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One of the trickiest and most heartbreaking aspects of being close to an addict is realizing that no matter how hard you may want or try to help, they likely won’t change their behavior until and unless they admit they have a problem. Sometimes, an intervention is required.
Yet, there are ways to help encourage an addict or alcoholic to see the truth of a situation. Staging an intervention is a longstanding technique designed to help do just that.
What Is An Intervention?
In the world of addiction and recovery, “intervention” can mean different things depending on the situation and the people involved.
In its broadest sense, “intervention” refers to a number of therapeutic practices employed to help curb alcoholism and drug abuse, including cognitive behavioral therapy, couples counseling, and a technique called motivational interviewing.
But an intervention, as it’s perhaps most commonly known, is an organized attempt to confront a friend, family member, or loved one about their drinking or drug addiction problem.
The keyword is “organized.” An intervention of this type often involves several people in an alcoholic’s life, including friends, family members, and sometimes co-workers. This group comes together to express their concerns for the individual.
The idea, and indeed, the greatest hope, behind an intervention of this type, is to collectively hold up a mirror to an addict or alcoholic, to help him or her understand just how much of an impact their actions are having and just how many people they’re affecting. Call
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When Should You Stage An Intervention?
Staging an intervention is a very big step, and perhaps not always the best one to try first. You may prefer addressing an alcoholic one-on-one before moving on to the more extreme measures, for many reasons.
The one-on-one approach may be more discreet and less upsetting or alarming for both parties. It’s also easier to prepare for, and alcoholics sometimes respond better to this more personal outreach.
However, if attempts at addressing the problem this way have proved ineffective, or if the person is otherwise out of control, unreachable, or unable to objectively see the consequences of their choices, it may be time to consider an intervention.
Once you and other loved ones of the addict or alcoholic have decided that staging an intervention is the next best step, the process should be done with consideration and care.
How Do You Organize An Intervention?
Planning an intervention can be a daunting task and it’s one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Typically, it’s recommended that you work with an intervention specialist to put together the appropriate type of gathering. A specialist can help you figure out who to get involved and who to potentially leave out of the meeting.
They also help find the right location to stage the intervention and can be on hand to help facilitate constructive conversations, steering the group away from potentially toxic turns in the discussion.
Who Is Involved In An Intervention?
An intervention can involve many different people, but they should have a genuine concern for the person they’re trying to help.
Typically, the people involved are some of the closest relationships in the person’s life and can include anyone from a spouse or partner to parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins, close friends, and co-workers or employers.
Sometimes, children of the addict or alcoholic will also be involved in the intervention, especially if they’re older. But some intervention specialists advise against this, particularly for younger children.
Others to potentially keep off the participant list include friends or family members with their own addiction struggles, including friends the person may be drinking or using with. Others who should not be included are those who might not be able to offer a genuine, constructive conversation due to harboring resentments toward the person in question.
Your intervention specialist can help determine who should be there, who shouldn’t, and how many people should be involved in the intervention.
What Happens At An Intervention?
There are several different models for an intervention, all of which play out a bit differently.
Johnson and Field Models
The most commonly employed type of intervention is called the Johnson Model, named after the therapist, Vernon Johnson, who pioneered the technique.
Using this method, friends, family members, and the intervention specialist gather in an agreed-upon location, usually somewhere neutral and non-threatening. Together, they confront the loved one who does not have prior knowledge of the meeting.
A similar method is called the Field Model of Intervention. This is like the Johnson Model in that the person does not know beforehand that an intervention is taking place, but the intervention specialist will have additional training in how to deal with potential crises that may arise during or after the confrontation.
As such, this model is usually recommended when there are grave concerns over a loved one’s mental health condition.
In these intervention models, the intervention specialist will introduce themselves after the person arrives and explain the situation.
Then, friends and family members take turns reading prepared statements about their concerns, the impact their loved one’s addiction issues have had on them, and their hopes for the person to get help. The intervention specialist will help facilitate the conversation, ensuring that everyone remains calm and on-topic.
Invitation Model
The Invitation Model of Intervention is a newer and markedly different approach. The addict or alcoholic is informed of the intervention ahead of time, which is staged as more of a workshop. The focus of the meeting is to help the person work to form a stronger family unit or support system to help the family through the recovery process.
But be prepared: Even when addicts know it’s coming, the response to intervention can vary widely. Most alcoholics or addicts, especially those at the point of intervention, are deeply in denial of their condition. Mental health issues often accompany alcoholism, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, and antisocial behavior.
The person may lash out defensively, verbally, or physically. They may try to harm themselves or others during or after the intervention. They may also shut down completely, crying, screaming, or otherwise attempting to zone out the attempt to help them.
That’s why the right type of intervention and the right type of specialist are both so important. Be honest with your intervention specialist, especially about fears involving your loved one’s potential response to intervention. This is necessary to plan for the best possible course of action.
What Happens After An Intervention?
An intervention is often not the first step in helping an alcoholic seek help, but it’s often not the last one, either.
Having a follow-up plan is just as important as planning the intervention itself, especially since the nature of recovery can be daunting and calls for a person to make so many major changes in their life.
Coming prepared is crucial, whether that is with general information for how and where the person can get further help or actual plans to enter into a rehab facility, an outpatient program, or some form of therapy.
Some intervention strategies also include consequences, such as losing visitation rights with their children or having their car taken away, should they fail to seek help. In these cases, actually following through with those consequences is an important part of sending a consistent message. Your intervention specialist will help advise you if this is the right tactic for you.
Ultimately, it’s important to follow up on interventions with the same level of concern and care for the person that led you to plan the event. Be there for them and continue to show your love and support through this difficult time. Your presence could be a big source of strength and solidarity through a process that upends the lives of many.
Still, it’s important to be cognizant of your own personal boundaries and mental health. You should never, under any circumstances, tolerate physical, verbal, or emotional abuse.
Acting in your own self-interest during this time can help ensure you have enough strength to keep yourself going and offer support to your loved one. Groups like Al-Anon or Al-Teen provide several resources when you are dealing with similar situations and may be a good place to look for your own support and camaraderie.
The road to recovery can be full of twists and turns, but the love and support of friends and family can go a long way toward helping your loved one. Call
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Gayle Morris, BSN, MSN has over two decades of nursing practice with a clinical focus on rehabilitation medicine. She has published and lectured throughout her nursing and writing career. In the last 15 years, she has directed her energy and passion to create content that informs and educates readers with the goal of improving overall physical and mental health.
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