Intervening shows that you see someone as they are, and you want to help them change.
Individuals, when given the opportunity, can fully recover and lead beautiful, prosperous lives.
Helping the family to speak from the heart is an honoring, validating act of love.
Time is of the essence. Addiction is a matter of life or death and acting quickly is often vital.
An intervention is NOT an ambush, a deception, a betrayal, a gang-up, an attack, a fight, or a punishment. An intervention is simply an interruption. It is a call to action. It is the last resort. It is a hostage negotiation. It is proof that family and friends have not given up. It is a gift that gives the loved one something to fight for. It is a solution. An intervention is an orchestrated attempt by one or many people, usually members of the individual’s support system, to encourage, guide, and offer someone professional help with an addiction, traumatic event, crisis, or other unhealthy behavior that is impacting the quality of their life.
Before committing to utilizing my services, I will perform a free clinical assessment of the individual and the family's needs before proceeding. It is important to consider all aspects of your loved one's current behavior into consideration and any preexisting health conditions to ensure that performing an intervention and deciding what kind of intervention will set them up for success.
I have personally vetted, toured, and have a working relationship with all possible treatment providers and facilities I may refer you to. It is vital to find the best facility or clinicians to meet your loved ones' needs to keep them supported on track to finish their entire treatment stay successfully.
I will help you understand what kinds of treatment your insurance will cover and get you exact quotes for all potential options. I can also match you to facilities based on what is financially appropriate for the family and individual's needs.
I will assist you in figuring out what types of treatment make the most sense for your loved one and at what cost is reasonable. I will help you navigate and fully understand the entire payment process with insurance, facilities, and the resources they offer.
At this point in the process, I will work with each member of the intervention tea in creating a plan for the time of the intervention and assist the family in writing letters and hearing and addressing their needs concerns.
If your loved one is still in active addiction, especially when using illicit substances, it is vital to get them set up with a detoxification program for safety and medical reasons.
I will assist you in scheduling a time and date for your loved one stating treatment and help you in the process of reserving a bed.
If your loved one is getting on a plane, traveling a long distance, or the intervention team is not available to aid, I can help you get connected to a certified medical escort who will get your loved one safely to treatment.
I will work with the intervention team to effectively manage their involvement and relationship with their loved ones and provide support while the individual is in treatment.
I provide relapse prevention services up to 3 years after the individual has completed treatment to maintain growth and long-term sobriety, recovery, or stability from the problem behavior, addiction, or mental health condition.
Just as no two situations are the same, no two interventions are the same. There are, however, four general approaches to interrupting dangerous and self-destructive behavior.
The level of readiness to change and individual exhibits determine the intervention approach. This determination can be used with chemical addiction, process addiction, and some mental health disorders, including eating disorders.
The surprise approach is a structured and well-rehearsed production. A support team is chosen consisting of those who are committed to supporting the recovery, not the addiction, and usually consists of 4-6 people. A team meeting is scheduled without the knowledge of the person of concern. During this meeting, the team reviews and discusses addiction education, family system education, and intervention preparation information.
The invitational approach is more relaxed and less structured. It differs from the surprise model in three distinct ways. First, the meeting is usually smaller, more intimate, and more relaxed, consisting of 2-3 people. Second, the person of concern is informed about the meeting and invited to attend. Third, it does not include the formality of writing letters. Concerns are discussed, and solutions are presented in a more open forum.
The family approach is a process, not an event. This approach rolls with resistance. It requires weeks of committed family coaching that in turn creates favorable, non-confrontational motivation that drives the person of concern to get the necessary help and re-align with the family.
The crisis approach is an immediate response requiring fast on your feet creative thinking and strategic action. This is an approach used when time is critical, for example, a shut-in who is in danger of self-harm, during hospitalization due to overdose, accident or mental health legal hold, an arrest, or if the person of concern is in treatment and is threatening to leave early.
It is important to find a credible, certified, and experienced intervention specialist when trying to get help for your loved one. Choosing someone you trust and can connect with is important because honesty and vulnerability are a massive part of the intervention process. If you are unsure if you need an intervention specialist, it could be a good idea to reach out to one and get their feedback. If the situation is not severe, you may realize that:
There is no charge for a call or email to determine if a professional is necessary for your intervention.
Families, friends, and employers have tried saying what is on our minds, and it has not worked. It causes defenses and makes things worse. The only way to be heard is if it is coming from the heart. A letter is a valuable tool. It is a well-written script that offers the solution.
Reading letters breaks through the addicted person’s protective defense of denial. Letters also help prevent distractions, spontaneous anger, and freezing up.
After presenting your letter, the silence is broken, the secret is out, and you have forever spoiled any fun that may have been left in using. They are used at the intervention, and they are used later by the treatment team.
The letter should be no longer than one page and should take about two minutes to read.
There are three parts to the letter:
Part One:
Part Two: Express Concern
Part Three: Express how you feel.
Be Aware of:
Heather is triple board certified in three clinical specialties: intervention, family dynamics and relapse prevention. She has acquired over 50,000 hours in addiction and mental health studies and training and years of experience. As one of the nation’s preferred and leading experts in this specialized field, she is known for successful outcomes in the most complicated cases. She is highly skilled at negotiating change using motivational techniques such as tactical empathy and emotional intelligence while preserving the privacy, dignity, and respect of her clients.