Planning an Intervention

Before a loved one is ready to accept the need for detox, a need for an intervention may be apparent to you. This kind of action can have a potentially beneficial outcome if it’s carefully planned and executed. If handled poorly, it can negate any chance of motivating your loved one to get to detox anytime soon. So let’s look at some effective ways to plan an intervention with the highest probability of success. 

 

Planning an intervention for a loved one who needs drug or alcohol detox is a valuable endeavor. While you may take a lead role, it’s helpful to enlist others who can be present and participate in a loving, supportive way. Look to people who are already close to your loved one and ready to invest the time and energy into an intervention. One way to prepare for the intervention is to gather everyone together for a role-playing session. This session can be a way to let intervention team members practice what they will say and fine-tune their messages with feedback from the group. Keep in mind, that one intervention experience may not be enough to convince your loved one to go to detox. 

 

Create an Intervention Team. 

A good leader creates a good team around them to accomplish the mission together. Look to the people in your loved one’s life right now to see who might best serve in this kind of role. These should be people who have first-hand experience with your loved one’s drinking or drug use. They may have witnessed the substance use or been directly affected by it. Consider friends, family members, coworkers, and anyone in the community whose path they’ve crossed. Make it clear that these people are welcome to join but don’t feel the need to coerce anyone to participate. You want your team to be only people who are willing to show support during the intervention and beyond. 

 

Try Roleplaying the Intervention First.

Practicing what you and your team want to say to your loved one is a terrific way to evaluate how each person approaches the experience. You may need to remind guests to be constructive, candid, and only speak to their own experiences and perspectives. During this practice session, give others a chance to stand in for the loved one and let them respond authentically to the comments. Remember, your loved one won’t necessarily sit quietly and listen. Preparing for their strong negative reactions can be helpful. 

 

Set the Tone for Comments and Give Feedback while Roleplaying. 

Your feedback can address word choice of the intervention guests as well as non-verbal communication. Facial expressions and body language can be influential in shaping the experience for the person who’s receiving the intervention. When planning an intervention remind people to use kind and respectful words, make eye contact, and look relaxed as they speak and listen to others. 

 

Develop an Outline from Roleplaying. 

Roleplaying also may inspire ways to shape the intervention, including the order of who is speaking. Keeping the message on topics related to the intervention is essential, and an outline can help you avoid drifting off-topic. You may want to instruct your guests to write their comments down so they can read them or share bullet points. Notes can help each person stay on track during a highly emotional intervention. 

 

When Planning an Intervention Set Realistic Goals.

The ultimate goal may be to get your loved one to go to a drug or alcohol detox in Dallas. That doesn’t have to be your first intervention goal. Your first intervention may play out in a very different way. Think about realistic goals for this act of support. It may be as simple as getting your loved one to talk openly about their drinking. Another goal could be giving them a chance to hear directly how their use impacts others. These smaller goals are more easily attainable and demonstrate that your support isn’t conditional and based only on your loved one immediately accepting the need for detox. 

 

Make the Intervention a Private Event. 

The only people who need to know about the intervention plans are people who willingly participate and can be trusted to keep the plans confidential. No one else in the family or your loved one’s social circles needs to be informed at this point. This focus on privacy can extend to conversations about when and where the intervention should take place. However, before the intervention commences, it’s also important to remind attendees about the privacy element, so they refrain from sharing it with anyone outside of the conversation. 

 

Professional Help is Available

Professional interventionists can be hired to help your family during this time. Professional interventionists are usually master-level clinicians who understand the disease of addiction and have knowledge of treatment center options and approaches. They can help families understand their loved one’s behavior and help to support your family. 

 

 

Restored Path Detox is DFW’s premier facility for alcohol and drug detox. Conveniently located in Frisco, we provide a safe sanctuary for healing that is also a state-of-the-art detoxification facility for a wide range of substances. Our compassionate physicians and therapists want you to get well and are committed to removing any existing barriers to your care. Restored Path’s team of board-certified physicians and highly qualified RNs have extensive critical care experience and are available to monitor your detox program 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

If you or a loved one are struggling with drug or alcohol use, call us today and take your first step towards recovery: 469-827-0000.