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Haven in the World
Every year we welcome people from around the world to participate in courses at The Haven. In 2007, close to 100 participants came from Europe and Asia to find here what could not be found closer to home - a transformative journey, a releasing of the blocks which deaden creativity and wholeness, leading to a more fulfilled life.
Our scope has always been wider than Gabriola Island, however, and we are proud of our long history of working internationally, and taking the teachings of The Haven out into the world. Carole Ames, The Haven's Director of International Relations, coordinates all of our work outside of Canada, and here describes just some of what we do.
'In addition to all of our activities here on Gabriola Island, The Haven has been quite active recently in the international arena. Since 2005 we have sent over 20 teams to China, Russia, Malaysia, France, Kenya, Brazil and Peru. Our leaders and assistants have presented numerous Come Alives, as well as several custom-designed courses, all through translation. In this three-year period alone, over 400 people have attended Come Alive, either independently or as part of their organization. So far in 2008 we have scheduled three core courses (Come Alive and Mini-Phase) for Shenzhen China, and 'Communicating and Connecting' led by Ben and Jock in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
'So why are we working internationally when we have lots to occupy ourselves here at home? The answer can be found in our Statement of Purpose: The Haven is "dedicated to the enrichment and effectiveness of people's lives". Over the years we have explored many ways in which to make a positive contribution in the business, social and personal lives of both individuals and organizations. Not surprisingly, the genesis of the recent course offerings was personal connection between people who have experienced our approach first-hand and wanted to support its introduction in other markets. These individuals believed in our shared values, and were instrumental in bringing our courses to their employees as well as to a broader market. The power of personal connection is how this developed, it is what motivates us, and it is the reward.'
The personal connections which Carole describes run very deep, and have helped sustain us in our work over the years. Our courses could not run without our course leaders, assistants and translators, who combine to create an exceptional experience for our participants. We have many good friends of The Haven in Taiwan, including Donna Lee, who is instrumental in bringing groups over every year for our Mini Phase and Reflections courses in Mandarin. Sean Feng and the Hai Wen group in China enable us to offer Come Alives and Mini Phases in China. We have also developed a remarkable and fruitful relationship with Huawei Technologies (www.huawei.com), a global telecommunications manufacturer based in China. We have been aware for a long time that what people learn at The Haven has a beneficial effect not only on their personal lives, but in the workplace as well. The employee training that The Haven has been involved in with Huawei is a shining example of this.
Our friends at Huawei have been very generous in writing an article about the relationship with The Haven and the benefits they have seen in our mutual cooperation. You can read this on our web site. In the article, Huawei describe how they introduced courses from The Haven for middle- and high-level managers to help manage stress and overcome the cross-cultural challenges in the process of globalization. At the end of 2007, Huawei had 70,000 employees located in many different countries of the world - to date more than 3,000 have participated in courses offered by The Haven. The benefits to Huawei are described in the article:
'These courses have effectively helped managers in Huawei to enhance their self-awareness of their own pattern of behaviour and decision making, improve communication skills, especially that of cross-cultural communication, and interpersonal relationship, and build integrated being. Thus our organizational climate is much more harmonious and cohesive...With great patience, wisdom, humanity and mastery of people-connection essence, The Haven's facilitators taught us a lot and won our deep appreciation and great respect. Now our managers become more open, with sharper awareness of self, the way they live and others' emotional status, and higher readiness to communicate with people. We start to ponder over principles and values for life. Thanks to Ben, Jock, Haven leaders and facilitators, who led us on a journey toward value-based life.'
Visit our web site to read the article in full.
This gives just a hint of the enormous scope our international work. There will be more on this in the upcoming Shen Online (see below for further details).
We are more than happy to work closer to home as well as internationally, and have successfully delivered a range of different workshops to public and private sector employees both on Gabriola and in places of work. If you are interested in finding out more about what The Haven can offer, please contact Rachel Davey, Director of Programs (programs[at]haven.ca or 1-877-247-9238 ext. 235).
Courses
What's Coming Up
As we launch into Spring, there's a fabulous variety of courses to choose from at The Haven. Phase II, which starts on 22 March, will be continuing in the first half of the month, with a Come Alive running from 20-25 April. We welcome the new course Radiant Relationships, led by Cathy Wilder and Nancy Bradshaw, and the return of Horse Wisdom, which was on the schedule for the first time last year. It's also a great month to sample one or more of our courses focusing on specific issues, many of which are now approved for Continuing Education Credits with various organizations (see below). Coming up in April are Transforming Fear and Anxiety; Dealing with the DSM IV; Separation and Loss; Body Dialogue; Effective Boundaries; Anger Boundaries and Safety; and Awakening Your Erotic Body. So many wonderful courses - which ones to pick? See below for our course descriptions, dates and online registration.
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| | Apr.03-Apr.06, 2008 | Radiant Relationships | Wilder, Bradshaw |
| Apr.04-Apr.07, 2008 | Transforming Fear and Anxiety | McCartney, Raithby |
| Apr.04-Apr.16, 2008 | Phase II, Part B | McNally.C, McNally.E |
| Apr.04-Apr.16, 2008 | Phase II, Part B Intern | McNally.C, McNally.E |
| Apr.11-Apr.13, 2008 | Dealing with the DSM IV | Wong.R |
| Apr.11-Apr.13, 2008 | Separation and Loss | Nicholls |
| Apr.17-Apr.20, 2008 | Body Dialogue | Whyte, Wilder, Anderson |
| Apr.17-Apr.20, 2008 | Effective Boundaries | Huntington, McNally.C |
| Apr.17-Apr.20, 2008 | Horse Wisdom | Marshall.D |
| Apr.20-Apr.25, 2008 | Come Alive | Ewan, Whyte, Wilder |
| Apr.20-Apr.25, 2008 | Come Alive Intern | Ewan, Whyte |
| Apr.24-Apr.27, 2008 | Anger, Boundaries & Safety | Gurel |
| Apr.24-Apr.27, 2008 | IBP Professional Training: Year 1 | G & J Fewster |
| Apr.25-Apr.27, 2008 | Awakening Your Erotic Body | Dillon-Shaw, Dillon.G |
More Continuing Education Credits for Courses at The Haven
As part of an ongoing initiative to recognize the value of our courses - and to make it easier for you to come here - we have been applying for preapproved Continuing Education Credits from a range of organizations for some of our courses. We are delighted to announce that a further 19 courses have been preapproved for Continuing Education Credit Unit (CEU) hours by the Canadian Counselling Association, in addition to the five already preapproved. The courses are: Family Reconstruction; Journey to Self; Satir Foundations; Transitions; Separation & Loss; Shadow Play; Disengaging Depression; Body, Breath & Energy; Skills 1: Introduction to Personality Styles; Skills 3: Gestalt Plus; Skills 4: Projection & Transference; The Power of Direct Mirroring; Communication Fundamentals; Dealing with the DSM IV; Coaching: Engaging Relationships; The Quantum Laugh; Sensational Contact; Horse Wisdom; Body, Self & Soul: An Introduction to Integrative Body Psychotherapy.
For more information on these and other courses preapproved for CEUs, please visit our web site. If you know of any organizations offering preapproved CEUs, or have any other ideas on increasing the recognition of what we offer, please contact Rachel Davey (programs[at]haven.ca or 1-877-247-9238 ext. 235).
Experiential Zen - A New Course for 2008
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Experiential Zen, an introduction to Zen Buddhism, is to be offered for the first time at The Haven in late October 2008. The leaders are Ellery and Mary Helen Littleton, long-time Haven faculty members. Ellery has written the following about the course.
'Our first Zen experiences occurred back in the early 70s. We went to a workshop with Alan Watts, a great Zen teacher. It was an exciting and profound learning experience, and we have continued to pursue Zen, in its myriad forms, ever since.
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'This is not an academic course about Zen. God forbid. We don't pretend to be Zen masters or gurus. Of course, some basic Zen ideas will be discussed, but the emphasis will be on experiences, in the form of a series of Zen-related activities - meditation, Zen Yoga, poetry and journal writing. This is a weekend offering deep relaxation and self-exploration, with plenty of opportunities for learning and reflection.
'We have found that Zen offers a remarkable approach to spiritual awareness, personal growth and peace of mind. It actually works, if you will work at it. The tradition is ancient; the techniques are tried and true. It places responsibility for the self squarely on the self, which is very much in harmony with The Haven philosophy.
'Mary Helen will handle the meditation and Zen Yoga. She is an excellent teacher, with a knack for de-mystifying the inscrutable. I will handle the poetry and journal writing, and we will share in the presentation of other experiences throughout, as with the creation of a mini-Zen garden.
'I could go on, but as the wise man said, 'the Zen that can be described is not the Zen.'
Nevertheless, we will try, and we'll have a lot of creative fun along the way.'
Haiku
I look up
from writing
to sunlight.
For more information and online registration for Experiential Zen, see our web site.
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Haven Foundation Update
Ben and Jock created the Haven Foundation to carry on the work they developed after they retired. The Foundation officially came into being on January 1, 2004 when ownership of The Haven was transferred to it. Since then the Foundation has worked to ensure that The Haven remains vital and sustainable for generations to come. The individuals who embody that purpose are the core members and board directors they appoint to run the Foundation.
We are extremely fortunate to call on the skills and passion of a wide range of people who volunteer their time to the Foundation. Our board directors are an eclectic mix of participants, leaders, business professionals, and long-time supporters of The Haven - they are united by the aim of ensuring the success of The Haven.
2008 will see the unification of the Foundation and The Haven Institute. This initiative has been the focus of the board and management throughout 2007, and will be completed by the end of this year. The transition period for the board has seen some directors moving on and new people coming on.
We would like to take this opportunity to recognize and appreciate the dedication and commitment of three of our directors who have left the board in the last few months. David Raithby has been involved with the board in all its various guises for many years; he played a key role in the creation of the Foundation structure. He is now able to do more of what is his passion, namely leading groups, and we are fortunate that he leads so many of our courses at The Haven. Dave Tyler brought his skills on the financial side to bear as Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee, and we are very grateful for his leadership in this area of the board's work. Dave continues on the intern path at The Haven, and we wish him all the very best. As Chair of the Governance Committee, Mark Gunderson brought his expertise to the structure and functioning of the board, fundraising, and the composition of board committees, as well as being an inspiring board director and an indefatigable support of The Haven. Thank you to David, Dave and Mark - we could not have got this far without you!
There will be more on the work of the Haven Foundation in future editions of the Haven News Update. Check out our foundation web site for further information about the board.
Appreciation from a Bursary Recipient
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Through the education programs of The Haven Institute, Haven Foundation embodies a philosophy dedicated to the enrichment and effectiveness of people's lives. We believe that The Haven's courses offer life-enriching experiences, and we seek to offer support for those who may be prevented from participating due to a lack of financial resources.
To this end, a Financial Aid program was established in 2004 for those with limited incomes or who are experiencing financial difficulties. Thanks to the generosity of many donors, over $170,000 in interest free loans and bursaries has been provided, enabling more than 200 adults and children to attend courses at The Haven Institute who would not otherwise have the resources.
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We are delighted to share with you this wonderful appreciation from Marcia Telep-Poirier, a recent Come Alive participant and bursary recipient:
'I don't really know what to say except thank you to the people who have donated to the financial aid program at Haven, without you I wouldn't have been able to go and have this wonderful opportunity. I am a 32 year old full time student, a mother of two boys, a wife and occasionally a home care worker. I had a stroke a year ago and it's been a slow climb back for me. I have been diagnosed with Livedo Reticularis , and am going through the diagnosis of a very rare disease called Sneddons Syndrome, which is a neurological disease with progressive cognitive impairment. I was told that there are only about 150 people in the world that have this syndrome. I have been back and forth to Vancouver 5 times in the last 6 months for tests and I had come to the end of my rope. Emotionally and financially drained I suffered with depression, loss of hope, stress and friends didn't think that I was going to bounce back from this, and there was a time I didn't think I would and had given up all hope and waited, I guess, to die. I was sleeping all the time. I didn't want to talk to anyone and avoided my husband, children, friends and family. I had truly given up.
'A friend told me about The Haven and encouraged me to find out more about it. From your wonderful donations I was able to go to The Haven and it really changed how I feel about myself and my life. I see all the negative things I have allowed to rule my life and I will no longer accept that. I am no longer waiting for life to stop, i am laughing and happy and finally living again. I have better communication with family and friends and my life is looking up! My school work has improved and I am back to work a little more and enjoying getting out with friends once again. I wouldn't have been able to do this without The Haven, and the wonderful people who have donated to help us out who cannot afford this gift, and I hope one day when i am back on my feet I will be able to give back the wonderful gift that was given to me!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Marcia'
For information on making a donation, or applying for financial aid, visit our web site.
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A New Shen Online Coming Soon
The next Shen Online will appear at the beginning of April. With the Haven Models recently made available online, this issue of Shen includes an article by Rick Jackson and Susa Holt on the models' practical application. Publishing the models in this way reflects our desire to make a difference in the world, a theme which is developed in this issue of Shen. There is a recording of Ben and Jock talking about the history of the 'China connection' and about their recent workshops with Huawei in several different countries. There is also a slideshow of photos from these events. And, as a bridge between China and courses at The Haven itself, Jane Olynyk writes about the part Chinese Medicine Philosophy plays in Come Alive and other Haven courses.
If you haven't read the January edition of Shen Online, visit our web site.
Haven in the News
There's been a lot of 'buzz' in the press about our 25th Anniversary year, as well as articles about our courses and what we offer here. Check out our web site to read the recent articles in Shared Vision, Nanaimo Harbour City Star, Synergy and the Health Action magazines.
Help us to spread the word about The Haven. If you have any ideas for great publications we could be featured in, drop an email to Rachel Davey, Director of Marketing (programs[at]haven.ca)
Just briefly...
Interested in a Haven Check-In Group in Montreal?
Nathalie Guerin writes: From the first time I went to Come Alive in May 2005, there is hardly a day that goes by that I don't think about The Haven. Come Alive and Phase I have opened doors to possibilities which I had never dared to imagined. I believe that a big part of the possibilities came as a result of the many connections I experienced there. Because the experiences have been so great in my life, I'd like to create a Haven Check-In group in Montreal. If you are interested, and would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact me, Nathalie Guerin, at (514) 273-4499 or at njguerin(at)hotmail.com.
Sex, Love, and Wellness… getting you in the mood.
The Victoria Prostate Centre and The Well Foundation are proud to present an intimate evening with Dr Marty Klein, acclaimed speaker, Licensed Marriage Counsellor, Psychotherapist, and Sex Therapist.
Monday, April 14, 2008 at the Alix Goolden Hall, 907 Pandora Ave. 7:30pm
Marty will be presenting a guide to healthy sexuality which includes adapting sexual activity to your healthcare concerns, uncovering sexual myths, and communicating effectively. This is an opportunity to learn about enjoying sexuality to its full potential. Marty is internationally renowned for his presentations, which are always creative, politically incorrect, and highly entertaining!
Tickets available from Munro's Books, Ivy's Book Shop, The Prostate Centre (1900 Richmond Rd., Victoria) $30 each or $50 per couple.
The Victoria Prostate Centre and the Well Foundation are also delighted to offer two evenings on sexuality with local professionals keen to share their wisdom and humour.
Cathy and Ernie McNally
Monday, April 21, 2008 at 7pm BCGEU Building, 2994 Douglas St, Victoria, BC
This talk explores the inter-connection of sex, loving and spirituality, and the contribution each makes to a sum that is greater than its parts. Cathy and Ernie McNally, Core Faculty of The Haven Institute, work together counselling in personal and business relationships and; exploring and teaching communication skills, as well as leading courses on a wide range of topics and interests.
Rabbi Louis Sutker and Dr. Charlotte Sutker
Monday, April 28, 2008 at 7pm BCGEU Building, 2994 Douglas St, Victoria, BC
Drs. Sutker will share an approach to intimacy that includes sexual contact, emotional vulnerability, intellectual respect, and spiritual connection. Their informative workshop will be funny and heartfelt, drawing on their combined 70 years as psychologists.
Tickets - $10/per evening from Ivy's Book Shop, The Prostate Centre - 100-1900 Richmond Road, Victoria
www.wellfoundation.org
There is always something up at The Haven, to stay informed visit our website www.haven.ca email us at info@haven.ca or call us at 250-247-9211 and toll-free 1-877 247-9238.
Join us in 2008, The Haven's 25th Anniversary year! Take care, enjoy yourself and each other and be in touch soon.
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