What To Expect In Your First Havening® Session

So, you've heard about Havening — maybe from a friend, a Google search, or you've been quietly wondering if it could help you. And now you're curious, but perhaps also a little unsure about what actually happens. That's completely normal, and honestly, one of the most common things I hear before a first session.

Let me walk you through it.

First — there's no pressure to relive anything

This is probably the biggest concern people have, and I want to address it straight away. You do not need to tell me every detail of what happened. You don't need to go back and 're-hash' the story, re-experience the pain, or talk through it all from the beginning. In fact, that's one of the things that makes Havening® so different — and so gentle. We work with the emotional charge of the experience, not the story itself.

So what does a session actually look like?

We start with a conversation. I want to understand what you're carrying — whether that's a specific event, a fear, anxiety, or just a feeling of being stuck. There's no rushing here. I'll listen deeply, not just to your words, but to what's underneath them.

From there, we'll identify what we're working on together, and I'll explain the process before we begin — so you always know what's happening and why. You're in control throughout.

The Havening® itself involves gentle, soothing touch — stroking the arms, face, or hands — while your attention is guided through simple tasks like counting, humming, or visualising a relaxing scene. It sounds simple, and it is. But what's happening underneath is actually quite profound.

The touch produces delta waves in the brain — the same brainwaves present in deep sleep — which creates the neurological conditions needed to safely release the emotional charge stored in the memory. In other words, your brain gets the chance to update how it's been holding that experience.

What might you notice?

People respond differently, and I always say — trust your own experience. Some people feel a sense of calm almost immediately. Others notice a lightness, like something has quietly shifted. Some feel a little tired afterwards, which is completely normal — your nervous system has done some real work!

What most people don't expect is how gentle it feels. Many clients tell me afterwards that they were surprised — they expected it to be harder than it was.

A few practical things to know

Sessions are currently held online, which works beautifully for this type of work — you're in your own space, which can actually help your nervous system feel safer. Your first session runs for around 90 minutes, which gives us time to connect, work through the process, and check in with how you're feeling before we finish.

I also come with 30+ years of nursing experience behind me — so if anything comes up physically or emotionally, you're in safe hands.

You don't need to have it all figured out before you reach out

If you're on the fence, that's okay. Curiosity is always a good place to start. Feel free to send me a message and ask questions — there's absolutely no obligation, and no question is too small.

After all, the first step is often just deciding that you deserve to feel better. And you do.

Tash x