5 Strategies for Planning a Successful Intervention
For many people who have a loved one struggling with addiction, an intervention is the best tool available to help that person understand the importance of seeking treatment. These conversations aren’t easy and, if you’re considering having one with a friend or family member, you likely already understand how delicate this period is for everyone involved. Planning a successful intervention requires considering the people you’ll include in the process, the setting in which it will occur and the things you’ll say to your loved one.
Though no two people will respond in the same way to a given intervention strategy, concerned family members should remember a few key things. Most importantly, the focus of the intervention is your loved one. The goal is to get them help. It’s important not to take anything they say or do personally. The more you focus on the goal and the well-being of your loved one, the more effective your strategy will be.
R&A Therapeutic Partners has helped many families plan successful interventions. If you want guidance from trained, experienced therapists and addiction professionals, consider reaching out to Raymond Estefania and Ana Moreno. As any interventionist can tell you, a poorly executed intervention can have disastrous consequences. However, when done properly with the assistance of a professional, an intervention can be the most powerful way to encourage your loved one to seek treatment.
Preparation is vital when planning an intervention. Here are five strategies that will help you along the way…
Pick the Right Team
Aside from a professional interventionist, only those individuals who are truly committed to the process and have some level of influence in the person’s life should be included. Your friend or family member will likely feel extremely vulnerable, so they need to be surrounded by people they respect, trust and value. When choosing your intervention group, be sure you not only consider how the presence of the people involved could impact your loved one, but also how the volatility of the situation might affect everyone else. If anyone on your shortlist isn’t emotionally capable of handling what might happen, it’s best not to include them in the process.
Know What You’re Going to Say
You want to help your loved one understand how their condition is affecting them and their relationships, so they will come to understand why they need help. Professional interventionists will tell you that planning a successful intervention means avoiding using an accusatory tone or saying anything that is a personal attack. Everyone involved should write a brief, well-rehearsed letter containing the message they want to convey. This will enable the concerned persons to share their thoughts and feelings in a way that is nonjudgmental, compassionate and communicated in a way that will hopefully lead to your loved one genuinely feeling the caring and concern and accepting the help that is being offered.
Avoid Times When Your Loved One Is Under the Influence
Interventions should be staged, if possible, when your loved one is not under the influence. Finding a time when your loved one is sober could be challenging but it is important to try since, the more impaired they are, the more complicated things may become. In many cases, substance use makes a person more volatile and prone to emotional outbursts. Not only will their reaction be influenced by substances, their judgment and memory of the intervention will likely be impaired, too.
Review Your Plan with the People Involved
Once you’ve chosen the right people and the right time for an intervention, everyone involved should run through the process with the interventionist. Take the letter you’ve written in preparation for the intervention and rehearse it until you know it well. It’s normal if things don’t go according to plan, but having an idea of what you should and shouldn’t say will greatly reduce the likelihood of a negative outcome.
Prepare for Different Outcomes
An interventionist will help you prepare for the many different scenarios that might unfold. Ideally, a person will accept what is being said to them and be open to taking the next step. Make plans with your interventionist so that your loved one can go immediately to a treatment center. Right after an intervention is the best time to begin treatment. However, you should be ready for other reactions, and your group should have a plan for what to do if your loved one does not react in the way you are hoping. You may have to do some compromising in the event the individual is prepared to receive help but has some requests or conditions. Your consultant will help you navigate this so you can avoid some of the pitfalls that often occur when we are trying to encourage someone to seek help.
Remember that an intervention is only the beginning of your loved one’s journey. Planning a successful intervention might also be the first step you take when helping them move forward. Ongoing follow-up is essential, especially if your loved one isn’t receptive to the idea of treatment. A professional will be able to help you consider the next course of action, guiding you through the preparation and execution of the intervention and into the treatment process and the aftercare stages of recovery.
Interventions Are Uncomfortable, But They’re Often Necessary
Interventions are not what you see on television. It is not the time to air your grievances or put someone in their place. These discussions can easily become emotional and turbulent if proper considerations aren’t made beforehand. It’s essential to make the situation as drama-free as possible. You are trying to convey how your loved one’s condition is affecting them so they can accept the fact that they need help.
This process is about communication, not confrontation. Concerned family members should consult with a professional so they can be sure they are following the best practices. This is an opportunity to help someone who desperately needs it. You want to be sure you give it the best possible chance for a positive outcome.
Contact R&A to Plan Your Loved One’s Intervention
If you want help planning a successful intervention, contact the Miami interventionists Raymond Estefania and Ana Moreno to find out how R&A Therapeutic Partners can help. Every situation is different, and each requires a unique plan to accommodate the needs of everyone involved. Call us at 786-452-7352 to schedule your appointment.
At R&A Therapeutic Partners Raymond Estefania and Ana Moreno specialize in substance use and mental health disorder evaluations, treatment, intervention and therapeutic/educational consulting for clients throughout the greater South Florida area, as well as nationally and internationally. For more resources and information please visit Therapeutic-Partners.com or on Facebook.
