An intervention is a carefully crafted meeting in which the family members, friends, and the interventionist come together to help a person recognize the harmful impact of their substance use, how it has affected others, and motivate them to accept treatment.

When a person’s substance use is causing serious harm to their health, safety, relationships, work, or overall functioning, and they are unwilling or unable to recognize the problem on their own despite clear consequences, risky behaviors, repeated failed attempts to quit, neglect of responsibilities, or emotional and behavioral changes that concern loved ones.

Sure, although would you want an untrained inexperienced person to provide such a crucial service? A successful intervention requires an interventionist that fully understands the art and science of the intervention process which comes from training and years of experience navigating the delicate highly nuanced emotional landscape in order deliver the most impactful inspiring message of love, concern, hope and clear path forward to recovery.

Sure, although would you want an untrained inexperienced person to provide such a crucial service? A successful intervention requires an interventionist that fully 

Yes, there are two primary approaches:

The Johnson Model - Unbeknownst to the person of concern, a surprise meeting has been set up to confront them about their substance use. In our experience, this type of intervention tends to be shaming, born of secrecy and confrontation. Just imagine being ambushed and then asked to trust those who just ambushed you. Only in extreme situations, such as those in psychosis or in danger from themselves or others, would we intervene using this approach.

I believe there is better way…

The Invitational Model - No secrets, no deception. We believe in a transparent, compassionate invitation to recovery. This approach greatly reduces shame because family and friends are not part of a secret plan to ambush them; they are approached with dignity and love to have an honest conversation about their struggles with substances and to explore opportunities to recreate their lives free of drugs and alcohol.

After a thorough assessment, it has been decided that an intervention is the best course of action. We then go through the checklist of selecting treatment options, whether it's inpatient or outpatient, selection of treatment center, verifying insurance or private pay, selected treatment center confirmation, travel logistics, timing, place of intervention, and personal letters to be read at the intervention.

For more on what happens on the day of the intervention and beyond, please visit the Interventions page of this web site…

This is when those present read their second letter (see Interventions page for the purpose and content). It now becomes crystal clear what the consequences of their decision to refuse support for recovery or treatment are. They understand without a doubt that their circle will no longer enable or be held hostage because of their addiction. They will move on without them and embrace their own recovery and well-being.

We come together as planned. A new way forward is created. We discuss the implementation of the second letter, creating a new relationship or in some cases stepping back from with the person of concern, establishing boundaries and consequences as described in the second letter. So, everything changes, equally important to the well belling of the person on concern is the wellbeing of family and friends moving forwards in their own lives.