In the late nineties Janis Feely an addiction worker at a residential rehab project noticed three themes repeating themselves over and over in her daily work:
- Firstly, that the prolonged separation from loved ones experienced by her clients, especially from children, was harming relationships and creating long term emotional damage;
- secondly, that many of the clients could have been treated just as effectively and more cheaply in the community through a structured day care programme;
- thirdly (and most worryingly) many clients leaving residential treatment relapsed due to a lack of structured support.
It was during this time that Janis had a vision for a unique new day treatment centre:
- A service that provides appropriate treatment and support for all members of the family
- A service that would provide effective non-residential treatment in the community – helping people to abstain from addictive behaviours and remain abstinent
- A service that would recognise the illness of addiction as not limited to just drugs and alcohol, but also includes addictive behaviours around eating, relationships, gambling and other behaviours
- A service where the best in psychological treatment methods are employed by fully qualified counsellors (who themselves have many years recovery from addiction).
- A service where people can feel loved and their potential for transformation honoured.
In May 2000 after a year of fundraising and lobbying Janis achieved her vision and established the Living Room. Since then staff, trustees, volunteers, clients and people in the community have worked hard each day to ensure this vision remains a reality.
