Addiction Intervention FAQs

What is an intervention?

An intervention is a well-orchestrated meeting with someone with an addiction to start the change and recovery process. Some of the most important people of the addicted persons life will be involved in an open, direct, honest discussion in how the addiction is impacting their lives. This is presented in a loving and caring, nonjudgmental way.

An intervention can be an very emotional process. The intervention is not just sitting down with the addicted person and having a conversation. There is much planning and foresight involved in the intervention. It will be a formal meeting with a set agenda, a leader, and flow. There is also a desired and well defined outcome of the intervention.

Where do interventions take place?

An intervention can take place just about anywhere.  However, we do not do interventions within the home of the loved one.  We look to the family for help in finding neutral ground as many times we will not be familiar with the local community.  Interventions can be performed across the country.  In these cases much of the leg work and family interviews will be done via an online platform.

Do we really need a professional interventionist?

Deciding to perform an intervention is not something to take lightly. But often when a family tries to perform an intervention on their own, the process can be incomplete. In most cases the family is just too emotionally involved and feelings will get in the way of desired outcome. For these reasons seeking the services of a professional interventionist who is trained, and not emotionally involved, can reduce much of the stresses involved.

How long does an intervention take?

On average the intervention process takes approximately two to four weeks. If the situation is dire an emergency intervention can be arranged. Remember there is no quick fix in the world of addiction, so planning becomes extremely important. We will be there with you through the entire process, providing support, tools, and guidance every step of the way. During this time there will be meetings, discussion, planning, and rehearsal leading up to the time and place of the intervention. The panning and perpetration will take much longer than the actual intervention, but without it the desired outcome will be much more difficult achieve.

What goes into the planning of an intervention?

If you decide to hire a professional interventionist there will be a lot planning and education involved. Part of the education is for the family to learn about and understand addiction, what their role has been in the enabling process, and what will need to change. Some of the planning that will need to done will be, gathering information, who will attend, when and where will it be, choosing a treatment program, detox, transportation needs, steps needed to be taken to uphold boundaries that have been set, other changes that will need to made before and when they return.

Who should be involved with the intervention?

As with the other parts of an intervention this needs to be a well thought out aspect of the process. The best individuals to be involved those who a close and loving relationship with the addicted one. Best if these individuals can express their concern how the addiction has impacted them as well as the addicted in loving, nonjudgmental way.  People who should not be included are those who invoke negative reactions, or who will not be able to stick to the agenda of the intervention, or who may highly emotional. Some example of who ca be involved are parents, siblings, other close relatives, coworkers, friends. The number of people will be chosen with great care as more is not better, and some aunt they see once every two years may not be the right person. If someone does not want to participate we can’t make them. We ask if they would like write something and have someone read on their behalf and they decline this must be respected. Respect must be the underlying theme when doing an intervention at all times.

What if the addicted person refuses treatment?

We cannot predict the outcome of the intervention. The desired outcome is that the goal that was set is achieved. If the addicted person refuses treatment does not mean the intervention is a failure. If this is the case, this is where the family must enforce the boundaries that were laid out. Remember you have to “starve” the addiction and make it difficult for it to continue. The process is promote or plant the seed for change.

What happens after the intervention?

If the intervention is successful it will end with the loved one leaving for treatment upon the conclusion.  However, whether the person goes into treatment or not, the family has a lot of work to do.  While the person is in treatment you will need to establish boundaries and learn to keep them.  You will also learn how to communicate with them to build a non-enabling relationship.  Once the person exits rehab they will also have work to do.  Living a life of sobriety is something that everyone needs to understand, explore and support.

Don’t they have to hit rock bottom before they can get help?

The myth of rock bottom is alive and well.  Chances are the addicted person has hit rock bottom many times.  Perhaps they have even skirted death, the ultimate rock bottom, and yet they are still using.  We will attempt to raise the bottom to meet the addict where they are.  The goal is to not wait until they cannot come back from rock bottom, but to raise it high enough that they can still achieve sobriety.