Quote - Dennis Wohlgemuth

Dennis Wohlgemuth is from Northern Alberta. He has been a farmer, logger, oil worker and professional guide and trapper, and is now starting his own business.

What brought you to The Haven?

After a major life crisis I was looking for new direction for my life. Two people I knew talked about The Haven and it sounded like a good place to go. I visited The Haven when I was on vacation and had a good feeling about the place - I trust my intuition, which told me I should come back.

What programs have you done?

In the last 18 months I've done Come Alive, Phase I, Anger Boundaries and Safety, and New Horizons. I'll be back again whenever time and money permit! My Come Alive experience is hard to describe. It blew me out of the water. At the time I was stuck, and after Come Alive I realized what life could be like. What has been big for me in all the programs is to believe and feel fully accepted for who I am - and to accept others and connect on a personal level. There's no way you can go back after that! I would like to join the intern program - it's a good excuse to keep coming back!

How have the programs benefitted you?

I have taken a lot of what I have learned into my work with Men at Risk (a suicide prevention program) - I would never have had the self-confidence to organize a conference, make speeches and be with people in the way that I have been without The Haven. When I look at where I am today, I would not have dreamed that life could be this good. I used to be very hard on myself. Now I know that there is nothing to 'fix' and that we are perfect the way we are. I have a lot of gratitude.