How To Plan an Intervention

Interventions are generally a hard process to participate in. Out of a place of love and support, loved ones try to spark the motivation for an individual who struggles with a substance abuse disorder. It can be an extremely vulnerable situation for every person involved; likewise, it takes a great amount of courage to reach out to someone struggling with addiction. The most important step in the process of an intervention is acting with extreme and deliberate care.

Seeking Professional Help

It would be prudent for most interventions to seek the help of a licensed counselor. They can act as a useful guide through the process, and particularly through many aspects of an intervention that many people may not initially consider. Some ways that a professional interventionist can help include:

• Basic organization of the event. Professional guidance can help you and your loved ones focus on explaining your side while the interventionist focuses on structuring the conversation. 

• Clinically consider the circumstances that have led to the intervention; because interventions are so deliberately focused around emotion, it can be helpful to have an external source weigh in. They can also reference factors you and your loved ones may be unaware of entirely. 

• A potential location to engage in the intervention. If all parties participating are willing, a counselor’s office or the facility they represent are routinely safe places to engage in an intervention.

Your Role in the Intervention

Interventions are possible without a third party. However, regardless of whether or not you do call upon the help of a professional interventionist, having a plan going in as a loving family member, friend, or partner is crucial to the success of the event. Following a step-by-step guide can help all members involved and ultimately is the best way to properly engage.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)’s recommended steps include:

1. Making a plan. You, or someone close to the affected individual should form a group of people to help you plan it. Some options include a qualified professional counselor, an addiction professional, a psychologist, a mental health counselor, a social worker or an interventionist. Planning is important in order to ensure the least amount of aggravation or emotional output for both sides. 

2. Gathering pertinent information. The group members find out how pronounced your loved one's problem is and look into the condition and treatment programs. The group may initiate arrangements to enroll your loved one in a specific treatment program.

3. Deciding who will join the intervention. Those involved with planning should form a team that will personally participate in the intervention—otherwise known as those who are intervening. Members set a date and location and work together to present a consistent message and a deliberate plan. More often than not, nonfamily members of the team help keep the conversation focused on the facts of the problem and potential solutions rather than intense emotional responses. It is key to intentionally not let your loved one know what you're doing until the day of the intervention. 

4. Deciding specific consequences. If your loved one doesn't want to engage in treatment, each person participating needs to decide what action he or she will take—like asking the affected individual to move out or deciding not to support them financially. 

5. Preparing notes for statements. Each participant describes incidents where the substance abuse disorder caused problems—things like emotional or financial issues. Discuss the toll of your loved one's behavior while still expressing care and the expectation that he or she can change. 

6. Hosting (or organizing) the actual event. Without revealing the reason for a gathering, your loved one with an addiction is asked to the intervention site. Members of the team then take turns expressing their feelings. Your loved one is presented with a treatment option (or the outlet to receive treatment) and asked to accept that option on the spot. Each team member will say what specific changes he or she will make if your loved one doesn't accept the plan. Don't threaten a consequence unless you and the participants involved are prepared to act upon it.

7. Following up. Involving a spouse, family members or others is critical to help someone with an addiction stay in treatment and avoid relapsing. 

If you or a loved one have any questions regarding interventions, please reach out to us to speak with an addiction professional.