240 Davis Rd, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X1, Canada
May 5 - 10, 2024
About this Retreat
Al Chambers M.Ed. (University of Victoria) and Diploma in Counselling from The Haven, has worked for over thirty years as a therapist, group facilitator (for individuals, couples, teens, families and groups), and instructor at various universities and colleges throughout Asia and Canada. Al was a licensed psychologist in China for 13 years and is now a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. He is also a trained trauma counsellor and leads Come Alive and other programs at The Haven in Canada and in Asia. He has extensive experience with a diversity of clients from many cultures who present with various difficulties, symptoms, situations and questions.
Cathy Wilder, Haven Core Faculty, MEd, RCC, Dip-C, is a creative and compassionate group leader, counsellor and coach, who leads Come Alive, and Deep Listening: Core Skills for Coaching, and other workshops in both Canada and China.
She is a skilled clinical counsellor with a specialty in addictions, alongside a deep understanding of mental health concerns, working with Fraser Health MHSU for twenty years.
Details of this retreat
Come Alive is our most popular core program and the perfect place to begin or continue your journey in personal or professional growth and transformation.
People from all walks of life, backgrounds, experiences, lifestyles, and locations join us and most experience something profound.
We are grateful for the land and sea that sustain us. We are deeply grateful to learn, live and play on 7 acres of forested land by the sea that is the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, a community of Coast Salish Peoples. Our peaceful yet vibrant centre on Gabriola Island offers a natural environment that supports the exploration of our innermost selves and our relationships with others. It’s a special place where we can take back our lives and discover our potential.
The magic of Come Alive is in our unique history, renowned communication and relationship models, community dynamic, and oceanfront setting on Gabriola Island. With support and guidance, you will learn and practice the Haven models of communication, relationship and self-responsibility, through a range of opportunities for personal learning. Group activities, discussions and experiences take place in both large and small group settings.
Come Alive is for me if...
I want to deepen my self-awareness and move beyond self-imposed limits
I'm ready to develop greater self-compassion and self-acceptance
I want to experience the freedom of being my whole and authentic self - mind, body, and spirit
I'm open to learning and practicing a transformative model for communication
I want valuable insights to strengthen my health and well-being
I want to break through self-limiting patterns and live the life I want
I'm curious about myself and my place in relationships, community, and the world
I want to rediscover joy and meaning in life
I want more harmonious, loving and fulfilling relationships; I want to know what intimacy really is
I am looking to improve my professional skills; to be more authentic as a leader, bolster my 'soft' skills, and develop better relationships with my co-workers.
I want to shake things up and try something different...
"For the first time, I felt comfortable in my own skin..."
Program highlights:
5 days in a serene oceanfront setting on Gabriola Island to focus on yourself.
Opportunity to learn from, relate to, and deeply connect with others.
A unique East meets West approach developed by a psychiatrist (Ben Wong) and a medical doctor and acupuncturist (Jock McKeen).
Experiential learning through diverse methods: bodywork, breath, visualization meditation, movement, and cognitive skill development.
A powerful approach to developing self-compassion and deeper self-awareness.
40 years of continued success with thousands of participants from around the world.
Select expert program leaders, who are highly trained at The Haven and in their various professions.
Unparalleled support and a high ratio of team members to participants.
Opportunities to further heal and explore mind-body-spirit connection with onsite bodyworkers.
A full schedule, complete with daily breaks for introspection, connecting with others, rest, relaxing in the oceanfront hot tub, exploring nearby trails, and more.
Support to integrate your learning beyond The Haven through one-on-one coaching, online video meetings, and various local groups.
A $1000 discount off Living Alive after you have completed Come Alive
Investment:
Our Earlybird tuition price of $1490 is available up to one month prior to the program start. Full tuition is $1590. Full payment is due one month before the program start date regardless of tuition price.
We are offering private and shared room options.
You can find our cancellation policy here
Schedule:
Breakfast 8:00 - 9:00am
Morning session 9:15am to noon
Lunch noon to 1:00pm
Afternoon session 3:00 - 6:00pm
Dinner 6:00 - 7:00pm
Evening session 7:30 - 9:30pm
Afternoon and evening sessions can vary. Your program finishes with lunch on the last day
Transportation:
If you are traveling to Gabriola as a foot passenger on the Gabriola Ferry a shuttle to The Haven can be requested. Information on this option will be included in your pre-arrival email.
Recommended Resources:
Here are book titles that can complement and enhance your learning in this program. You can purchase when you are at Haven, or order online. Click to learn more:
Being: A Manual for Life by Bennet Wong & Jock McKeen
Admission requirements: The student must have the desire and ability to learn. Must demonstrate a capacity for responsible self care, responsible self organization and sound mental health. The student must understand and speak English.
This program does not require approval by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. As such, the registrar did not review this program. What does this mean? Click here to learn more.
Retreat Guru Choice
Staff Pick
