Interventions: How to Stage Them and Deal With the Aftermath

Staging an intervention may seem like the only shot you have at confronting, supporting, and guiding a loved one struggling with addiction.

But you can’t get anyone to admit they have a problem without having the right people, saying the right words, the right way at the right time.

Understanding Interventions

The intervention is a carefully planned process set with the goal of getting someone to admit to their substance use problem and seek help. It’s also a way of setting healthy boundaries.

Let’s take a close look at how exactly that works.

Planning for the Intervention

Staging a structured intervention requires thorough planning. The details vary based on the circumstances and the intervention strategy used.

However, the typical process can be broken down into the following steps:

1. Assemble a Team. Family, friends, and the spouse can all join. In some cases, a professional interventionist is also needed (more on that later). Just make sure there’s one point of contact to make communication easier.
2. Go into Info Gathering Mode. Look into the addiction issue, its causes, its impact, and the possible treatment options. Try to predict your loved one’s objections and find solid counterarguments.
3. Set Desired Outcomes. Once you understand the disease a bit better, define your goals (entering treatment, speaking to a professional, etc.).
4. Agree on Consequences. Make sure the consequences are there to stop enabling, not to punish. For instance, you can stop supporting them financially. It’s equally important to confirm that everyone on the team can actually follow through.
5. Write Impact Statements. You don’t actually have to read from a paper during the intervention. But it helps to have an outline, so you don’t ramble or become over-emotional. Be specific and avoid personal attacks.
6. Work Out the Details. Decide on a date, time, and location. Go for a safe, familiar place that you can invite your loved one to without providing a reason.
7. Conduct the Intervention. Stick to your plan as much as possible.
8. Follow Up. We’ll discuss dealing with the outcomes in more detail later. But either way, you’ll want to follow through (with the consequences or one of the treatment options).

For more help on crafting an intervention plan, check our step-by-step guide or get in touch with a specialist at Long Island Interventions.

Managing Expectations

The concept of “effectiveness” here is difficult to define because the treatment itself can require multiple attempts before it leads to long-term sobriety.

That being said, experts report that people are more likely to seek professional help after an intervention. Would the intervention affect the treatment’s success rate? That’s still unclear.

Risk-Benefit Assessment

There’s no serious psychological risk here. And as long as you’re not worried that the person is going to react violently, there shouldn’t be any safety issues, either.

But there are other problems to consider.

There’s the concern of intention and motivation, for instance. Suppose someone only accepts treatment as a response to the peer pressure of an intervention, but they’re not really committed to sobriety just yet. They might have a hard time avoiding relapses.

What to Do If the Intervention Works (And What to Do If It Doesn’t)

Part of planning for an intervention is understanding and preparing for all the possible outcomes.

Best-Case Scenario

The best-case scenario is that your loved one listens to what you have to say and accepts professional help.

You then have to provide them with solutions so that they can get started on their recovery on the spot. And that’s why the information gathering phase is particularly important.

Let them know about the treatment centers you’ve looked into and help them get their affairs in order (take time off work, pack their bags, verify their insurance, etc.). If possible, cover the logistics as well by offering to drive them to the facility yourself.

Dealing With an Unsuccessful Intervention

First and foremost, everyone on the team needs to control their response if it looks like the intervention is going to be unsuccessful.

We understand this is easier said than done. But being prepared for the potential outcomes definitely helps you control what you’ll say and do next.

The outcome may be that your loved one refuses help outright. Or they may show that they understand your concern, but still refuse to commit to meaningful change.

Here’s how to respond in both of these cases:

1. Remember the consequences you set as a team and state them again, making sure the intervention subject knows you’re no longer going to be an enabler.
2. If they don’t change their mind, go ahead and follow through with your consequences.
3. Know that this isn’t the end. You can still try to help again and again. Asking friends and family not to feed the destructive behavior is one option.
4. Consider consulting an addiction professional before planning a second intervention.
5. Don’t feel ashamed if you need to seek professional help for yourself. Dealing with these feelings can be tough.

Side Note: New York’s Mental Hygiene Law does allow for an involuntary psych hold. But it isn’t always an option because meeting the requirements can be tricky.

5 Reasons Your Intervention May Fail

You can’t control the outcome of an intervention. You could, however, avoid the common pitfalls.

Here are some potential culprits:

1. Choosing a Bad Timing

There’s a lot that could go wrong with the intervention timing.

Your number one goal when staging an intervention is to create a safe space for the person to hear you out. If they’re stressed, angry, or even in a rush, they’ll have trouble listening to what you have to say.

Obviously, you shouldn’t stage an intervention for someone who’s intoxicated, either. So, try to avoid times of day when you know they’ll likely be high and/or drunk.

Holding an intervention on the spur of the moment can backfire as well. Remember that there are layers of planning needed, from researching treatment options to preparing impact statements.

Note that you also don’t have to wait until your loved one has hit rock bottom to stage an intervention. That’s just a myth.

2. Having the Wrong People

There are three main ways you can go wrong when assembling the team.

For one, you can pick the wrong people. You don’t want anyone with a substance abuse issue or an unmanaged mental health condition. And if you can’t be sure someone has the intervention subject’s best interests at heart, they don’t belong on the team.

But even people who truly care about your loved one still need to be able to control what they say during the intervention. If you suspect someone is going to lose their temper, become over-emotional, or go off script, you might want to leave them out.

Finally, you shouldn’t go overboard and bring in too many people. For most interventions, you really only need the core group. Think immediate family and close friends.

3. Using the Wrong Words

It’s okay to lay down some harsh truths during the intervention. After all, that’s sort of the point. You’re trying to show a loved one how their addiction is negatively affecting others.

This isn’t a pass to ditch compassion, though. The intervention is no place for name-calling, assuming intentions, shaming, or blaming.

When possible, avoid using labels harsh like “addict” or “junkie.” Make it clear that you understand that they have a problem, rather than that they are a problem.

4. Failing to Strike While the Iron Is Hot

Another mistake is giving your loved one time to consider your concerns and treatment options.

You want to walk away from the intervention with a decision. Either they accept your point of view and start making changes, or they refuse and accept the consequences.

5. Unwillingness on Your Loved One’s Part

It’s a sad reality, but sometimes people aren’t just ready to admit that they have a problem.

Learn how to help without enabling and make sure you’re not neglecting your own well-being in the meantime.

When It’s Best to Include an Intervention Specialist

Many families hold interventions without seeking any sort of professional guidance. That could work. But in some cases, expert help is needed.

Your Loved One Has a History of a Serious Mental Illness

Does your loved one suffer from a serious mental condition like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder?

In this case, it might be in everyone’s best interests to have a trained professional attend the intervention.

You Anticipate a Strong Emotional Response

It’s easy to become overrun by emotions during the intervention itself. Yes, even if you plan ahead.

Still, it’s important to keep the intervention revolving around evidence more than emotions. You want to tell the person how their substance use disorder has affected you, but you also want to keep it all logical and offer specific examples proving your point.

If you don’t think everyone on the team will pull this off, it might be helpful to have a facilitator there. They’ll ground the energy and keep the conversation on track.

Previous Intervention/Treatment Efforts Have Failed

Perhaps you’ve tried to get your loved one into treatment before, and it didn’t take. Intervention specialists can help since they have experience in handling denial and working around common manipulation tactics.

You Need a Special Intervention/Treatment Plan

Are you planning an intervention for an adolescent or an elder in your family? An interventionist can help you tailor the plan to your loved one’s needs.

Safety Is a Concern

If your loved one has a history of violence or verbal abuse, having a mediator is essential. You need someone to de-escalate when emotions are running high, after all.

This also applies if the subject of the intervention has shown self-harming behaviors or suicidal tendencies.

FAQs

Get Help Staging an Intervention

The intervention can end up with an emotionally charged atmosphere. But there’s no denying that it can make a difference in your loved one’s life.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at Long Island Interventions if you need help planning for the intervention or researching treatment options.

• Family Interventions
• Intervention Process