Sitting by watching a loved one suffer from any form of addiction or dependency is heartbreaking and it can leave friends and family members feeling scared and helpless. Planning an intervention could be the first step to their recovery.
What is an intervention?
An intervention is an organised effort by friends or family to encourage a loved one to get treatment and overcome their addiction or dependency. Unhealthy dependencies or addictions are often hidden. An intervention can bring the issues to the surface and create an opportunity for the person to recognise that there is a problem and get the treatment they need.
When should you stage an intervention?
An intervention can be useful when a loved one is experiencing negative consequences in their lives due to an addiction or dependency. Interventions are beneficial when a person can’t independently seek treatment for their problem or fail to recognise that a problem exists.
7 tips on how to organise an intervention
It’s important to remember, you can’t force someone to stop addictive or dependant behaviour. An intervention aims to bring the behaviour out into the open to encourage your loved one to seek treatment.
An intervention should be a planned event and should never be spontaneous. Without proper planning you risk an unpleasant confrontation, or worse, driving your loved one away.
Without proper planning you risk an unpleasant confrontation, or worse, driving your loved one away.
It’s common for those suffering from any form of addiction or dependency to feel betrayed or resentful when confronted with an intervention. For this reason, it’s important to pre-organise every aspect of the intervention process, from beginning to end.
Here are 7 tips on how to plan an intervention.
Seek professional help
If you don’t feel confident planning an intervention alone, you may need to seek help from a medical professional. A psychologist or counsellor specialising in addiction and dependency can help you understand what your loved one is going through and support you and the team throughout the intervention process.
Choose a support team
An intervention is not something you want to take on alone. The team should be made up of people who are important to your loved one. These are people they trust, depend on and love. Members of the team should always have their loved ones’ best interests at heart, genuinely caring for their well-being and recovery.
Find a recovery centre
Always do your research. When you’re researching recovery centres it’s important to find a venue where your loved one will feel comfortable and receive suitable treatment.
At Salt Recovery we provide a safe environment where we tailor each program to your loved ones’ individual situation. We’re there every step of the way to support them on their road to recovery. You can contact us for a free, no obligation and confidential conversation where our professional staff will guide you through the treatment options.
Plan the intervention day
To put your loved one at ease, you should choose a familiar, non-threatening setting for the intervention. It’s also recommended to hold the intervention when your loved one is sober, as it can be an emotional experience and you want to avoid aggressive behaviour at all costs. Remember, don’t tell your loved one when the intervention will occur.
Each member of the support team will need to plan what they will say during the intervention. They could describe how the persons’ behaviour makes them feel and how it negatively impacts on their own life.
Be prepared for confrontation, but try and avoid diverting from the planned script. This will limit the potential for fights and aggressive behaviour.
Be prepared for confrontation, but try and avoid diverting from the planned script.
When you speak to your loved one, show compassion and empathy and only use non-confrontational body language. As a team you may want to practice the intervention before you speak with your loved one, so you feel more confident on the day.
Intervention day
During the intervention, each person can express their feelings and share how the person’s behaviour is worrying them. It’s important for everyone to discuss the implications of not seeking treatment and how the addiction or dependency is affecting them personally.
You can then discuss the treatment plan and ask your loved one to agree to start treatment immediately. You’ll need to pre-organise transport and have a bag packed ready, so your loved one can be taken to the recovery centre as soon as the intervention is over.
Treatment
During rehabilitation, your loved one requires a safe environment, away from triggers and temptation. They’ll need constant support and guidance to ensure they maximise their time in the recovery centre.
Salt Recovery is an eco-friendly property on the Gold Coast that develops individually tailored programs for those struggling with addiction or dependency. We provide a nurturing environment where your loved one will receive 24/7 care and support to help them return to everyday life with strength and confidence.
Ongoing support
This is only the beginning of your loved one’s journey to recovery. They will need your constant support during their time away and after they return home.
Help your loved one take the first step to recovery
If you’re considering staging an intervention for a loved one who is experiencing dependency or addiction, contact us to find out how Salt Recovery can support their rehabilitation.
