Healing In The Everyday
Healing at Destiny Haven is about more than just therapy. It’s about structure. Safety. Daily rhythms that rebuild what’s been broken. From the moment the day begins to the quiet reflections before bed, every part of the schedule is intentionally designed to support recovery, growth, and long-term change.
Here’s what a day looks like in the life of a Diamond at Destiny Haven.
7.30am | Breakfast
Each morning begins around the kitchen table. The Diamonds eat breakfast together as a group, with plenty of standard options available. Some choose to buy their favourite foods to keep in the shared pantry, adding a small sense of comfort and routine.
8.00am | Cleaning
Everyone contributes to keeping the house clean. A rotating roster helps make sure shared spaces stay tidy. For some women, this is the first time they’ve learned how to clean a toilet, mop a floor, or organise a kitchen. It’s not just about chores, it’s about learning responsibility, building life skills, and working as a team.
9.00am | Devotions
The spiritual piece is central. Every morning, the Diamonds spend time in SOAP—Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. This hour helps centre the day. It’s a time to be still, reflect, and grow in faith. For many women, this becomes the foundation for everything else in their recovery.
10.00am | Groups
From 10am to midday, the Diamonds take part in either group therapy, work programs, or personal development modules.
Group therapy is run by trained clinical staff and covers deep, often difficult topics—like boundaries, addiction cycles, complex trauma, anger, and codependency. These sessions help the Diamonds better understand themselves and their past.
At the same time, women also work through learning modules at their own pace. These are tailored to their stories and focus on the underlying issues that have shaped their lives. The goal isn’t just recovery—it’s long-term change.
Then there’s art therapy. Quiet, creative, and powerful. Many Diamonds say this was where their healing really began. Art becomes a safe outlet for emotions that are hard to explain. It’s not about talent—it’s about honesty.
Some Diamonds also spend this time working in our social enterprises. Whether it’s making chocolate, sewing, bottling jam, cleaning guest rooms at Valley View or Carriageway, or crafting jewellery—these hands-on jobs build employability and confidence. The work matters, and they know it.
1.00pm | Lunch
Lunch is simple, shared, and grounding. It’s a chance to pause and reset for the afternoon.
2.00pm | Duties
Afternoons vary. Twice a week, Carmel—one of our amazing volunteers—comes to teach gardening. The women love it, and the gardens show it. There’s something healing about getting your hands in the soil.
Exercise is also part of the rhythm. Most women arrive having lived hard, unhealthy lives. Once a week, Katie, our personal trainer, runs a gym session—and yes, she makes them work! It’s often a surprise how much they enjoy it, even the ones who didn’t think they would.
Evening | After-Dinner Devotions
The team join the Diamonds for dinner every night. Afterward, they open the Word together, then share in a simple but powerful tradition—The Thankful Books.
Every night since 2007, a Diamond has written down three things she’s thankful for. One by one, these small entries have filled dozens of journals. They’re a quiet record of growth, gratitude, and God’s faithfulness.
Homework, Games and Rest
Evenings are calm but structured. Homework comes first—feelings journals, SOAPs, and weekly group material. Once that’s done, the Diamonds often play board games together. Rummikub is a clear favourite.
These moments of fun and connection matter too. For many, it’s the first time in a long time they’ve laughed freely or felt safe in community.
The Bigger Picture
In between the daily rhythms, there are weekly ones too. Movie nights. Volunteer visits. Community moments that slowly help the Diamonds feel human again. Healing doesn’t happen all at once. But it does happen—step by step, hour by hour, day by day. At Destiny Haven, every part of the routine is designed with purpose. Because behind the schedule is something bigger: the belief that every woman is a Diamond—valuable, resilient, and created for more.
