The Living Room by Envision Unlimited (EU) is a program dedicated to offering free and accessible mental health counseling for adults. The spacious living room provides a comforting and relaxing atmosphere for clients. Located at 3325 Vollmer Road in Flossmoor, The Living Room is open to individuals from any community from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. No appointment or insurance is needed.
The Living Room was created in partnership with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) South Suburbs and NAMI Illinois, and it is supported by federal funds issued to Cook County Health.
Services are provided by qualified mental health professionals who are trauma-informed and trained. In addition to emotional support, counselors also teach clients coping skills to better manage feelings of anger, disappointment, grief, loneliness, or sadness. “We offer a mentor, therapists, we help people problem-solve, improve their executive functioning skills, and we also help people in crisis,” said Sol Ennis, assistant director of EU.
“We have received very positive feedback from our clients,” said Dr. Ivette Vázquez-Sánchez, mental health therapist at EU. Vázquez-Sánchez is in charge of conducting sessions with clients, where she provides emotional support with experiences, trauma, and whatever issues clients are having. She describes the process as being “very open and simple.”
and Sol Ennis. (Summer Kiswani/H-F Chronicle)
Following interventions, the EU team also keeps in contact with clients to check in on them and follow-up with their progress. “We focus on their stabilization and prevention for future crises,” Vázquez-Sánchez said.
Another important member of the EU team is Peer Mentor Nickolas Sundberg. Sundberg is also a board member of NAMI South Suburbs. His role as a peer mentor is to use lived experience and personal struggles with addiction and mental health disorders as a tool to support and guide others.
“I know that type of life and what that type of life can bring, so my job is to try to meet that person where they’re at,” Sundberg said. “We don’t judge or ridicule. We’re not here to tell them how to live their life, we’re here to try to find what would be the best way for them to get into recovery.”
This team of qualified mental health professionals are on a mission to help individuals achieve proper mental wellness using solution-focused therapy that is accessible to all.
