Preparing for an Intervention
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When an individual or a group of individuals prepares to attempt an intervention there is nothing more important than to plan and expect the unexpected. Preparing for an intervention begins with properly planning all aspects of the intervention as well as the subsequent treatment that will take place. While the intervention itself will only take a few hours or even minutes to complete, the time leading up to and the time following the intervention must also be appropriately planned in order to get the most out of the intervention…after all, this is a loved one we are talking about saving.
Why Plan an Intervention
There are many reasons for planning an intervention but ultimately the primary purpose of all interventions is the same – to overcome the addict’s denial and get them to admit the depth of their problem and accept treatment. It doesn’t matter if the addict is addicted to drugs or alcohol, has an eating disorder or suffers from a mental condition. The goal of getting the individual to recognize their problem and accept treatment is still the same.
Choosing the Intervention Team
Once you have decided that a family member or loved one needs to be intervened then you must begin to choose the intervention team. While it is possible for a family to perform the intervention themselves it is advisable to get a qualified interventionist to help when there is little time, the addiction is at an extremely dangerous point or if the individual is a danger to themselves or to others. Ideally, the intervention team will consist of at least 3 people but up to 8 people who are very close to the addict such as their parents, children, grandparents, husband or wife, etc.
All team members of the intervention must have seen first hand the negative effects that the addict’s addiction has had on themselves, their family or loved ones. It’s also vital to the intervention that none of the intervention team members suffer currently from any type of addiction such as a drug or alcohol addiction. Allowing those who suffer from addiction to take part in the intervention would only give the addict a reason to back out or to feel as though people were being hypocritical.
It’s very common for certain members of the family or for some loved ones to hesitate taking part in the intervention as they do not want the addict to become upset or angry with them for being involved. Ultimately, if the individual is someone that could make a difference in the life of the addict, is a loved one that the addict will “listen” to, or is otherwise a role model for the addict then it’s important to have them there. You can help those who are reluctant about the intervention to get involved by teaching them more about the intervention, the importance of it and how it can help the addict, their loved ones and family members. Often times people are reluctant of things that they are unsure of but with a little education the idea becomes more acceptable.
Discussing the Intervention Plan
Once the intervention team has been put together it’s important to discuss the intervention plan. This will include discussing personal experiences with the addict and how the drug or alcohol addiction has caused a negative impact on those experiences, discussing treatment and also discussing rebuttals to all possible objections that the addict will have to treatment for their drug or alcohol addiction.
Choosing the treatment center for the addict will involve various questions as well. When trying to choose a treatment program for a loved one make sure that you have worked with the intervention team to answer the following questions:
- Who is going to pay for the treatment?
- Is there insurance coverage?
- Are there local rehab centers that provide the treatment or will travel be necessary?
- What are the best rehab centers in the area for this type of addiction?
- How long will treatment last?
- Will private treatment be necessary or is a publicly funded program sufficient?
Dealing with All Possible Objections to Treatment
Finally, in planning the intervention it’s important to be prepared to deal with all of the possible objections that the addict will have in regards to treatment. Discuss with the members of the intervention team what rebuttals will be used if the addict responds with a “No” to the offering of treatment. Some of the possible objections that an addict may have to treatment include: “I can’t go to treatment because I’ll lose my job.” or “I can’t go to treatment because there’s nobody to care for my cat or dog.” or “I can’t go to treatment because…”
The idea is to have a preplanned answer to every possible objection so that the addict is left with no excuses as to why they cannot go to drug treatment. If the dog or cat is of concern, make arrangements to have the pets looked after so that you can explain this to the addict when that objection comes up. If the job is of concern, make arrangements with the boss so that this can be addressed if the objection comes up. Think of all objections possible and come up with a reasonable and workable response to them all in order to leave the addict with nothing left to consider but going to treatment and getting help for their addiction.
Remember, an intervention is planned with love and respect for the addict in mind. The most important part of the intervention is that the addict ultimately feels loved so much that they want to make everyone happy and they want to get the help they need to live a happy life with their loved ones and family members.
