Understanding Interventions

When Is An Intervention the Right Thing To Do?

When people ask that question it's usually because they have a friend or family member that has a dysfunctional behavior that worries them badly. They can see that if the behavior doesn't stop soon, they are going to get seriously hurt, or hurt others in their orbit. But it's hard to know if engaging in an Intervention is the right thing to do.

Here is a quick checklist to help you determine when an Intervention is the right thing to do. If most of the following situations are occurring, then you can be fairly certain it's time for an Intervention:

Escalating risky behavior is taking place. Your loved one is engaged in riskier behaviors, more frequent risky behaviors, or additional risky behaviors.
Missing important events. Your loved one is missing important family, personal or work events, or they come late or act inappropriate at these events.
Increased use of the substance or behavior. They are using more of the substance or behavior, or more frequent use of the substance or behavior than in the past.
You have had the heart to heart talk with them. You know the one that starts with, “Don’t you see. . . .” Or, If you don’t stop . . . “ and yet nothing seems to change.
Your loved one promises to stop the behavior, but does not actually stop the behavior either because they cannot, or they choose not to.You can see that the consequences of their behaviors are about to catch up with them, and they will loose important relationships, finances, freedoms, or opportunities that will be difficult to recover from, OR, they may even loose their life.
You fear for physical or mental health deterioration.

Should I Attempt a DIY Intervention Or Hire A Professional Interventionist?

I'm the consummate DIY person. If I can possibly envision myself doing a project, that is what I would always attempt to do. However, with years of experience and many failed DIY efforts I’ve modified my position a bit. For example, the DIY haircut is definitely something I don’t do anymore. So, why risk the life of my loved one to an Intervention effort that was not well planned out, and can easily result in further damage to relationships, and the possibility of not getting them into treatment.

Many people in intervention and recovery work are in those professions because of their own life experiences or the life experiences of those they've been close to. Otherwise, people don’t really think about the world of treatment or recovery until they need those services, or experience someone who has used or needs to use those services.

Experience in the work of treatment and recovery is an invaluable asset for an Interventionist to have. It allows the Interventionist to speak to the client about thoughts and feelings and fears that they have on a level that someone who has not experienced that world could not do. This connection is very effective in the effort to convert the client to agree to treatment.

Here is a list of benefits that a professional Interventionist brings to the situation:

Experience with client reactions. Professional Interventionists are prepared for a variety of possible resistant-based client reactions. Preparation for these reactions can mean the difference between a successful and a failed Intervention.
Selection of Treatment Center. Professional Interventionists help identify the most appropriate treatment center to address the symptoms of the client. Not all treatment centers are created equal. A poorly selected treatment center is a waste of money and time leaving the client with little to base their sobriety on when released back to realty living.
Intervention Team Support and Coaching. A skilled Interventionist prepares team members to perform in a manner that will be most effective in achieving the desired outcome . . . having the client agree to treatment. Each team member brings a different impact to the Intervention message for the client. Identifying and arranging those messages in the most impactful manner is the job of the Interventionist.
Planned For Contingencies. When first attending professional Interventiontraining the number of contingencies I was instructed to prepared for was so extensive. If the Interventionist is not prepared for the unexpected, it could mean the difference between success and failure in the Intervention. Some of the interventionist's skills allow them to:
- Keep the client from walking out of the Intervention and ignoring what is happening
- Step in if the client becomes angry, or even violent toward others or themselves
- Arrange for the client to show up at the Intervention and assure the client is sober enough to understand what is going on at the Intervention
- Manage the client when they redirect the energy of the Intervention to behaviors or situations that belong to someone on the Intervention team

Intervention FAQ

What is an Intervention?

An Intervention is a process. The goal of an Intervention is to move the client to enter an appropriate treatment center at the time of the Intervention; To help family members and loved ones adjust their relationship withe the Intended Patient to a more emotionally healthy level and support them in that effort.

When is an Intervention appropriate?

When someone you care about has demonstrated behaviors of abuse, dependence, or poor decision-making related to any of the following substances or behaviors, and when your best efforts to resolve the problem have not been successful, despite continued, intense, negative consequences:

Alcohol
Prescription drugs
Illicit drugs
Food/Eating
Gambling
Sex
Anger

Why use an Interventionist?
The most important reason for engaging an Interventionist is the professional training and experience they bring to the Intervention. Family and friends may fear confrontation, or have already engaged in some level of confrontation with their loved one only to experience additional conflict and damage, or fear that additional pressure on their loved one may cause them to do something even more damaging to themselves or others.

What does an Interventionist do?

A professional Interventionist will:
Coodinate and facilitate the entire Intervention process
Educate and coach members of the Intervention through the process
Prepare members of the Intervention for their roles
Anticipate resistance and prepare for it
Facilitate the Intervention
Identify appropriate treatment centers for the client
Coordinate admission to the selected treatment center (Financial responsibility for treatment remains with the family)
Stay in communication with the client throughout treatment at the center
Provide counsel to the Intervention team as needed for a period of six months following the intervention.

How much does an Intervention cost?
There is a range of cost for an Intervention depending upon the amount of time required for preparation of family/friend intervention team members, and the amount of time required for the Intervention. Each Intervention represents a unique situation. In extreme situations, an Intervention could require more than one day. The Intervention professional fee is a flat fee. Costs of travel and housing for the Interventionist are additional. If you choose to have the Interventionist accompany the client to the treatment center along with a family member, there is a transportation fee. A line item breakout of costs will be provided at the time of the assessment.

Are There Different Types of Interventions?
Yes, there are several reliable models of intervention. Real World Interventions uses a rapid, loving, family/friend involved process facilitated by a trained interventionist and customized to fit the life and story of the client.

How Successful Are Interventions?

Research reports Interventions show that about 8.5 out of every 10 Interventions result in the identified patient getting into treatment at a treatment center. Even so-called “unsuccessful” interventions present value to the client and family in that the Intervention experience provides the basis for further, more aggressive action to save the client from self-destruction.

Can Family/Friends Conduct an Intervention without an Interventionist?
Technically, when family and friends informally attempt to conduct an Intervention when they threaten to terminate a relationship due to unacceptable/damaging behaviors; or, when they withdraw support and voice anger toward the troubled individual. However, results of family-based, informal Intervention efforts are generally not effective because the content and delivery of the Intervention is typically insufficient to address the situation, and inadequate to move the client to action. This is not to say family/friends cannot successfully conduct an Intervention, because in some cases they can and do achieve the desired results.

What is involved in the process of an Intervention?
In our office the following steps are typical:

Complimentary telephone consultation for details on the Intervention process, and collection of general information on the client situation.
Meet with the Interventionist for detailed personal assessment of client situation. This can also be conducted over the telephone.
Completed contract for Intervention Services.
Coordinated work with identified members of the Intervention team.This will likely require 2 – 3 telephone consults with each member of the Intervention team prior to the Intervention to prepare and review preparation of work done by Intervention Team members. Sometimes it can be done in fewer meetings.
Practice/preview of Intervention by members.
Identification of treatment center recommendations, and selection of treatment center.
Finalize treatment center preparations.
Practice the Intervention.

Conduct the Intervention.
Coordinate transportation to the Treatment Center
Follow up with Intervention Team members as needed.

How much time should Intervention participants plan for?
Each Intervention is unique. Typically participants should plan on 2 – 3 meetings or phone calls with the Interventionist prior to the Intervention, time to prepare your individual assignments for the Intervention, then a full day the day of the Intervention.

What distinguishes the Real World Intervention approach?
Ultimately, the quality of your Intervention rests with the skill and preparation of the Interventionist. Real World Interventionists are trained and credentialled in Interventions, Counseling, Substance Abuse, and Advanced Communications and Negotiations. In addition to providing a customized Intervention for each client, Real World Intervention offers family counseling for the client’s Intervention team during the 6-month period following the Intervention. Counseling issues typically include:

What to say when people ask about the client in treatment
What to do if the client threatens to or actually leaves treatment
When is it a good idea for the client to return home
What to expect when the client returns home
How much and what type of financial support should be provided post treatment
How to show emotional support without enabling the client.
What to do if there is a relapse.

Is there a Guarantee for the Intervention?
There are no guarantees in life at any level or for any topic, and there are no guarantee the Intended Patient will agree to immediate treatment at the time of the Intervention. Research indicates that 85% of interventions are successful meaning they end in the client agreeing to attend treatment. The likelihood of Intervention success is far greater when facilitated by a trained Interventionist.

What if the Addict Does Not Agree to Immediate Treatment?
A well-prepared Interventionist will be prepared for this resistive response from the addict. A part of the Intervention process is to prepare all participants for their role if resistance arises. Each Intervention situation is unique. A contingency plan will be developed by the Interventionist and shared with the Intervention team prior to the Intervention.

What are the Risks of Quitting Cold Turkey?
Depending on the client’s chemical of choice, quitting cold turkey can be physically risky and possibly deadly depending on their chemical of choice. Quitting alcohol dependence cold turkey may result in seizures, strokes, cardiace arrest, and possibly death. Quitting opiod-based drugs the likes of painkillers and heroin can be physically painful and challenging thereby requiring medical assistance to complete detoxification. Benzodiazapin drug categories have equally difficult detox complications, hence the need for medical support and assistance. If you can’t get the client to detox in a medical facility, it is time to consider an Intervention.

How can we intervene when my family lives all around the country?
During initial stages of Intervention planning family members use the mail, phone and email to communicate with each other and with the Interventionist. Sometimes they can only come together for a day at most and preparation work by phone or fax is the only option. Other times Intervention Team Members can come together for a long weekend (3-4 days) and can take advantage of all the benefits of face-to-face communication then immediately conduct the Interventin. Sometimes a family member can not participate fully due to schedule commitments, cost of travel or for other reasons. These situations can be accommodated also. People who cannot be present sometimes write letters or provide a short video of their feelings that can be used quite effectively at the Intervention.

How should I handle angry, hopeless or reluctant family members?
Always discuss with the interventionist the most realistic and practical approach to use. Do not make decisions about these matters prior to this discussion; the Interventionist may have some helpful ideas. Sometimes people are too angry, too hopeless or too frightened to participate in an Intervention. Other family members may want to be there to show support but are truly not interested in learning very much about the situation or in discussing how it has affected them. Still others may be willing to do whatever it takes, within reason to carry out the Intervention. Stilll others are very aware that the problem is much larger than just one person and that everyone needs long-term sustained help. It is not uncommon to have all these positions present at the same time in the same family.

Summing Up

How can I know if an intervention is needed?

Test #1, “Are you willing to risk the health and life of yourself, your loved one, and innocent others by waiting to address their issue?”
Test #2, “What will you gain from waiting to Intervene?”
Test #3, “What could you, your loved one, or others lose by waiting to Intervene?”

Take Action in Time

Now is the time for action.
Now is the time to change the course of someone’s life.
Now is the time to save someone’s life.