An intervention can be a difficult thing to pull-off, but it may help your loved one to the pathway of recovery. During an invention, family and friends of the loved one battling addiction have the opportunity to offer help and present a prearranged treatment plan. If you have a loved one struggling with an addiction, a well-planned out intervention could save their life.
How to Plan an Intervention
- Plan it Out—the first step to a successful intervention is a good plan. Gather the information you’ll need for your intervention. What is your loved one’s problem? What do you know about it? How can you help them? An intervention can be a very charged situation. It is essential that the loved one that you are trying to help feels safe, loved, and secure.
- Consult a Professional—there are many professionals out there that may be able to help. A drug counselor, social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed alcohol counselor may be able to provide information to help you organize a successful intervention.
- Form a Team—it’s usually best to face these kinds of things with other people. Take special care to who you invite to be on the team. Everyone involved should be loved, respected, and well-liked by the loved one you are trying to help. This may include friends, relatives, a member of your loved one’s faith. Be sure not to include anyone on the team who is dealing with their own unmanaged mental health or substance abuse issues.
- Decide on Action—if your loved one refuses treatment or other help after your intervention, what action will you take? Consult with your team to determine what each of you will do in this situation. What sort of action will you recommend to your loved one, and what will the consequences be if they choose not to follow through?
- Determine What Will Be Said¬—writing out a script or prompts for each team member can be extremely useful. These could include specific incidents where the addiction has proven to be a problem, or the loved one’s behavior has hurt them. Be sure that whatever you say, you say it with love and empathy. State facts and your emotional response. Be as sensitive as possible.
- Hold the Intervention—together with your team, confront your loved one in a place where they feel safe. Express your feelings and concerns. Present your loved one with treatment options.
- Follow Up—follow up with your loved one to ensure that they follow through on the plan to rehabilitation. Everyday life with your loved one may need to change. Ensure that they have the recovery support they need—whether it’s a recovery center, therapy, or something else. Be sure that you are there and available through the process.
If your loved one struggling with substance abuse requires a recovery center, look no further than Ardu. At Ardu, we provide multiple forms of therapy to heal the mind and body. Contact us today to learn more.
