Provide or open a discussion for a timeline to change patterns of behavior or get appropriate help. In fact, the best way to start is by making an appointment with a an interventionist to talk things through. This way, the interventionist can present the variety of intervention models that are available and begin to prepare each family member, loved one, friend and colleague before the actual intervention. It is imperative that everyone involved is on the same page and has an appropriate plan. If you and/or your family are planning to stage a mental health intervention for a loved one, there are some tips/steps you might want to include in your plan.
Consult with a Professional Intervention Specialist
It is important to start by expressing love and concern, and to be honest and specific. Members of the group should describe specific behaviors that have negatively affected them. Examples might include missed family events, impaired driving, or missed work. You know that your loved one isn’t a violent person, but drugs have made them intolerant of hearing anything from anybody. Their mind may be focused on the next fix, or they may be in the early stages of withdrawal if they are unable to acquire their vice.
How to Find a Professional Interventionist
In severe cases, they will try anything and everything to achieve their vice, or fix. Under these circumstances, they may be going along with you just to gain your trust, and possibly convince you that they have everything fully under control. Even if it is under control, it is still not a healthy or safe practice to be addicted to anything. Don’t let them fool you if everything seems like it’s going far too well with little to https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview no struggle. Each addiction is different, each vice is different, and each user prioritizes them differently.
The Role of Professional Interventionists
The intervention is a purposeful gathering of friends, family, and colleagues who come together to confront the addicted individual in a caring way with the reality of their addiction. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, over 90% of people who attend a professional intervention, more than 90% will commit to seeking help.1 That said, some people do refuse help. There are numerous possible outcomes for a mental health intervention. Every individual and mental health condition is unique and is influenced by a myriad of internal and external factors. This can make it challenging to recognize what a good outcome looks like.
Support for Me and My Family
A structured program, or a stay at a treatment facility or hospital, may be needed for more-serious issues. Family members contribute to an intervention by providing personal insights and emotional support, which can be pivotal in persuading the loved one to seek treatment. Their close relationship with the individual makes their role central in the intervention process. Residential treatment programs provide a long-term recovery environment at a treatment center, with programs varying from one month to a year.
How Do I Know It’s Time?
- Creating a space where the individual feels respected, loved, and supported encourages openness and receptivity to the intervention’s message.
- The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing.
- If the person still refuses to seek treatment, it is understood that the team will implement whatever consequences have been explained.
- Though research proves that the trauma of a near-death experience helps people battling a substance use disorder, this isn’t always the case.
- The interventionist educates everyone involved about treatment options, addiction, and enabling behaviors.
- You might want to hold an intervention if your loved one exhibits signs of an addiction.
Because they refuse to get help, family and friends must deal with the ramifications of their substance abuse. An intervention usually occurs in a group setting and typically involves family and friends discussing their loved one’s substance use and offering supportive advice. An intervention is a carefully planned process that family and friends can do, working with a doctor or another health care professional, such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. An intervention professional, also known as an interventionist, also could direct an intervention. It sometimes includes a member of your loved one’s faith community or others who care about the person struggling with addiction.
An intervention can take place with or without the guidance of a mental health professional, like an interventionist. Remember that the point of an intervention is not to gang up on, or let out your anger loose on, the addicted individual. You can discuss all of that in post-treatment family therapy sessions if you think it will at all be constructive to keeping them from reverting or relapsing. Whatever you may be feeling in these circumstances, remember who the intervention is about, and that you are trying to help them first and foremost.
Renewal Center for Ongoing Recovery
If so, offer to drive them to doctor’s appointments, therapy sessions, or support group meetings. Have a plan in place as soon as your loved one is willing to get help. Include a few options, depending on the level of care that they need. Have they been refilling their prescription medication frequently?
This type of program is less restrictive than inpatient rehab, allowing participants to attend therapy from home while fulfilling personal obligations such as work and school. Residential or inpatient treatment involves living at the rehab facility and receiving 24/7 supervised care. A combination of treatment interventions is typically offered, including individual and group therapy, nutritional counseling, experiential therapies, and medication. If you see these red flags waving, you are justifiably concerned about your loved one’s well-being.
They may not accept the negative effects their behavior has on themselves and others. The purpose of an intervention is to help the troubled individual acknowledge the need for help, establish a supportive family dynamic, recognize enabling behaviors, and set boundaries. The participation of friends and colleagues in the intervention underscores the message that the individual’s alcohol abuse has repercussions that extend beyond the immediate family. This supportive and respectful environment sets the stage for change, increasing the likelihood of a success in the intervention. Brittany Tackett is a transformational life coach, writer, and speaker in the mental health field. She holds a Master’s in Psychology with specialization in Transformational Life Coaching and also has an International Certificate in Behavioral Studies.
The group can include close family members, friends, and coworkers. Everyone involved should have a genuine relationship with the individual and a positive influence on them. If a family member or friend is also struggling with substance use issues, they should not participate in the intervention. Seek out the people who are closest to them, and speak to them privately about your concerns.
This professional will structure the planning process, guide the intervention team, and lead the overall event. Often, they won’t seek treatment until their loved ones stage an intervention. Fatal drug overdoses are reported every day in the United States, sometimes hourly. Interventions can be a very effective tool at roping loved ones back into reality. Choosing to stage an intervention, or hire an interventionist, however, isn’t an easy choice.
