Trinity Services ‘Living Room’ a Calm Refuge for Life’s Storms
By Karen Haave
When it feels like life and all its stresses are too much to cope with, it’s good to know there’s a place to go for a calming talk with someone who wants to help.
Thanks to Trinity Services, there is such a place and it’s about to expand to two locations that soon will be available to adults 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Trinity Services calls it The Living Room, and it offers just what it sounds like: A quiet, non-clinical space for people experiencing a mental health crisis or simply in need of a moment to de-escalate from the weight of daily stressors.
Although Trinity Services is known for its many programs that assist the developmentally disabled, The Living Room is open to all adults. There is no charge, and help is provided by a clinician who greets and assesses guests for safety, along with a peer support specialist, who helps guests manage the crisis.
The agency recently purchased a building at 2000 Glenwood to house its new Joliet Community Mental Health Center.
The building will allow them to move its Counseling Center, Homeless Support Team, Mobile Crisis Response Team, and Living Room services under one roof. At the same time, the new center will allow room for additional therapists and the ability to expand services to decrease wait times for care.
“Trinity Services currently has one Living Room open in Orland Park (at 14315 South 108th Avenue, Suite 222),” said Bonnie Hassan, Director of Outpatient Services.
“This location is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and more information can be found on our website, https://www.trinityservices.org/services-and-supports/crisis-support/the-living-room.
When people arrive, they are greeted by a supportive staff who will offer them a beverage and a snack, and then will visit with a licensed clinician in the building who will assess their needs. The guest then will see a recovery support specialist who has recovered from mental health or substance abuse issues and has received training to help guests do the same.
The entire visit can last two to three hours, but people can leave whenever they feel comfortable, according to the website.
In addition to opening the new location at 2000 Glenwood Ave. in Joliet, Hassan said that by January 1, Trinity will be working to expand its Living Room program by relocating the existing site and expanding hours at both locations to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“We are very excited to see the Living Room model expand to better support the people who need these services,” she added.
Rachel Evans, director for The Living Room Program Network 9- Outpatient Services, was recently hired for the Joliet location.
According to the agency’s website, Trinity Services’ Living Room offers a safe, welcoming, nonclinical environment for people in crisis to de-escalate from a mental health crisis or for people experiencing daily life stressors. This space allows people in crisis to receive assistance to help them manage symptoms and emotions in a calm, safe, nonrestrictive environment.
“Living Rooms exist to assist in diverting those in crisis from emergency rooms, when appropriate, as it can be a more suitable environment to decompress and relax while meeting with someone with a shared experience,” the website notes.
More information about the Living Room is available by calling (708) 981-3370 or by email to Program Director Patricia Johnstone at [email protected].
If you need immediate assistance, call 988 from anywhere in the U.S. 24/7.
Guest Aaron Sims recently presented one of his paintings to Patricia Johnston, Director of The Living Room, and Rob Urich, Recovery Support Services (RSS), as a thank you for their support.
(Photo courtesy of Trinity Services)