Family and Carers

Support for Friends, Family Members and Carers

When someone close to you is affected by alcohol use, substance use or obsessive behaviours, the impact reaches the whole family.

The Living Room provides structured, specialist support for friends, family members and carers across Hertfordshire (over 18) — recognising that recovery is stronger when families are supported too.

Who This Is For

You may be:

• Carrying responsibility for holding everything together
• Living with ongoing uncertainty at home
• Unsure how best to respond or set boundaries
• Feeling unheard, isolated or emotionally drained

Our service supports you in your own right — whether or not your loved one is accessing help.

Our Approach

A Relational Model

Support begins with a one-to-one conversation with a qualified counsellor. Many of our team bring both professional expertise and lived experience, creating a space that is informed, compassionate and grounded in understanding.

“To speak and feel heard and validated… I felt accepted.”

Small Group Community

You will be invited into a small, confidential Friends and Carers group where you can:

• Connect with others who understand
• Gain practical tools and healthy boundaries
• Develop insight into alcohol use, substance use and obsessive behaviours
• Rebuild confidence and emotional stability

“Being heard by others and hearing other parents’ journeys.”

Through shared experience, families begin to regain clarity, confidence and hope.

Real Impact

For many family members, the change is gradual but meaningful:

“Coming to The Living Room has helped me to grow in confidence… I felt encouraged not by pressure, but by being here.”

Support creates space to focus, reflect and make informed decisions — strengthening resilience and, where children are involved, promoting greater stability and safety within the wider family network.

Groups Across Hertfordshire

• St Albans – Tuesdays (daytime)
• Stevenage – Wednesdays (daytime)
• Hertfordshire Online – Wednesdays (evening)

All groups are free and confidential.

Why This Matters

When families receive early, structured support:

• Isolation reduces
• Confidence and boundary-setting increase
• Family functioning improves
• Positive change becomes more sustainable

By strengthening families, we strengthen communities.

Hertfordshire County Council – Carers Leaflet

This leaflet, produced by Hertfordshire County Council, provides information about alcohol, other substances and where families and carers can seek support.

👉 Download the HCC Carers Leaflet

Take the First Step