Dr. Ronald A. Ruden
Creator and Developer of The Havening Techniques®
Dr. Ronald Ruden is the creator of The Havening Techniques. Over the last three decades he has translated the recent advances in neuroscience into new methods of healing. In his first book, ‘The Craving Brain’ (1997), he explores the science behind addictive behaviors and proposes a way to inhibit relapse and to treat the symptoms arising from sobriety. It is a model that requires the individual to play an active role in maintaining abstinence.
In his second book, ‘When the Past is Always Present’ (2010), he offers The Havening Techniques, methods which use sensory input (touch) intended to eliminate the consequences arising from stressful or traumatic events. Thus, he defines The Havening Techniques as a psychosensory approach. Dr. Ruden began his research career at Northwestern where he obtained his Ph.D. in organic chemistry at the age of 24. He then went to Harvard in 1971 where he trained with Noble laureate E.J. Corey. After an assistant professorship at Rutgers he attended medical school and graduated from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. Following internship and residency in internal medicine Dr. Ruden obtained training in clinical nutrition at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. During his tenure there, the American Cancer Society honored him for organizing the symposium, Nutrition and Cancer, What We Know So Far. In 1983 he began a private practice in medicine and maintained his love for research. He continues to explore ways to use neuroscience to treat illness.
Dr. Steven Ruden
Co-Creator and Developer of The Havening Techniques®
Dr. Steven Ruden collaborated with his twin brother for over ten years in the development of the Havening Techniques. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University in 1971. He enjoys a successful practice for over 40 years and has published in the area of dental phobias. In addition Dr. Ruden is a certified hypnotherapist. He is also a consultant and coach for individuals and Fortune 500 companies including PepsiCo and Smith Barney in the area of communication.
He currently is a member of the International Coaching Federation and has earned the title of ACC. In addition, NYU granted him a Certificate in Coaching after two years study. He lectures on the Havening Techniques® from the scientific as well as the clinical component.
About the Center for Havening Research and Training
The Havening Techniques® are stewarded by the Center for Havening Research and Training, Inc., a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York and recognized by the Internal Revenue Service under section 501(c)(3) (EIN 46-0778668; New York Charities Bureau registration 44-30-90).
The Center sets and maintains the standards for training and certification in the Havening Techniques, supports its community of certified practitioners and trainers, and protects the integrity of the method and its trademarks. It is led by a volunteer Board of Directors, none of whom is paid for this work.
Board of Directors
The Center is governed by a Board of Directors who serve without compensation. They are drawn from the Havening community and from allied professional fields, and they share responsibility for the Center’s governance: setting training and certification standards, safeguarding the method and its marks, and overseeing the organization’s finances and operations.
Dr. Ronald Ruden (Founder), New York, USA: physician and researcher who created and developed the Havening Techniques (full biography above).
Louise Carmi, Shropshire, United Kingdom: Certified Havening Techniques Trainer since 2014, who helped introduce Havening across the United Kingdom and Australia.
Erika Neil, Fairfax, Virginia, USA: Certified Havening Techniques Trainer and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Washington DC area, and a co-founder of Humanitarian Havening.
Doug O’Brien, New York City, USA: Certified Havening Techniques Trainer and an internationally recognized trainer of Ericksonian hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming.
Donna Ryen, Michigan, USA: Certified Havening Techniques Trainer, corporate coach, and Emmy award-winning documentary producer.
Olf Stoiber, Munich, Germany: Certified Havening Techniques Trainer and licensed psychotherapy practitioner, president of the Deutscher Verband für Hypnose e.V. (DVH), one of Germany’s largest professional hypnotherapy associations.
The Board welcomes correspondence at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..