Heal WITH havening®
Havening is a gentle, science-backed technique that helps you let go of emotional baggage — the kind that gets stored in your body and brain, sometimes without you even realizing it. It’s like clearing out your internal browser cache, but for your nervous system. Havening is about creating a safe place to live in your body, ie: a safe haven.
Originally developed by Dr. Ronald Ruden (a neuroscientist with a heart), Havening uses soothing touch and intentional distraction to help the brain unhook stress responses from old memories. It’s equal parts neuroscience and nervous system nurturing — a bridge between hard science and soft healing. Right up your alley, right?
Disclaimer: Havening Techniques® are considered a complementary and alternative modality (CAM). They are not a substitute for medical, psychological, or psychiatric diagnosis, treatment, or advice. If you have or suspect you may have a medical or mental health condition, please consult a licensed healthcare professional. Participation in Havening is voluntary, and results may vary.
✋ What Happens in a Session?
Here’s the vibe:
You’ll be guided to gently touch your arms, face, or hands in a rhythmic way.
You’ll briefly tune into a memory, belief, or emotion you’d like to shift.
Then — this is the magic part — you’ll distract your brain with simple exercises like counting, telling a story or visualizing a peaceful scene.
Your nervous system starts to downshift, and your brain gets the signal: “We’re safe now. It’s okay to let this go.”
It’s deceptively simple, surprisingly powerful.
🌿 What Can Havening Help With?
If you’ve got emotional residue stuck in your system, Havening might be for you. Some of the areas it’s been helpful for include:
Old and distressing or painful memories
Feeling stuck in looping thoughts
Emotional triggers that feel bigger than the moment
Fear of public speaking or creative expression blocks
That thing you thought you were “over”… but your body disagrees
Whether it’s a whisper or a roar, Havening invites your nervous system to soften — and respond differently.
Would you like to create a new experience with something that you’ve struggled to manifest? Havening can help you anchor in new ways of thinking and being through supporting new neural pathways.
“Sheila’s Havening sessions offered a powerful combination of feeling completely safe while also being direct and effective in getting to the heart of whatever issue I was facing. This was all done with a gentleness and fluidity that made it very easy and enjoyable for me. I was able to reconnect to some deeply held values and came out of the sessions energized yet calm and grounded.”
“Sheila helped me learn how to think of a situation that is hard for me (I chose a hard one!) and she taught me how to gently touch my arms rhythmically which got me out of my brain (ruminating a zillion unhelpful thoughts). After our Havening session, I was able to remember that when I had a hard moment. It was SUPER helpful that I could do it quickly and felt the change right away. I look forward to working with her again to go even deeper with it.”
“I had a Havening session with Sheila last week and it was truly a beautiful experience.
Sheila was deeply intuitive and incredibly supportive throughout, guiding me to connect with my truth and the understanding of my experiences. She introduced me to a simple yet powerful technique to calm my nervous system, something no other method had ever been able to do for me before. I left the session feeling grounded, cared for, and very grateful.
Thank you so much dear Sheila 🙏🏽✨”
“Before my Havenly session, I was feeling completely overwhelmed, emotionally drained,—agitated, upset, and disconnected from myself, like my mind and body were stuck in overdrive. But the moment I entered the space, I felt held.
The space felt safe, intentional, and deeply nurturing. As I moved through the experience, I could feel the tension melting away. By the end, I was calm, grounded, and more at peace than I’d felt in days. It was like my nervous system finally exhaled. I’m so grateful for this beautiful reset—it was exactly what I needed. ✨ I also walked away with affirmations from our sessions that I carry on my person, at home, and at work, to read when those feelings sneak up on me. If you’re seeking a gentle reset or a way to come back home to yourself, this is it. 🌿 ”
“I found the experience of my Havening session very profound. Not knowing what to expect, Sheila led me through a simple practice that fully shifted a memory and core belief that I had. Now, when I think of this belief, I realize that it isn’t true. Not only that, the childhood memory holds almost no charge. It doesn’t feel painful in the way that it used to. I fully recommend this practice to anyone who is looking to shift something in their life.”
“I had the wonderful opportunity to experience a Havening session with Sheila Franzen. Sheila is a compassionate, caring, and intuitive coach. I felt safe and comfortable for the entire session. Our society these days is very frenetic, and it’s easy for our nervous systems to be running on overdrive most of the time. I also learned about patterns of thought that can trigger a fight or flight response. Our brain does not know the difference between real and imagined stimuli. Sheila shared techniques and tools that I use frequently, if not daily, to help bring me back to a sense of calm and grounded presence. I highly recommend Havening with Sheila to learn how to regain control of your nervous system and enjoy a more centred and empowered daily life.”
“The Havening session I recently had with Sheila was a truly wonderful experience. I was quite nervous to begin with but Sheila had me quickly feeling at ease.
I felt safe to tell her of some of my life experiences that previously I had only spoken about with my wife. With the Havening techniques I am slowly learning how to think when a situation arises and to stop negative responses. Thank you so much Sheila”