Delray's KoffeeOkee to Be Setting for Addiction Documentary

Categories: Palm Beach


Until lately, Dr. Harold Jonas didn't have a demand problem. He had attracted so much national interest for the counseling and training services he offered through Sober.com, the real problem was supplying those services to struggling addicts and aspiring recovery specialists who for financial reasons couldn't fly to Delray Beach for face-to-face counseling and instruction at KoffeeOkee, Jonas' sober coffeehouse on N.E. Sixth Avenue.

So with the help of a web camera and Adobe Professional, Jonas made his lessons available for mass consumption. And now, despite a glowing feature in the New York Times in 2007, his challenge is to bring more attention to the interactive offerings at Sober.com.

"We broadcast the classroom online, so they can see the teacher," says Jonas. "With this virtual classroom, we can train up to 100 people at a time." But due to lack of awareness, it seems, the actual number per class is six, he says.

And that's why Jonas is hoping to get a big bounce out of his starring role in the documentary that's going to make its world premiere Sunday at KoffeeOkee, called Real Sobriety.

On the top of this post is the video trailer posted on the movie's website.

Among Jonas' pupils was Robert McClellan, a recovering addict and alcoholic who married a National Geographic documentary producer, Jill Heinerth. About five years ago, the couple came to Delray from their home near Ocala so that McClellan could learn the nuances of addiction counseling from Jonas and psychotherapist Jeannie Saros. After a four-day crash course, they headed back north, but not before McClellan and Heinerth decided that KoffeeOkee -- and the entire addiction community in Delray Beach -- deserved documentary treatment.

The film's premiere is happening at the coffeehouse Sunday at 9:30 for the general public, as well as a second showing possible for 11. There are two earlier showings -- one for friends and family at 2, another for media and invited guests at 4.

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