Facilitating A Group Intervention

Interventions are generally comprised by a group of family and friends with the intent to aid someone engaged in self-destructive behaviors. Though these encounters are commonly thought to be for individuals struggling with addiction and substance abuse, they can be organized around other behaviors as well.  From hoarding and eating disorders to gambling and mental health issues, interventions are able to help people accept the extent of the issue at hand, and the help being offered to combat it.

1 – Contact friends and family members of the individual for whom the intervention will be based around. This group can include anyone from co-workers to religious figures such as a priest or rabbi. Communicate your ideas surrounding the intervention with those you’d like involved to ensure that all are on board. Discuss your reasoning behind the actions being taken, along with the results you’re hoping to see.

2 – Reach out to an intervention specialist. During the intervention, your loved one may react with anger toward you and the other participants. Involving a neutral party within the circle will help defer aggression and center focus on the real issue at hand. In addition, a trained interventionist can also help organize and moderate the intervention to ensure that everything runs smoothly, and that everyone is on the same page.

3 – Determine terms within the group before the actual intervention. In order to achieve a happy outcome, most interventions will require some form of ultimatum. Enabling the addict through financial aid, shelter, or covering for them will only perpetuate the cycle of addiction and negativity. As such, the addict must understand that they will no longer be provided assistance unless they choose to seek help.

4 – Plan out a place, date and time for the intervention to be held. Ideally, you’ll want to choose a spot that is neutral to both the addict and participants such as a hotel room or friends home.

5 – Participants should each write a letter to the individual describing just how difficult it is to watch them wallow in self-destructive behaviors. Letters should cite specific examples of how the addiction has affected the participant on a personal level and how they hope the addict will seek help for their problems.

6 – Make arrangements for treatment prior to the intervention. Once the individual agrees to treatment, it’s important to enact a plan right away to avoid any second thoughts. Have your treatment facility on call, and travel arrangements ready to go.