Tips On Holding An Intervention
Interventions allow friends and family members to proactively reach out to someone in trouble. And statistics show that they work. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, 90 percent of people get help following an intervention. These tips can help your family stage a life-changing intervention for someone you love.
Choose Participants Well
When asking others to participate, select people that the addicted person knows and trusts. Avoid inviting anyone who has a strained or abusive relationship with your loved one. This isn’t the time or place to air out dirty laundry since a successful intervention motivates the addicted person.
Find the Right Time to Have the Discussion
Choosing a sober moment keeps everyone safe and increases your chance of a successful intervention. You may want to hold the discussion early in the morning. Some interventions held after a drug-related incident fall on more receptive ears. If someone has been charged with driving under the influence or arrested for drug use, they may be ready to get help.
Use a Private, Formal Spot
A neutral space gets your family member out of the daily routine and grabs their attention. If possible, holding an intervention in an interventionist’s or therapist office puts everyone on equal footing. People stay on their best behavior and it’s harder to walk out. A professional can also facilitate the process.
Order is Important
Once a person agrees to treatment, the intervention is over. That’s why the order of speakers is crucial. For example, if the addicted person is close to their mother, perhaps the mother should speak first. Whether it’s a spouse, child or best friend, the first person to speak should be the one who can make the biggest impression and, hopefully, lead to an early “yes.”
Rehearsals are a great way to establish the order and tweak anything that doesn’t seem effective. It also gives everyone an opportunity to practice what they most want to say.
Stick to a Script
Interventions are emotional events and many people find their hands may shake and unbidden tears flow freely. Because emotions are unpredictable, it’s best to write down and practice a script. This gives you the chance to really think about what you want to say.
When you practice and during the discussion open, warm body language sends the right message. Lean in and look at the person when it’s your turn to speak and approach the intervention with love and kindness in your heart.
Never Give Up
It may take more than one intervention for the addicted person to accept treatment. Don’t be frustrated if you need to try a few times. Treatment works, and people who are prodded often eventually get the help they need.
Choosing a successful treatment center is the next step on the road to recovery. At the Bay Area Recovery Center, drug & alcohol treatment counselors work to reassemble families and help addicts rejoin the broader community. Give your loved one the best chance for continued sobriety by partnering with the premier recovery center.