When a loved one struggles with addiction, they may be blind to the effects of their actions. Families and friends often take it upon themselves to get that person to realize they have a serious problem, sometimes through family therapy. In some cases, staging an intervention may be the right choice to get a loved one into treatment.
At Arkview Recovery, our addiction specialists believe you should be aware of the potential outcomes of staging an intervention. While things always seem to go well on TV and in the movies, you may only have a positive result with proper preparation. However, if the intervention goes well, your loved one can enroll in our addiction treatment programs and get the help they need and deserve.
What Is an Intervention?
An intervention shouldn’t be something you spring on your loved one. When you are staging an intervention for an addict, it requires careful planning to ensure that the situation doesn’t devolve into chaos. Taking time to arrange an intervention allows everyone to gather their thoughts.
Other ideas to keep in mind when staging an intervention include the following:
- Think about where you want the event to occur and the order in which everyone should speak. That keeps things moving and people from hurling accusations or making harmful statements. You don’t want things to get to a point where the person who is the focus of the intervention shuts down to anything you say.
- Try to keep the atmosphere positive. While addiction is a serious subject, you don’t want it to turn into a blame session. Look for ways of effectively communicating the negative fallout your loved one’s actions causes for those who care about them.
- If you think you need help, reach out to a recovery center like Arkview Recovery. The addiction specialists on staff can offer you advice and support in planning the intervention. Their guidance can ensure that things go as smoothly as possible.
An intervention can be a necessary part of helping a loved one recover from addiction.
How Do You Stage an Intervention?
Perhaps the best way to begin planning an intervention is by talking with a doctor or another professional with experience staging interventions. You can also talk to other family and friends to get their input. As you get closer to the event, start pulling together a core intervention team responsible for managing the event.
Pick a day and time for staging the intervention. Think about who you want to attend and how their presence might affect your loved one. You should start researching rehab centers to present options for the intervention.
Have everyone write out impact statements that outline how they’ve been affected by a family member’s addiction. Hearing the words out loud may be enough to get through to your family member and encourage them to seem treatment.
Be prepared to make your loved one aware that you are there to support them. However, you need to establish boundaries to protect yourself. Let your family member know that things can’t continue in the current direction. If they don’t get help, your loved one will have to face how that will impact various relationships in the future.
It wouldn’t hurt to practice a run-through of the intervention session. You should also temper your expectations about how your loved one will react. Even with a well-run intervention, your loved one may still decide they don’t want to get help. If things don’t go as planned, follow through with your commitments during the intervention.
Benefits of Staging an Intervention
Staging an intervention can provide numerous benefits for everyone involved. An experienced staging team can help you confront your loved one in a way that encourages them to seek treatment.
It’s common for addiction to drive a wedge between family and friends. Staging an intervention shows that those who care about the person want them to get better and are willing to help them do so. It also shows that you won’t stand by and watch your loved one self-destruct.
Some other benefits include the following:
- Creating a platform for people to express their feelings
- Establishing clear boundaries
- Offering concrete solutions such as treatment programs
- Reaffirming that you and others are here to support the person in recovery
- Showing your loved one that they’re not alone in this struggle
Contact us today to learn more about our intervention services.
How Can I Help My Intervention Go Well?
You can help facilitate more effective communication during the intervention by avoiding labels like “junkie” or “alcoholic.” Keep the intervention group to a core group of people. Having too many people there can make the person feel overwhelmed. Try to keep your personal feelings in check to avoid having your emotions derail the event.
Get Support from Our Team at Arkview Recovery Center Before Staging an Intervention
If you are considering staging an intervention for a loved one struggling with addiction, our Arkview Recovery team can help. We have the resources and expertise to help your intervention go as smoothly as possible. Contact our team today for more information by calling 717.744.0756 or completing our secure online form.
Kyle is Lead Therapist at Arkview Recovery Center. He holds a Master of Social Work degree from Temple University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He has years of experience working directly with individuals who suffer from addiction and mental health disorders. Being in long term recovery himself, Kyle is very passionate about the recovery process. He is heavily involved in the local recovery community in which he enjoys his commitments to service and giving back. His specialty is in group therapy and developing clinical staff. Kyle brings to Arkview a holistic approach to recovery, specializing in mindfulness, reality therapy, and solution-focused therapy.
