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INTERVENTION
Our Process
Treatment placement
Many families are referred to us by professional treatment or rehabilitation centers that have already helped check insurance coverage, done evaluations, and found available detox programs if needed. However some families call us first. In those cases we can help to find a suitable rehabilitation or treatment program and help facilitate the process by putting you in touch with the right people right away.
Assembling the team
We know that not everyone is in agreement right away. Sometimes half the family wants to do something and the other half wants to wait. We often make many calls to different family members to walk them through the process of intervention and show them now is the time to act.
Who should be involved?
We can do an intervention with any number of people in the team. People often wonder who is appropriate to have involved as a team member. Our suggestion is anyone who knows the person, cares about the person, and is concerned and committed to being a part of their recovery.
Training
Before beginning the addiction intervention, a trained professional interventionist will teach the intervention team (a group of family, friends, co-workers, etc.) everything they need to know, do and say to make the intervention successful. We meet with the team at a local church, office board room, hotel conference room or someone’s living room and begin our training. This is where all questions are answered, all details are discussed, all possible excuses are examined, and letters of concern are written. The time allotted for training varies according to the circumstances. We take as long as we need to make sure everyone is prepared.
Intervention
Once the team is trained and the letters are written it’s time for the intervention. Typically we do the intervention the morning after the training but circumstances sometimes change our schedule. The professional interventionist or a team member invites the person to a meeting or else we go to wherever they are. The professional interventionist facilitates all the details of getting the team into the presence of the loved one, makes the initial introductions, handles the initial reactions of the addicted one, and invites them to listen to what the concerned team members have to say. The professional interventionist then facilitates the rest of the meeting. Team members read their letters, an invitation to receive help is given, excuses are addressed and 90% of the time, the person finally accepts help. Once they say "Yes," we are off to treatment. This process usually lasts a few hours, sometimes longer. We will stay as long as we need to. Be prepared for a “No.” It is very uncommon for someone suffering from addiction, eating disorders, or other compulsive behaviors to immediately accept help after the invitation is given. We are prepared to hear “No,” “I can’t,” “I don’t need help,” or even “You can’t make me go.” Don’t panic, this is normal. The professional interventionist is prepared to hear these responses and has also prepared the team how to respond when these responses are given. Ninety percent of the people we do interventions for go to a professional rehabilitation program the same day as the intervention, but hardly anyone says yes right away.
Transport
The goal of any intervention is to help the person suffering from addiction or unhealthy compulsive behaviors to realize their need for professional help and to safely transport them to a treatment center. That program may be in the same town or perhaps in a different state. Sometimes it is best for the person to get away from their current surroundings and go someplace where the temptations, influences from drug using friends, or reminders of behavioral patterns are absent. Regardless of where they go, the professional interventionist will transport them accompanied sometimes by another friend or family member. We are with them until they sign themselves into the treatment program.
Follow up
Our professional relationship with the intervention team is ongoing for 30 days. Any family member or team member can call with questions and concerns while their loved one is in the 30 day treatment program.
Use the link below to learn more about who is involved in the process.