There are numerous steps to an intervention and having it run smoothly. Each of these steps is under the assumption that you have decided that an intervention is the best course of action.
Step 1. Meet with a counselor
The first step to an intervention is to meet with a counselor. It is important to have a trained professional who knows how the process works. The family, friends, and loved ones of the addict or alcoholic meet with the counselor (sometimes via phone if the distance is great), and they voice their concerns about what has lead them to seek the services of an intervention specialist. This includes things like consequences that the
Step 2. Assessment of addict or alcoholic by the family
It may be a single visit or phone call, or it might be a series of more brief encounters, but the people in the addict/alcoholic’s life inform the counselor of any details they think may help in the process of convincing that person to accept treatment. The counselor will then come up with an idea of what may be the most effective method of reaching the addict/alcoholic. It also includes the history of the person prior to their addiction—say, for instance, a history of physical abuse.
It is also when consequences for not accepting treatment are developed.
Step 3. Who should attend?
Although everyone wants the addict or alcoholic to get better, sometimes there is truth in having too many chefs in the kitchen. As an example, a father may desperately want to attend an intervention, but if there is a very confrontational relationship between that father and the addict/alcoholic, it may be better for the father to simply let others go through the process. Who attends is based largely in part on what the counselor is told regarding the addict or alcoholic’s history and background.
Step 4. Course of action
That course of action developed in Step 2 is then put into play. Of all the best steps of an intervention, this is perhaps the hardest. It can be volatile, painful, and scary; but, in the end, if the addict or alcoholic gets the help he or she needs, then that comparably mild discomfort needs to take a backseat.
Step 5. Accepting the help.
This is the “holy grail” moment. When the addict or alcoholic sees the damage done, they may be inclined to accept the offer of help without much effort. However, they also may outright refuse, in which case the consequences in Step 2 come into play. If those at the intervention stick to their consequences, it is amazing how often the willingness to change typically comes.
There is also the tentative acceptance, which is when the alcoholic or addict says that he or she will go, but needs to “take care of some stuff first” before going to treatment. Very rarely is this “stuff” something that truly needs to be addressed before finding treatment. The reality is that if they wait, they might not get the chance to accept the offer afterwards.
Do not fret. This may sound like a tall order, but in retrospect, the small sacrifices that are made now may be the greatest gift for you and for the person in need of help. Combine your love with these best steps to an intervention and improve the life of a loved one.