Haven Institute (Gabriola Island, Canada) facts for kids

The Haven Institute, often called The Haven, is a special learning center located on Gabriola Island in British Columbia, Canada. It helps people learn and grow, both personally and for their jobs. The Haven offers programs that teach skills like leading groups and helping others.

What is The Haven Institute?

The Haven Institute is a registered school in British Columbia. This means it follows rules set by the government for private training schools. It's like any other school that offers courses, but it focuses on personal development.

How The Haven Started

In 1983, two doctors named Bennet Wong and Jock McKeen bought a place called Taylor Bay Lodge on Gabriola Island, British Columbia. They turned it into a resort by the water and a place for meetings. They wanted it to be a unique place where people could learn and have fun.

People could visit with their families for a vacation, or groups could hold conferences there. Many also came for workshops to learn more about themselves. Others trained to become counselors. Over the years, many people have finished the special Diploma program at The Haven.

Famous Teachers and Performers

The Haven has had many guest teachers over the years. Some well-known ones included Virginia Satir and Carl Whitaker. The Haven also has a theater called the Wong-McKeen Phoenix Auditorium. Famous performers like Ann Mortifee and Victor Wooten have performed there.

The Haven Institute Press also publishes books, including those by its founders, Bennet Wong and Jock McKeen.

Developing Programs

The main programs at The Haven were created by McKeen and Wong. Since the early 1990s, programs have been offered with Chinese translation, allowing many people from Asia to attend.

Joann Peterson became the Director of Education in 1992. She helped train many interns and assistants in counseling until she passed away in 2007. The programs at The Haven have continued to grow and offer more learning opportunities.

The Haven Foundation

In 2003, The Haven Foundation was started as a Canadian nonprofit charity. In 2004, Wong and McKeen gave ownership of The Haven Institute to this foundation. This was to make sure the center and its work could continue for a long time with independent guidance.

In 2008, The Haven Institute celebrated its 25th anniversary. People from all over the world still come to attend programs there. The Haven also hosted the TEDx Gabriola conference in March 2013.

How The Haven Teaches

The courses at The Haven use ideas from many different areas. These include humanistic psychology (which focuses on human potential) and transpersonal psychology (which looks at spiritual experiences). They also use ideas from traditional psychology, religious studies, drama, music, and art.

Learning Activities

The Haven uses many different ways to teach. These include:

• Gestalt and Reichian body approaches, which help people understand their feelings through their bodies.
• Acupuncture (a traditional Chinese medicine technique).
• Psychodrama and role playing, where people act out situations.
• Psychosynthesis, which helps people find their purpose.
• Using fantasy and visualization.
• Video work and theatre games.
• Play therapy and music therapy.

All these methods focus on improving communication skills and helping people connect with others. The Haven's programs are for education, not for medical treatment. However, the leaders say they offer both learning and personal growth depending on what people need.

Learning by Doing

While there are some lectures and group discussions, The Haven mostly focuses on "learning by doing." This means people are invited to experience situations where they can learn what they need in a hands-on way.