The Haven philosophy involves principles of individual responsibility, taking more charge of the self, with a freedom to grow to become more of who you were meant to be, while maintaining a care and sensitivity towards others.

There is a constant state of tension between the individual and society. Children are raised to "fit in" to the stream of normalcy through the development and rewarding of roles, a necessary endeavour if society is to survive.

However, the cost to the individual may be high; frequently, it means the loss of the sense of the authentic self. The restraint placed upon the self results in a blunting of the emotions and a loss of spontaneity, interfering with the ability to fully experience meaningful relationships.

Through learning how to access those emotions, a person may return to a fuller feeling of the self, a greater sensitivity towards others, and a greater responsiveness to the demands of the environment. The net result would be a richer sense of meaning in life.

Our Vision, Mission and Values

Vision
The Haven is an exceptional institution creating a relational world where every person is whole and responsible for themselves and their environment, and where all life is met with dignity and respect, open curiosity, and loving compassion.

Mission
The essence of The Haven is human connection and recognition, supported by our structure and spirit. We operate a residential training center on the leading edge of personal and professional development. We promote self-responsibility, effective communication, healthy relationships and integration of body-mind-spirit through experiential learning. We operate with love, integrity and respect for humanity and our environment and we manage our resources responsibly and effectively.

Values

Loving as illustrated by caring, direct honest communication, active kindness and the acceptance and consideration of self and others; Integrity when expressing agreements and disagreements and in ensuring our words match our behavior in a context of personal and collective accountability; Joy in celebrating and sharing who we are and what we offer; Freedom illustrated through open and passionate questioning; Respect through valuing differences and through consideration of others; Self-Responsibility through every person taking ownership for their part in every life situation.

The Haven Teaching Principles

Curiosity Self-responsibility Communication Relationship Experiential Learning Personal Fulfillment Inclusiveness