Four methods, tailored
to your nervous system.
I don't follow scripts or rely on a single method. Each session combines the approach that best fits where you are right now.
Havening Techniques®
A psychosensory method grounded in contemporary neuroscience of memory and nervous system regulation, used in working with trauma, anxiety, chronic stress and excessive emotional reactivity. The aim of the method is to reduce the intensity of emotional reactions encoded in the brain and restore a sense of safety and stability in the nervous system.
The technique was developed in 2009 in the United States by Dr Ronald Ruden and his brother Steven Ruden. It is now used in therapeutic work as well as personal development, coaching and mental performance preparation. The name - a "safe haven" - refers to the process by which the nervous system receives a signal of safety, allowing stress responses to calm down and gradually restoring internal balance.
Applications
Havening Techniques is used in working with various forms of emotional tension and nervous system overload. The modality can support work with:
- Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety and phobias
- Panic attacks
- Chronic stress and excessive nervous system activation
- Intense emotional responses related to difficult memories
- Low self-esteem and emotional blocks
Working with this method may support improved emotional regulation, increased psychological resilience and a greater sense of stability and control over one's responses.
Safety and comfort of the process
Havening is a gentle and non-invasive method. The process involves a soft, rhythmic touch (Havening Touch®) applied to specific areas of the body, which can also be self-applied by the client.
The work unfolds at a pace tailored to the individual's capacity and the readiness of their nervous system. There is no requirement to describe traumatic experiences in detail or to relive them intensely. In many cases, individuals experience a noticeable reduction in the intensity of emotional responses even during the first session.
The neuroscience of Havening
Havening Techniques is based on knowledge of how the brain stores and activates memories with a strong emotional charge. The amygdala - the brain structure responsible for threat detection and initiating defensive responses - plays a central role. As a result of traumatic experiences, strongly reinforced neural connections can form around a given memory, so certain stimuli can automatically trigger intense emotional reactions, even when the real threat no longer exists.
Havening harnesses neuroplasticity - the brain's capacity to change and reorganise neural connections. During a session, Havening Touch - combined with simple mental tasks - promotes the generation of delta waves in the brain, characteristic of deep sleep and regenerative processes. In this state:
- Learned stress responses linked to the difficult memory are weakened
- Synaptic depotentiation occurs (reducing the strength of neural connections associated with the painful memory)
- Amygdala reactivity decreases
- The body's automatic stress response is reduced
As a result, memories do not disappear, but lose their excessive emotional charge. The nervous system regains greater flexibility and stress responses cease to be automatic and overwhelming.
Effectiveness and research
Havening Techniques is a method whose research base is growing rapidly. Its neurobiological foundations - particularly the mechanism of synaptic depotentiation and the role of the amygdala in storing trauma - are consistent with current scientific knowledge in the neurobiology of memory and emotion regulation.
Existing clinical observations and preliminary pilot studies indicate promising results in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress and anxiety. A pilot study by Dr Youngson demonstrated significant reduction in PTSD symptoms measured on the IES scale, maintained at 7 and 30-day follow-up. A study involving King's College London (Thandi Gursimran et al., 2015) showed reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms after just one session. Havening is currently the subject of further clinical trials - the method does not replace psychotherapy but can be a valuable complement, particularly in working with trauma, anxiety and excessive nervous system reactivity.
What a session looks like
The session begins with a brief conversation during which we identify the area you would like to work on and your current emotional state. We then move into the Havening process itself. During the session:
- You work in a calm and safe atmosphere
- We use gentle, rhythmic touch (Havening Touch®), which can also be self-applied
- The process is accompanied by simple mental tasks that help the nervous system shift into a more regulated state
- The session proceeds at a calm pace, with full respect for your boundaries and readiness
- There is no need to describe difficult experiences in detail
The session concludes with integration of the experience, followed by a brief reflection on any changes that emerged.
What happens after booking
After booking, you will receive a confirmation message with all the details of the session (a link for the online meeting via Zoom, or information regarding the in-person session).
At the beginning of the session, we will clarify the area you would like to work on and set the pace of the process so that it aligns with your needs and the capacity of your nervous system. If we are working with something particularly sensitive, the entire process will unfold gently, with care, attentiveness and full respect for your pace.
Hypnotherapy
A therapeutic method using the natural state of hypnotic trance - deepened concentration and focused attention. Contrary to popular myths, hypnosis does not mean loss of control or awareness. It is a state in which attention turns inward, allowing access to deeper layers of the mind, and work with deeply rooted behavioral patterns, beliefs and emotions that often remain beyond the reach of ordinary conversation.
You may recognize a similar state when you become absorbed in a book, a film or a task to the point of losing track of time - those are the theta waves, active during hypnosis. Hypnotherapy has been recognised by the medical community for decades: the British Medical Association approved its use in 1955, and the American Medical Association in 1958.
How does hypnotherapy work?
In a hypnotic trance state, specific changes occur in brain functioning: activity of critical, analytical thinking decreases so the mind becomes more open to new perspectives and change; focus on inner experiences increases, including emotions, images and body sensations; and brain neuroplasticity is enhanced, supporting the modification of established emotional and behavioral patterns.
As a result, it becomes possible to process difficult experiences and emotions, transform deeply rooted beliefs about oneself and the world, and integrate experiences that were previously blocked or suppressed. The practitioner acts as a guide - supporting and structuring the experience - while you remain in contact with yourself, retain full control, and can change direction or end the session at any moment.
The neuroscience of hypnosis
The hypnotic state is not only a subjective experience of deep relaxation - it is measurable and observable in neurological research. EEG studies confirm an increase in theta wave activity during hypnosis, brain waves associated with learning, memory, spatial navigation and emotional processing. Hypnosis has also been shown to stimulate the release of β-endorphins, contributing to a natural sense of well-being.
A meta-analysis published in 2024 in the journal Frontiers in Psychology by Dirk Rosendahl and colleagues, covering over 20 years of clinical studies, documents the effectiveness of hypnosis in addressing both psychological and somatic conditions, with outcomes comparable to established psychological treatments. Neurobiological findings suggest that hypnosis may also influence pain modulation mechanisms and support lasting neuroplastic changes.
Regression hypnosis
One of the most in-depth approaches within hypnotherapy: revisiting earlier experiences - often from childhood or other significant life moments - that may lie at the root of present difficulties. In a trance state, with the guidance of the hypnotherapist, the client "revisits" meaningful memories or past events. This process is often associated with catharsis and the updating of beliefs formed in difficult circumstances. It can support:
- Accessing the root event or belief underlying current challenges
- Processing difficult memories in a safe and contained way, without emotional overwhelm
- Releasing limiting beliefs shaped in the past
- Integrating experiences and developing new, healthier perspectives
Regression hypnosis can be particularly supportive in working with trauma, phobias of unknown origin, chronic behavioral patterns, or difficulties that persist despite long-term cognitive work.
Areas of application
Today, hypnosis is a rapidly developing field used across medicine, psychology and coaching.
Clinical Hypnotherapy
The most extensively researched area. Effective in working with anxiety, phobias, trauma, depression, sleep disorders, compulsions and habits, psychosomatic conditions and chronic pain.
Relaxation Hypnosis
Focused on deep tension reduction, nervous system recovery and building internal resources. Helpful for chronic stress, burnout and sleep difficulties.
Business & Coaching Hypnosis
Addresses blocks in action, fear of public speaking, perfectionism and procrastination - supporting goal achievement through beliefs about self-efficacy.
Sports Hypnosis
Supports performance routines, concentration and pressure management - helping athletes access flow states and work with limiting beliefs.
Oncology Support
Does not treat cancer itself, but can support patients during treatment - reducing procedural and post-operative pain, chemotherapy-related nausea and anxiety.
Dental Hypnosis
Effective for dental anxiety, heightened gag reflex, sensitivity to anesthesia and stress related to dental procedures.
Perinatal Hypnosis (Hypnobirthing)
Self-hypnosis techniques used in preparation for childbirth to reduce pain, anxiety and tension.
Applications in mental health
Hypnotherapy may support work with a wide range of psychological and emotional challenges:
- Anxiety and phobias
- Chronic stress and burnout
- Difficulties with emotional regulation
- Low self-esteem and a critical inner voice
- Habits, compulsions and addictions
- Sleep problems
- Psychosomatic tension and chronic pain
- Relationship difficulties
- Blocks in action and goal achievement
- Trauma and difficult past experiences
Safety and nature of the process
Hypnosis is a natural and safe state of consciousness. When practiced properly, hypnotherapy:
- Does not involve loss of control or awareness - you retain inner control and will not do anything against your will
- Takes place with full respect for your boundaries and at a pace aligned with your readiness
- Is adapted to the state of your nervous system - never exceeding your current capacity
- Has no significant side effects - extensive clinical reviews confirm the strong safety profile of hypnotherapy
You remain aware throughout - your attention is simply more focused inward. You can pause or redirect the process at any time.
What a session looks like
A session begins with a conversation during which we define the focus of the work and your current state. We then move into the hypnotic process:
- Induction - a gradual transition into a state of deep relaxation and focused attention
- Therapeutic work - depending on your goal, this may include working with sensations and emotions, processing difficult experiences, exploring beliefs or, when appropriate, regression work
- Emergence and integration - a gentle return from the hypnotic state, followed by reflection
If we are working with a particularly sensitive topic, the entire process unfolds gently, with care and full respect for your boundaries.
What happens after booking: you'll receive a message with all session details. At the beginning of the first session, we clarify the focus of the work and your expectations, establish the pace and direction of the process, and ensure a sense of safety together. You do not need to know exactly what you want to work on - we start from wherever you are right now.
The Bunny Talk Process™
The Bunny Talk Process™ did not originate in a clinical setting, but in a simple morning ritual - one filled with warmth, connection, learning and play. It is a gentle, neuroscience-informed method for working with emotions and the nervous system, integrating elements of drawing, play and nonverbal communication.
It was developed by Claudia Ricard as a natural, relational form of process and communication for moments when direct conversation feels too difficult, overwhelming or inaccessible - particularly in work with children, adolescents and individuals experiencing intense emotions or difficulty expressing them. The method is based on the understanding that a sense of safety is a necessary condition for change, and that therapeutic processes can unfold gently, without the need for direct confrontation with difficult experiences.
How does it work?
The process uses a simple yet deeply effective form of symbolic communication - hands shaped as "bunnies" become carriers of emotions, thoughts and experiences, allowing them to be expressed without the need to speak about them directly. This way of working reduces tension and shame, introduces a sense of safety, and creates a natural distance helping to prevent overwhelm. As a result, a safe psychological space emerges - one in which what was previously too difficult or inaccessible can begin to be expressed.
The therapeutic foundations
Grounded in neuroscience, hypnosis, somatic processing and trauma-informed practice. We prioritize safety over insight.
Nervous system regulation
Change cannot occur when the nervous system is in threat. We create immediate regulation through playful gestures and a non-judgmental presence, shifting clients out of fight-or-flight.
Somatic processing
Trauma is stored in the body, not just in language. Instead of asking for the story, we ask "Where do you feel it?" - bypassing cognitive defenses to work where the experience actually lives.
Protective dissociation
The Bunny provides healthy distance. The experience becomes externalized and observed safely. Processing is safest when there is enough distance to remain regulated.
Choice and agency
Trauma removes choice; healing restores it. The client chooses which emotion to work on and how it is represented, reactivating the prefrontal cortex and restoring power.
Who it serves
The process restores choice, agency and safety - key elements often lost in trauma - and can be adapted developmentally without changing the underlying neuroscience. It supports:
- Children of all ages, including preverbal children
- Teenagers navigating emotional intensity and identity
- Adults and parents
- Families and caregivers
- Schools and educational settings
- Therapists, coaches and healthcare professionals
Especially effective for
- Children who struggle to talk about feelings
- Stored emotional responses
- Stress and emotional overwhelm
- Behavioral challenges
- Attachment and family dynamics
- School-based emotional regulation support
Benefits
- Emotional relief without needing to explain or relive events
- Increased calm and nervous system regulation
- Reduced emotional reactivity
- Greater self-awareness and emotional literacy
- Improved confidence and self-trust
- Stronger parent-child and family connections
What a session looks like
A session begins with a conversation to explore your current situation and needs. Instead of directly describing an experience, you may "translate" and express it through drawing, movement or other forms of expression. During the session, we may use hands shaped into "bunnies" for symbolic dialogue, drawing and creative expression, work with the body and somatic sensations, or plushies and objects representing different aspects of the experience.
At its heart, Bunny Talk teaches something profound: "Healing does not require suffering, and play can be powerful."
Mirroring Hands
Developed within the Ericksonian hypnosis approach by Richard Hill and Ernest L. Rossi - a distinguished psychobiologist and long-time collaborator of Milton Erickson, widely regarded as one of the founders of modern hypnotherapy. This modality is sometimes described as "hypnosis without hypnosis," as it does not rely on formal, directive trance induction. Instead, it is based on a natural state of focused attention and a subtle collaboration with processes occurring within the subconscious.
Mirroring Hands integrates elements of Ericksonian hypnosis, neuroscience and psychobiology, creating an approach in which the process of change unfolds organically, in alignment with the individual's pace, readiness and inner resources.
How does it work?
In many therapeutic approaches, challenges are often addressed through conversation, analysis and interpretation of experiences. Mirroring Hands works differently - it engages subconscious processes directly through ideomotor responses: subtle, spontaneous micro-movements of the muscles (most often in the hands and arms) that arise in response to processes occurring within the subconscious.
During a session, the hands can respond to inner experiences and become a kind of "mirror" for psychological and emotional processes. This allows the client to establish direct contact with their inner dynamics - tensions, conflicts or resources that often remain outside of conscious awareness. The practitioner takes on the role of a guide, carefully observing and supporting the unfolding experience while naturally following the client, aligned with the principles of Milton Erickson, who emphasized that the most important resources and solutions reside within the human subconscious.
What makes it unique
Working with the subconscious through the body
The process uses ideomotor movements, the physical expression of processes occurring in the subconscious - allowing a subtle "dialogue" that bypasses the critical factor of the conscious mind.
Neuroplasticity and change at the neural level
Richard Hill and Ernest L. Rossi suggest that the state of focused attention during Mirroring Hands may support neuroplastic processes - the reorganization of neural pathways in response to new experiences.
Minimal need for verbalisation
The process does not require detailed discussion of difficult experiences. The work can unfold primarily on a somatic and emotional level, making this method gentle and supportive.
Non-directive approach
The practitioner does not impose interpretations or solutions. Change emerges through natural insight, integration of experience and the activation of your own internal resources.
Benefits
Working with this modality may support:
- The integration of emotions and completion of unfinished psychological processes
- Resolving internal conflicts and decision-making dilemmas
- Access to inner resources and intuition
- Improved capacity for nervous system self-regulation
- Reduction of emotional and somatic tension
This method can be particularly helpful in situations where intellectual analysis no longer leads to further change.
Who it's for
Mirroring Hands may be particularly supportive for people who:
- Find it difficult to express their experiences and emotions in words
- Prefer somatic and experiential work over analytical conversation
- Feel stuck in talk therapy based primarily on dialogue
- Experience inner conflicts or decision-making difficulties
- Want to deepen their connection with their intuition and inner resources
What a session looks like
The session begins with a conversation during which we identify the area you would like to work on, as well as your current emotional state. During the Mirroring Hands process itself:
- You remain in a calm, comfortable seated position
- Your hands may respond spontaneously to inner processes
- There is no need to describe difficult experiences in detail
- The entire process unfolds at a pace tailored to your needs
The session concludes with a phase of integration, followed by a brief reflection on the overall process.
My qualifications
I am a certified Mirroring Hands Level 3 practitioner - the highest level of certification available in this method, and one of the few in Poland. I developed my skills through direct training with the creator of the method, Richard Hill, which allows me to work in alignment with the original approach and ethical standards of this technique.
What happens after booking: you'll receive a confirmation message with all session details. We'll clarify the area you'd like to work on and set a pace aligned with your nervous system's capacity - gently, with full respect for your pace, especially with sensitive topics.
Not sure which method
is right for you?
You're welcome to schedule a short, free initial consultation.
We'll begin from wherever you are.