A Night of Connection, Courage and Community: Reflections on the Launch of The Therapists Haven

On Saturday night, our clinic was filled with something incredibly special.
Yes, there were boardgames. Yes, there was pizza.
And yes, there was even a therapy chicken who made herself quite at home.

But more than anything, there was connection.
Genuine, honest, human connection.

We hosted a Boardgames and Pizza night to celebrate the official launch of The Therapists Haven and the room quickly revealed itself to be exactly what I have been dreaming of creating. A space where speech therapists, occupational therapists, social workers and yes, a brave little chicken, found comfort in sharing stories, experiences and insights that go far deeper than surface level small talk.

What unfolded in that room mirrored everything that led me to create The Therapists Haven in the first place.

The Moment That Sparked a New Beginning

I shared a story in my launch speech. A story, from a few months ago, that began in my kitchen on a day when everything felt impossibly heavy.

I was standing there crying, feeling like my business had hit the lowest point of its seventeen year history. Both of my speech pathologists had resigned. My dads treatment options had come to an end. The NDIS had confirmed there would be no price increase. And the entire responsibility of the clinic sat on my shoulders.

Lease. Wages. Bills. Every last detail.

In that moment, I whispered to myself,
I cannot keep holding all of this alone.

That sentence became the quiet turning point that eventually led me to the Gold Coast for a business boot camp that I barely felt ready for. But that trip changed everything.

On the last day, we stood in a giant circle, hand in hand, looking around the room at people we knew well and people we had only just met. And in that simple circle, something inside me shifted.

I realised how deeply isolated I had been feeling as a business owner.
I realised how much I needed a community.
And I realised how many therapists must also be carrying their work alone.

That circle planted the seed that grew into what is now The Therapists Haven.

Connection Was at the Heart of Our Boardgames Night

Standing in a circle at a business conference is one thing.
Seeing that same sense of connection come alive in my own clinic on Saturday night was something else entirely.

Throughout the evening, people gathered around game tables but spent more time talking than rolling dice.
We shared stories about triumphs and exhaustion.
We spoke openly about the emotional weight of supporting families.
We talked about the realities of running a heart led practice in systems that do not always reflect our values.
There was laughter, honesty, comfort and a sense of relief that only comes from being seen by people who truly understand.

For a moment I stepped back and watched.
It looked exactly like that circle on the Gold Coast.
Except now, this was ours.
This was the beginning of a community that will hold each other through the highs and lows of this work.

Why Therapists Need a Community Now More Than Ever

Therapists hold so much.
We support families through their hardest seasons.
We hold hopes and concerns for children.
We navigate funding, paperwork and policies.
We build businesses that must make room for our empathy, our values and our humanity.

And we do this in professions where we were never taught how to manage the emotional weight or how to build sustainable business structures that protect our wellbeing.

We were never meant to do this alone.

The Therapists Haven is my answer to that very real need.
A place where therapists can find connection, gentle mentoring and real support.
A place where we speak honestly, lift each other up and learn from one another.
A place where the weight feels lighter because it is shared.

What You Will Find Inside The Therapists Haven

The Therapists Haven is built on the foundations of connection, community and compassion.
It is intentionally designed for the therapist who gives so much and needs a supportive place to land.

Here is what members receive:

Monthly Live Zoom Sessions (Recorded Too)

Once a month we gather online for a live session where we explore topics that matter in our work and our wellbeing.
These sessions are recorded so you can revisit them or watch them later if life gets in the way.

A Private WhatsApp Community

This is where day to day connection happens.
A place for questions, celebrations, gentle support and honest reflection.
A place where you can message, share and know that you are speaking to people who truly understand the work you do.

In Person Events When They Arise

Like our Boardgames and Pizza night.
Moments of joy, comfort and community.
Spaces where we come together to breathe, connect and simply be human in rooms full of people who get it.

The Heart of the Therapists Haven

At its core, The Therapists Haven is about rebuilding the circle.
A circle of therapists who want to grow with integrity.
A circle where we can speak honestly without judgement.
A circle where we can learn from one another.
A circle where we remember that our work is meaningful but demanding, and that we deserve support too.

Saturday night was not just a celebration.
It was a reminder that the most powerful thing we can offer each other is connection.
The kind of connection that nourishes, strengthens and sustains us in the work we do.

Watch my speech here:

The Therapists Haven is the home for that connection.

If you are seeking a place where you feel supported, understood and part of something grounded and meaningful, I would love to welcome you in.

Learn more or join today at:
https://divanderwalt.com/thetherapistshaven