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  • Who we are
    • Our Story
    • Our Approach and Impact
    • Our Values
    • Our Team
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  • Who we help
    • People Affected by Addiction
    • Family and Carers
    • Real Stories of Recovery
  • How we help
    • What we Offer
    • Your First Day
    • Support Beyond The Living Room
    • The Living Room Academy
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    • Recovery Diaries

Approach and Impact

🌱 About Us

Supporting Recovery at The Living Room

At The Living Room, we help people change their lives through free, abstinence-based group therapy. Our programme is unique because it is non-time-limited – you can stay with us for as long as you need.

What makes us different is our team of qualified counsellors, all in long-term recovery themselves. They bring not just professional skills but also lived understanding of what recovery really takes. This combination of knowledge, empathy, and hope makes a powerful difference.

πŸ’‘ Our Approach

Recovery isn’t the same for everyone. At The Living Room we focus on:

  • πŸ› οΈ Practical, solutions-focused therapy – helping people build new habits and healthier ways of coping.

  • πŸ‘₯ Group support – sharing experiences in a safe, confidential space reduces isolation and builds community.

  • 🌍 Holistic care – addressing the mind, body, and relationships, not just the addiction itself.

  • πŸ”— 12-step support – encouraging connection with fellowships for extra accountability and community.


πŸ“… Our groups run five days a week (four in St Albans), during school hours β€” making them easier for parents and carers to attend. On average, people stay with us for around six months, but there is no set limit.

πŸ’œ Why It Matters

Addiction doesn’t just affect the individual β€” it impacts families, children, and whole communities. That’s why we also support loved ones, and work with partners such as Family Lives and Relate to strengthen relationships and family life.

By offering free, therapeutic support, we remove financial barriers to recovery. Our services save lives, ease pressure on health and justice systems, and help people move from surviving to thriving.

🌟 The Power of Lived Experience

All of our counsellors are in long-term recovery. They know how hard addiction can be β€” and they also know that change is possible. Their personal journeys inspire trust and hope, showing that recovery is not just possible, but transformative.

πŸ™Œ How You Can Help

Recovery doesn’t just change one person’s life β€” it strengthens families, builds healthier communities, and breaks the cycle for future generations.

You can support our work by:

  • πŸ’· Donating

  • πŸ“’ Raising awareness

  • πŸŽ‰ Taking part in fundraising events


Every contribution helps us keep services free and accessible.

πŸ’œ Together, we can create a community where hope and recovery are always within reach.

Our Theory of Change


Reporting and Analysis:

Annual Reports

Our annual returns are submitted to the Charity Commission and can be viewed here:

2024/25 Annual Report

2023/24 Annual Report

2022/23 Annual Report

2021/22 Annual Report

Impact Analysis

Impact Analysis Report 2024

Impact Analysis Report 2023

Impact Analysis Report 2022

Breathe in calm, breathe out stress…

The Box Breathing Tool, created by Watford counsellor Yousef Kira Durrani, is a simple yet highly effective technique designed to help regulate the nervous system during times of anxiety, stress, overwhelm, or emotional discomfort.

By following a structured pattern of breathing in, holding, breathing out, and holding again for equal counts, we can slow our heart rate, calm racing thoughts, and bring our attention back to the present moment.

Box Breathing Tool

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