Step By Step Process For Staging Interventions

An intervention is an important step in the recovery process. Your family and friends will forge ahead with it, as no one wants to see your life crippled due to a particular substance or mental health issue. The goal of any intervention is to show your loved ones that they are not alone and will have your continual support, regardless of how tough the journey can be. As common as interventions have become, there is a right way to execute them. Here at Nudel Family Pathways, we offer personalized approaches to case management. Staging an intervention is a step-by-step process and it requires guidance and diligence from the assigned treatment professional. Let’s further evaluate what this looks like and how it can set you and your family up for success.

Putting Together A Plan

When family members and friends propose the idea of an intervention, the first step is to put a planning group around it. When embarking on this process, it’s best practice to coordinate with a counselor or addiction specialist to ensure that you’re organizing an effective intervention. Interventions can make for emotional settings. So it’s important to have a professional by your side to act as a mediator and run interference when necessary. 

Gathering Information

Once the group members are aware of the extent of your loved one’s issues and they’ve researched your specific condition and the accompanying treatment programs, the next thing is to set up arrangements to enroll them in a program. It should be noted that the person who is afflicted with the addiction should bear no responsibility for planning their own intervention.

Case Management: Forming The Intervention Team

The planning group will put together a team that participates in the intervention. The team members will set a date and location and will work in tandem to present a structured plan. Nonfamily members on the team will help keep the discussion focused on the facts surrounding the situation and will devise comprehensive solutions as opposed to just giving emotion-based responses. Do not inform your loved one of what’s going on until the day of the intervention.

Determining The Consequences

You need to be prepared for the outcomes of all situations, whether they pan out in your favor or not. If your loved one refuses treatment, every person on your team needs to determine what the best course of action will be from that point forward. You may need to enforce boundaries with your loved one who is suffering so that you don’t enable or unintentionally reward the behavior.

Preparing Notes For What To Say

Every team member will describe certain instances where the addiction has caused issues in the past, this can range from emotional issues to financial problems, and everything else in between. By taking notes, you can detail and gather your thoughts accordingly and relay this information to the person who has been impacted by their addictions. Be blunt and describe how the addiction has taken its toll on you. Your loved one would have a hard time objecting to information that’s factual. 

Holding The Intervention Meeting

Without stating the reason, the time has come to ask your loved one to come with you to the intervention site. Then the team members will take turns addressing their concerns and how their hardships have made them feel. Following this, they will be presented with a treatment option and will be asked to accept it on the spot. All of the team members will then state the changes that he or she will make, should this person not accept the plan. Do not threaten them with consequences or ultimatums, unless you are willing to see it through.

Following Up After The Meeting

Family members and friends that stay involved in the recovery process are crucial, for helping them to avoid relapsing. You can streamline this for them by modifying the patterns of behavior in everyday living, making it easier to avoid erratic behavior and temptations. They can also bring someone with them to their counseling sessions. Any work that can prevent the possibility of relapse is worth looking into.

Case Management & Working With An Addiction Specialist

For families and friends that are considering staging an intervention to help someone in their life who’s struggling, rest assured, the team at Nudel Family Pathways has you covered. Contact us today to learn more about the process to finalize your involvement!