Why should I do an intervention?

It can be difficult to talk to someone about his or her alcohol use, drug use, or other addictive behavior. Well, meant efforts often turn into frustration and unproductive confrontations. You need a skilled professional to help guide and facilitate the process, provide education and appropriate treatment plans.

Intervention is a loving, caring act. It may bring up many different images and emotions for you. You may be worried about how an intervention might be done and the confrontation involved. You may be worried about feelings of betrayal and anger from your loved one. I offer a respectful, kind, and gentle approach.

Does my loved one need to be at their “bottom” and/or want help?

Many people who consider interventions never go through with the process. There are a variety of reasons for this. The most common is the myth that an alcoholic or addict must hit a “bottom.”

Uninterrupted addiction will plunge the addict through many lows until they reach the ultimate bottom…death. If you hear a noise in your car’s engine, are you going to wait for it to blow up before you do anything about it? Of course not.

Another myth is that addiction treatment won’t work unless the person receiving the treatment really wants it. Statistics show that motivation for recovery prior to entering treatment isn’t a reliable predictor of positive outcomes.

Positive outcomes are best achieved when:

• Treatment is clinically matched to the needs of the patient.
• Family recovery parallels that of the addict.
• Post treatment recovery plans are rigorously followed.

Why hire you? Can’t we just intervene ourselves?

Over time, a family can be so overwhelmed it is unable to help itself. The family dynamic becomes dysfunctional—so dysfunctional, in some families, that effort meant to control or put an end to drinking alcohol or using drugs actually helps sustain it.

When you’re dealing with an addict or an alcoholic, the process of getting that person to commit to receiving help, safely detoxing, and entering into the best treatment scenario possible appears overwhelming.

Addiction is progressive—it always gets worse if not arrested. A professional intervention can interrupt the downward spiral that is addiction, and it can be the beginning of a change that can save someone’s life.