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Susan Boniface
Dip Tchg BA HH Dip A.T (Art Therapy), Havening Techniques® Practitioner
With decades of teaching experience across New Zealand and the UK, Susan brings broad experience of pedagogical practice, leadership, and innovation as an educator when providing for the needs of children. Her background includes roles as a classroom teacher, art therapist and teacher mentor. It was during this time that she recognised that many children would benefit from additional support for anxiety, trauma, phobias, etc. To supplement her formal teaching abilities she gained additional skills to become an Art Therapist and Havening Techniques® practitioner.
Susan offers Havening to both adults and children and can also include Art Therapy techniques. Havening can work ‘content free’ so you or your child do not need to discuss the trauma experienced!
With children, sometimes the child has chosen to have a parent do the Havening touch, while Susan has facilitated the process. Usually, this includes a lot of laughing and a relaxed outcome.
Havening helps with anxiety, phobias, accidents, trauma, PTSD, diagnosis, and many more. If you would like more information on how it works, please watch the videos. Susan is happy to offer a free 15-minute chat before any booking commitment. Susan also offers online Havening where she teaches clients to self Haven and then facilitates the process.
Susan’s Journey
Susan’s interest in healing, linked with recovery from her own significant trauma, led her to discover and personally benefit from the profound benefits of Havening. The mind/body connection has always been of interest to her. She experienced the life changing effects of Havening and therefore felt drawn to becoming a Havening practitioner herself. She understands that sometimes, ‘Words are not enough!’
Susan’s strengths lie in her ability to connect personally with others to help them feel relaxed, safe and empowered. Her gentle approach has facilitated some remarkable healing with both adults and children.
Susan believes every client has their own intuitive wisdom which will determine the direction and pace of their healing journey. The healing will simply unfold. She uses a range of Havening techniques and combinations of techniques to best assist her clients. Her empathetic nature and sensitivity, has enabled Susan to hold a space of trust and safely. She is compassionate and clients feel well supported within her practice. Susan is passionate to be able to offer this exceptional technique to help others like it has helped her.
History of Artsoup
Artsoup began in 2002 as a supportive platform of creative experiences for personal development and healing. The name came from the idea that when we are sick, chicken soup offers nourishment. Artsoup and creativity, in whatever form, offers a reconnection with ourselves, personal expression, and joy. It is irrelevant how we create, but just vital that we do! Artsoup is about supporting, and assisting each other to be the best that we can be!
Initially this was through art programmes within schools with a goal to empower children and build self esteem through creative expression. Art skills were taught alongside art therapy techniques, as a vehicle to assist children to notice their strengths and abilities. Oftentimes children had not yet identified the things they were good at. The conclusion of the programmes was an art exhibition featuring students' artwork and journey. It was more about the process to get to the final outcome than the outcome itself.
Artsoup offered creative experiences to the elderly in aged care, and after school programmes. Then public weekly workshops for adults and children, mainly creating mosaics and painting rocks. We liked the symbolism of breaking up the pieces and creating an improved outcome! The community and support built around these sessions was phenomenal, and long term friendships made. Workshops continued successfully for 5 years and drew people together from all walks of life to enrich the experiences.
What Does a Havening Session Look Like?
We use Havening Techniques®, which are safe and non-invasive. The goal is to alleviate distress linked to specific stored memories in the brain by using touch to particular areas on the body.
We start by talking about Havening and how it works, your needs and concerns, and make a plan together for the session. You won’t be asked to share more than you are comfortable with sharing. You sit in a chair and remain fully clothed. The environment is private, peaceful and respectful.
We will apply specific yet soothing touch to areas on the hands, upper arms, and face. (If the client prefers to self Haven, or a child prefers a parent to apply the Havening touch, this can be accommodated, with us facillitating the process.) The nerves in these areas release neurochemicals and create delta waves in the brain to soothe the brain's emotional centre – the amygdala.
The session takes 60-90 minutes.
All artsoup original images are the exclusive copyright of artsoup and therefore can not be reproduced without the permission of Susan Boniface.