When a loved one is suffering from alcohol or drug abuse, the family suffers too. Yet confrontation, pleading, and attempts at persuading the addict to stop are often unsuccessful. Faced with the consequences of his or her actions, an addict may react with denial, defensiveness or another series of soon-to-be-broken promises. Sometimes, professional help is required to successfully intervene on a loved one’s self-destructive behaviours.
An intervention isn’t a brief, spontaneous event. It is a carefully planned process whereby concerned family members, friends and colleagues gather with the objective of expressing the impact the addiction is having on their lives. At InterventionTO, we begin the intervention process by consulting with family members to gather information about the family dynamic and behaviour patterns, so we can determine the best way to approach the intervention. Our highly trained and experienced staff will answer your questions about addiction and explain precisely how to prepare to meet with your loved one, including how to process natural feelings of anger, resentment, fear and confusion.
Every detail is planned in advance, from who should be present at the intervention, to choosing a neutral location, to sourcing an available treatment facility that best meets your loved one’s needs.
The intervention provides a safe space to communicate in an honest but non-threatening way, how the addict’s behaviour is affecting the family. During the meeting, the Interventionist will assist participants to listen to what is being said, and motivate the addict to take concrete steps towards recovery.
Characteristics of a successful intervention include:
- Preparation
- Clear and respectful dialogue – no sugar coating
- “I” statements
- Showing support and love for the addict
- A caring, trained professional who isn’t emotionally involved, to facilitate the meeting
One of the biggest fears families face is that after an intervention, their loved one will refuse to accept help. Yet when the right elements are in place, very often the substance abuser will agree to go to treatment on the spot. If they do refuse, the boundaries that we have worked on with the family will be enforced, making it much harder for the addict to continue on as before.
At InterventionTO, we have extensive connections within the best private and public treatment centres, and an intimate knowledge of their available programs, treatment modalities and philosophies. This helps us accurately identify the most suitable facilities for your loved one to get the help they need. We also provide ongoing counselling and support to families, including recommendations to relevant local programs such as AL-ANON and other community supports.