Living and surrounding yourself with a friend or loved one that is addicted to drugs or alcohol can be very difficult. We here at Casa Recovery are here to help you and your loved one get the help that they need.
You can start this person’s road to recovery by trying to have a conversation or an intervention about the situation. If you’re a family member or a friend of someone struggling from addiction, visit Casa Recovery to view our detox program in Southern California.
What is an Intervention?
An intervention is a motivating conversation that will hopefully convince an individual struggling from alcohol or substance abuse, that they need to get help. Interventions are typically held by families or close friends of the individual that needs help.
An intervention is a motivating conversation that will hopefully convince an individual struggling from alcohol or substance abuse, that they need to get help. Interventions are typically held by families or close friends of the individual that needs help.
1. Gather a Supportive Team
When picking individuals to join the intervention, you have to think about who will be the most helpful with motivating your loved one from getting the help they need. With that being said, having supportive people and people with good relationships with the person will be the most beneficial.
Most times, it is recommended, but not required, that an interventionist be present, especially if this is your first time holding an intervention. It is their responsibility to help you pick the best people to attend the intervention, and to help devise a plan of action for the intervention.
2. Find the Right Time and Place
the person is as sober as possible when the intervention occurs, so a morning intervention is probably your best bet. Although interventions can be held at a family home, it is recommended that you hold it at a neutral space like the office of a therapist or interventionist, churches, or community centers.
Having an intervention at a family home gives the individual the power and ability to walk away from the setting, and it can spark unwanted memories. Best to be safe than sorry and hold the intervention somewhere new.
3. Figure Out a Speaking Order
You want to be strategic when it comes to scripting out who will be talking when. This person has probably heard the same tired conversation before. The point of the intervention is to go at the conversation with a different approach. The person with the best and most impactful relationship on the person should either start or wrap up the conversation.
4. Rehearse
This may be a very sensitive environment to some individuals and emotions will run high. That’s why rehearsals are important. Don’t go off book. Rehearsals are meant to practice and going off book will catch people off guard. You don’t know how your loved one will react. His or her reactions may be very unpredictable and it’s important to be prepared for anything. If you practice different scenarios on how the conversation will go down, chances are you’ll be more prepared for anything.
5. Watch Your Delivery
The delivery of your words is almost as important as what’s being said. You don’t want to rub people the wrong way by making them feel demeaned or scolded in anyway. In addition, warm body language is also important company to the delivery of your words. Using body language that shows you are empathizing your emotions through your body is important because it makes your delivery that much more believable.
6. Keep it Cool
As mentioned before, emotions will be running high with your loved one and everyone else in attendance. It is important that you remain calm and not to point fingers or blame anyone for the circumstances. Interventions are supposed to show the person that you care about them, and it is best to do this through a kind and compassionate environment.
7. Stay Persistent
As mentioned before, an intervention ends and is successful when the person agrees to undergo treatment. This may not always be the case after the first intervention and may take several more conversations to help influence your loved one to get help.
If this is the case, don’t be discouraged and don’t give up.
Find Professional Help With Our Experts at Casa Recovery
Looking for more information on how to stage an intervention? Here at Casa Recovery, we have a team of individuals who are committed to helping you and your loved one seek help and treatment whenever they are ready.
Casa Recovery is an addiction recovery center in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Our programs focus on mental health as well as drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Feel free to contact us today in Orange County for more information about our various treatment programs.