Intervention

What is an Intervention?

Intervention is a structured dialogue between loved ones and an addicted person, led and facilitated by an interventionist. Members present work together to share a message of love and worry in hope of getting the addicted individual to choose to enter treatment. This process is done in a concerned, yet compassionate, way to help bring the addicted individual’s guard down and breakthrough denial about his or her addiction.

Why hire an Interventionist?

Addiction is not just a deadly disease; it is also a family disease. Addiction does not discriminate by how much money someone makes or the person’s gender or ethnicity. It is a destructive and progressive disease that can manifest in a variety of ways and impact not just the addicted person, but his or her entire support system. It can be extremely difficult to approach a family member or friend struggling with addiction or mental health conditions. Even with the best intentions to help, loved ones might not know what to say or how to begin to approach this. Those experiencing addiction may become angry, destructive, deny having a problem or even leave after being approached by loved ones.

A skilled interventionist can provide the family with the knowledge, expertise, and direction needed to support loved ones in communicating their feelings in a loving and constructive way and help create motivation in the addicted individual. Interventions may bring up past issues or traumatic memories, but these challenging situations can be navigated by a board-certified interventionist who knows how to approach both the addiction and corresponding mental health disorders that may exacerbate that addiction. To help a loved one with addiction, it is important to strike while the iron is hot, and a professional interventionist can help do just that.

How Intervention Works

The interventionist will schedule a Pre-intervention meeting to meet with family members and others to gather background information, including family and mental health history about the addicted person, that will help create a successful intervention process. The interventionist will formulate a plan with the family to address appropriate treatment options based on the severity and history of addiction and the mental health and other information gathered from the family. This plan will help to guide the family to ensure the intervention is facilitated in the most strategic and supportive way possible.

The Interventionist also provides education about the disease of addiction and how it affects the brain chemistry and functioning of an addicted person. All members present for the intervention process will be prepared to be on the same page with the understanding of the addict or alcoholic going to treatment. This includes addressing issues of codependency, enabling behaviors, and healthy versus unhealthy relationships including boundaries when setting “bottom lines” with an addicted loved one. Unfortunately, not all experiencing addiction will agree to treatment. This is why pre-intervention planning is so important to help the family to create and stick to their “bottom lines” with an addict or alcoholic. Often, this is what saves lives.

What is the goal of Intervention?

The goal of the intervention process is to educate, facilitate and motivate positive change in both the addicted loved one and the family system to promote movement toward the healing process of recovery. Intervening on the entire family system is important in helping change cycles of codependency to allow the addicted individual to break free of their disease of addiction and into recovery. The intervention process also brings awareness to the negative behavior patterns influenced by the addict’s disease and the effects these have had on loved ones. During the intervention process, interventionists will often assist the family in creating a "rock bottom" before the addict or alcoholic hits their "rock bottom." When done appropriately, intervention produces positive outcomes and supports motivation for change.