.
Location
Ādarśa offers Havening Techniques at two locations in Melbourne:
- Brunswick, VIC — inner north Melbourne, easily accessible from Fitzroy, Carlton, Northcote, Coburg and Brunswick East
- Strathmore, VIC — north-west Melbourne, convenient for Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Pascoe Vale and surrounding areas
We also serve clients from across greater Melbourne.
Book a Session
If you’d like to explore whether Havening could help you, or if you have questions about the process, we’d love to hear from you.
Phone: 03 9007 2559 Email: sharna.psych@gmail.com Online: Contact us here