Interventions are powerful tools that you can use to finally convince someone that they are surrounded by people who care enough to try to convince them to get help. Although professional interventionists are available to help with planning these types of meetings, you might find that it isn’t always possible to have one at your intervention. You may be wondering how to do an intervention without a professional if you live far away from your preferred addiction treatment center, or you might fear that having an unknown person in the room could cause your loved one to ignore the seriousness of the moment.
Doing an intervention without professional assistance is possible when you know what to do each step of the way. As you plan your intervention, keep in mind that it could still be helpful to reach out to an addiction treatment professional. Interventionists can sometimes speak to you over the phone to help you develop a stronger plan for getting your loved one into treatment. Or, they may be willing to advise you on the easiest ways to get them into a drug rehab once they accept the need for help. Starting off with some professional advice gives you more confidence as you proceed with your planning.
Start By Planning the Logistics of the Meeting
The simplest place to start with doing an intervention is to plan for the basic elements. You’ll want to pick a private place to hold the meeting. Most people choose their house or the home of the person who is dealing with an addiction. You’ll also want to think about who should be involved. While you want to keep the intervention group somewhat small, you’ll still need to include anyone who has a significant influence on your loved one’s life. Friends, adult children and other family members are all good people to invite provided that they are sober and can maintain a calm demeanor if things get heated.
Plan and Rehearse What You Will Say During the Intervention
Each person who comes to the intervention should have something to share about how the person’s addiction affects their relationship. Here’s a few tips to make sure that the impact statements are effective. •Encourage people to use positive language and avoid name-calling •Make sure that each person shares something different •Try to incorporate a statement of hope at the end of each statement •Keep statements short enough that everyone can speak within 60 to 90 minutes.
If you have time, then you may want to plan for everyone to gather for a rehearsal. Having each person go over what they plan to say helps you to make sure that it doesn’t get boring and repetitive. The idea is to help your loved one to see the point in seeking help without beating them over the head with painful stories of their past behavior. If someone needs to revise their impact statement, then they’ll have time. Everyone will also feel more comfortable speaking in front of each other when they’ve had a chance to meet beforehand.
Set Boundaries and Follow Through With Your Plan Immediately
When a professional interventionist is present, they’ll typically jump in and help with getting the person into treatment right away if they respond positively to the intervention. If you don’t have an interventionist there, then you or someone else will need to fulfill this role. Make sure to have an appropriate treatment center lined up to suggest if your loved one chooses to seek help.
During your intervention, you can make it clear that this is a requirement for your loved one to avoid further consequences for continuing their behavior. If they agree to go to treatment, then immediately start making plans by either contacting the program or taking them directly to the center, depending upon what is appropriate. If your loved one chooses to refuse to seek help, then you’ll need to proceed with the next phase of your plan.
Now is the time to start enforcing boundaries so that they might decide to change their mind. Try to remember that every intervention is successful if you made an impression. Make a plan to revisit the conversation with your loved one after they’ve had time to think about things. You might just find that they are ready to go to treatment and take it seriously. Do you need help putting together an intervention? If so, we can help you plan what to say and how to get your loved one into a quality addiction treatment center. Reach out to our team today at 833-497-3808.