How to Stage an Intervention
Your Guide to Holding a Successful Intervention for an Addicted Loved One
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Are you trying to learn how to stage an intervention for a family member or friend? There comes a time when sitting idly by as they continue plunging further into a substance use disorder is no longer an option. When someone has denied the problem and refused treatment programs, it’s time for close family members and friends to step in.
The entire team at Changes Healing Center has seen the havoc the recent fentanyl and opioid epidemics have caused in Phoenix and throughout Arizona. Your loved one’s life matters; hosting an effective intervention may be the thing that saves a life.
If you are seeking professional help to intervene and encourage your close friends or family to get help, keep reading. This comprehensive guide will help you better understand how to have a successful intervention.
Intervention Meetings for Addiction Recovery or Mental Health
Intervention meetings provide a structured conversation for family members and friends to work together to express concern to a loved one struggling with substance abuse and related mental health disorders. The intent of the intervention team is not to blame or shame the person; instead, they are an opportunity to show compassion and clarity.
After each team member offers support, they present treatment options with boundaries set if the person struggling doesn’t choose to get addiction help. The intervention helps break through the loved one’s denial and can be the first step toward seeking professional care.
Why Family Members Hold Interventions
Watching a loved one’s addiction pull them into an unending spiral of destructive behavior and poor decisions is painful. It can be even more distressful to discuss these things with a loved one. The intervention is the setting to host this discussion, with a professional interventionist or mental health counselor on hand to help all remain calm while convincing the loved one to seek treatment.
Types of Intervention Meetings
If this is your family’s first intervention, keep reading to learn about the several methods. Most people are aware of the “ambush” or “surprise” intervention from watching the reality television series Intervention. However, not all interventions use that technique.
The Johnson Model “Surprise” Intervention Process
Developed in the 1970s by Dr. Vernon Johnson, a minister concerned about addiction in his community, the Johnson Intervention model involves family and friends meeting and surprising their loved one.
Each team member reads a pre-written statement that expresses emotional support but also explains how addiction has impacted them personally. A treatment center is offered at the meeting; the goal is for the person to accept the treatment plan immediately.
Staging an intervention following this model requires extreme care. It’s best left in the hands of an intervention professional.
Example of the “Surprise” Intervention Strategy
The surprise intervention is best for people who deny the gravity of their addiction. Our past client ‘Tyler’ came to Changes thanks to his family and intervention team. Tyler drank heavily for years but insisted that he could control it.
After a DUI and being fired from his job, the family found themselves unable to ignore the consequences of his drinking. When Tyler walked into the intervention, he learned how he’d made his parents feel worried. He finally understood the impact of his alcohol use and decided to seek support. He got clean and sober and is now an Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor, helping others through the recovery process.
Structured Conversations with Family Involvement and Professional Help
In many cases, a planned intervention works better than an ambush. Inviting the person struggling to participate can be very effective. This form also requires professional help—a specially trained social worker or interventionist can guide the conversation.
The tone is less confrontational and feels more like group therapy. Family members practice active listening while maintaining a supportive environment. They may read statements or letters, with an emphasis on providing ongoing support, but only if the person agrees to seek treatment.
Example of How Hesitant People Benefit from the Planned Family Intervention
The planned intervention can be helpful for a loved one who shows some willingness to set and achieve recovery goals but hesitates to follow through with starting the treatment process. The intervention is the nudge they need.
‘Maria’ promised her sisters many times that she’d get sober. She always backed out just before starting her treatment plan. Her sisters were hurt and angry. They finally learned how to stage an intervention and found professional help to lead the conversation.
The sisters were firm but managed to stay calm, telling Maria they could no longer offer her even another penny of financial support. These consequences showed Maria how serious their concerns were. Starting that day, she agreed to get help from an outpatient treatment center.
Intervention in a Clinical Setting (Intervention Team May Be Just the Doctor)
Some interventions occur in a medical setting, with a healthcare provider intervening. These are brief, factual, and drive directly to the heart of the person’s safety and well-being. These happen in the moment and aren’t usually planned. For instance, a doctor or nurse practitioner may intervene after an overdose, during a hospitalization, or during a yearly physical when the physician spots concerning substance use patterns.
These don’t usually involve families. The message, “You need to go to a treatment program or you will die,” can be a much-needed wake-up call, especially when an immediate treatment facility referral is part of the discussion.
Example of a Clinical Intervention Process
‘Elliot’ arrived at the emergency room after an overdose of fentanyl. After receiving life-saving medical support, a concerned case manager explained that Elliot’s insurance would cover a full range of inpatient treatment options due to the severity of his symptoms. After the hospital stabilized Elliot, he came to Changes as an emergency admission.
Crisis Intervention to Put the Safety of the Person Struggling First
The crisis intervention process happens when someone’s life is in imminent danger. They may be overdosing, talking about suicide, or in psychosis. This form of intervention occurs in the moment and requires others to take immediate control of the person’s well-being. Once the person is stable, family and friends can provide continued support.
Example of a Crisis Intervention
‘Jasmine’ had been struggling with bipolar disorder and substances for many years. During a manic stage, she picked up a kitchen knife, started waving it around, and told her brother she wanted to kill herself. He called 911.
Once EMTs had taken Jasmine to emergency psychiatric care, where she received emergency support. After she was safe again, her loved ones worked with Changes to find an effective treatment option – inpatient treatment to stabilize her bipolar disorder and drug and alcohol recovery.
The Role of the Professional Interventionist
Interventionists have special training, allowing them to guide families and offer support. Staging an intervention is an emotional and complicated process. The interventionist helps loved ones plan the meeting, understand what to say (and what not to say) during the intervention, and stay calm throughout the process.
Perhaps the most important thing interventionists do, though, isn’t staging an intervention. It’s ensuring a recovery program is in place for the person struggling. Some also assist with taking the person to the treatment center after agreeing to get professional support – that’s a question to ask them before you make a hiring decision.
Careful Planning to Help a Loved One Overcome Addiction
Staging an intervention effectively isn’t something most people have experienced. It’s an act of compassion and love, but takes time, strategy, and support. Here are some things you can expect as you plan an intervention for a loved one:
1) Gather Information and Assess the Situation
Learn all you can about your loved one’s addiction and behaviors. What’s their substance abuse like? How about their mental health status? Have they attended an addiction treatment program in the past? Considering these helps you and the intervention team develop the right intervention strategy.
You will also consider potential reactions by your loved one, excuses to avoid treatment, and safety risks. Considering these in advance can help you remain calm and in control during the intervention.
2) Choose the Right Intervention Professional
Look for an experienced intervention specialist. This person will be your guide and mediator as you plan and carry out the intervention. They should have all the knowledge necessary to help you prevent misunderstandings, hard feelings, or other negative consequences as you offer the gift of recovery to your loved one.
3) Meet with the Professional Interventionist on Strategy
The interventionist will want to have planning meetings with loved ones to develop a clear, cohesive plan. The intervention must convey messages of support and understanding while laying out consequences if the person doesn’t choose recovery.
The interventionist will help loved ones decide who should attend, what intervention model to use, and what recovery resources are an option. This meeting helps to make sure that all attending are on the same page and ready for all outcomes.
4) Write Impact Statements
Each team member participating in the intervention will write a letter or statement to read to the struggling person. It should:
- Start by reassuring your loved one how much you care
- Build consensus through a shared memory
- Explain the hurt felt because of the addiction
- Offer an invitation to addiction treatment programs
- Set a boundary if the loved one refuses the addiction treatment option
- Reassure them you’ll be there to help in any way you can – driving them to therapy, going to support groups, and other small acts of kindness.
Below, you’ll see our sample letter. Feel free to print it out and use it as a guideline as you write your letter. Keep the same structure, but insert your own details and experiences.
5) Find a Private Location and Set the Date
Select a quiet, private space that will make your loved one feel safe. It might be a home or the interventionist’s office. Host the intervention at a time when the person is most likely to be sober or the most receptive to accepting addiction treatment.
What Happens at an Intervention?
Every intervention is unique. The flow of an intervention can be somewhat unpredictable, based on the loved one’s addiction. If they are in a stable place, things tend to go more smoothly than when they’ve been using. Here is a general overview of how things go:
- The team gets together ahead of the meeting time.
- Your loved one enters – either as a surprise or by invitation
- The interventionist introduces themselves and explains the meeting agenda
- Family and friends read their impact letters to their loved one
- An addiction treatment plan is offered along with the next steps to take
- If they accept help, they report for admissions to a program; if they refuse, boundaries are set into motion
If you’ve been watching someone decline in addiction, you probably already know that plans can change in an instant. Be prepared for any circumstances to happen. While the order of events may shift, the bottom line needs to stay firm. No addiction treatment must mean boundary enforcement; that’s must remain a hard line.
Get Your Loved One Support for Successful Recovery at Changes Healing Center
If you are staging an intervention for a loved one struggling with addiction and mental health issues, please consider Changes Healing Center for their recovery journey. We’ve worked with many families to help their loved ones reclaim their lives after addiction.
Our team provides compassionate but firm support. We can help your loved one learn to cope with life’s challenges without turning to drugs or alcohol and enjoy a fresh start in life.
Reach out confidentially today for our help and to get trusted, proven treatment options with us for your loved one.
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