People’s understanding of interventions has grown over the last couple of decades. Some of this is due to the public’s better understanding of addiction and substance use disorder (SUD). However, much of it has come from its prevalence in popular culture, primarily that of the A&E show Intervention. While this show has made awareness of interventions more present, it has also overly distilled down what an intervention actually consists of.
It takes a lot of hard work and planning to stage a successful intervention – much more than can be gleaned from a 45-minute television program. There are key components, specific stages, and specialist support networks that must occur to make an intervention run smoothly.
It is great that more people understand what an intervention is. However, we feel the full scale of an intervention must be made more apparent and transparent. An intervention may be an individual’s last hope of getting the treatment they need.
What Exactly Is an Intervention?
Since “intervention” can be a rather broad term, let us break it down into its simplest definition for recovery. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), an intervention is a “professionally delivered program, service, or policy designed to prevent substance misuse (prevention intervention) or treat a substance use disorder (treatment intervention).”
For our purposes here, the interventions we will discuss are of the designation involving the individual, specialists, and the entire family (including close friends). However, an intervention takes much more than just getting these parties in the same room talking.
An intervention takes critical planning and implementation. Often there is only one chance to get an intervention right. So, approaching it with the utmost seriousness and professionalism is key. Of course, these attributes are also enmeshed with empathy, compassion, and a lot of love.
What Makes a Successful Intervention?
One of the most important aspects of a successful intervention happens long before it ever takes place. It comes when assessing the individual’s situation and determining the best plan of action. This is where case management can play such an important role. A case manager can work with the family and connect them with the appropriate clinicians, therapists, and specialists to ensure that the right approach to recovery is enacted.
If an intervention is determined as the right next step, then the planning and preparation can begin. This will include meeting with the appropriate family members and staging the right time and place to intervene on the struggling loved one’s behalf.
It is also crucial that an expert interventionist be present because, as they say in many 12-Step programs, “Addiction is cunning, baffling, and powerful.” The individual that is struggling with active addiction is often guided by denial. It takes skilled professionals to help them understand the severity of their situation and the benefits of getting treatment.
Healing for the Family and the Individual
The intervention is also a time for healing for the family. While it is not the primary purpose of the intervention, it can act as a positive starting point for getting the family the help that they also need and deserve. Addiction is a “family disease.” When a situation has gotten severe enough that an intervention is the best solution, then chances are that the family has some codependence or traumatic struggles that they need help with as well.
After the Intervention
An intervention is never the end. It is only the beginning and hopefully a beginning to a life that was once thought unattainable. With the proper steps taken, a successful intervention will have the loved one struggling with addiction headed toward the necessary treatment facility to begin their recovery journey. All of the details that they might use as an excuse not to get help will have been taken care of. From here, the individual only has to focus on one thing: getting themself well again.
A successful intervention will also lead the family in the right recovery direction that they need to go. This may include family counseling or therapy. It may also include family recovery coaching as they now navigate what it is like having a family member going through rehabilitation and treatment.
The truth is that there are no guarantees in recovery. Any facility or entity that tells you there is should be taken with a grain of salt. Yes, there is a chance that an intervention will not work the first time. Yes, there is a chance that a relapse may occur. However, if you go into it with all of the proper tools and resources at your disposal, there is a good chance that you may save your loved one’s life and restore your family’s well-being. For us here at Clere Consulting, that is what it’s all about.
Staging an intervention takes a lot of effort and forethought. That is why it is important to get expert advice and employ professionals if you are considering an intervention. At Clere Consulting, we have the tools, resources, and specialists that can help make your intervention successful. We understand that for many, holding an intervention can feel like a drastic and often scary step. Often an intervention can be the last hope for someone that is teetering on the edge of losing everything. The ultimate goal is saving your loved one’s life, and an intervention can be an integral part of making that a reality. For more information, call Clere Consulting today at (866) 384-8847.
