Someone in my family needs an intervention, but I know that they are unwilling to go, what can I do? Realizing that a family member has a problem and is in need of treatment is a first and important step. Facing a family member battling with addiction is often times a tough reality to face. How to start an intervention and what you need to do to get started is a great question and one that we get a lot.
One of the things that an intervention can address that many other forms of therapy and treatment cannot is unwillingness. The power of an intervention lies in its ability to change the way someone fundamentally sees his or her problem as a result of the intervention. The addicted person most likely has had their judgement clouded by substance abuse. This means that while they were unwilling and still might feel unwilling, there is a brief moment during the intervention that there is a willingness to work on the problem and that is when a course of action can be taken.
One of the ways that this is done is through speaking from the heart - as cheesy as it sounds, the most impactful words from family members and friends are words that convey how each person feels and how each person has been affected by the addict or alcoholic behaviors. In general, someone that has resorted to abusing substances on a continuous basis for a long term has started to only focus on what he or she wants and can no longer see the big picture nor do other people matter as much anymore.
An intervention brings all of a person’s loved ones together and empowers them to help make a difference, to help that person see things differently. Through loving kindness, compassion and proven methods, an intervention can work for a good friend, mom, dad, grandparents, son, daughter, addicts of drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, gaming, food and more.
A successful intervention results in a commitment to change usually a short-term or long-term treatment program, many times inpatient in some cases outpatient. To get an intervention started you need to make it clear the urgency of the situation and set up negative consequences if the addicted person still fights treatment. The intervention team will see a family through the entire process and into aftercare helping the patient achieve a sober life.
Ken Seeley
One of the things that an intervention can address that many other forms of therapy and treatment cannot is unwillingness. The power of an intervention lies in its ability to change the way someone fundamentally sees his or her problem as a result of the intervention. The addicted person most likely has had their judgement clouded by substance abuse. This means that while they were unwilling and still might feel unwilling, there is a brief moment during the intervention that there is a willingness to work on the problem and that is when a course of action can be taken.
One of the ways that this is done is through speaking from the heart - as cheesy as it sounds, the most impactful words from family members and friends are words that convey how each person feels and how each person has been affected by the addict or alcoholic behaviors. In general, someone that has resorted to abusing substances on a continuous basis for a long term has started to only focus on what he or she wants and can no longer see the big picture nor do other people matter as much anymore.
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An intervention brings all of a person’s loved ones together and empowers them to help make a difference, to help that person see things differently. Through loving kindness, compassion and proven methods, an intervention can work for a good friend, mom, dad, grandparents, son, daughter, addicts of drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, gaming, food and more.
A successful intervention results in a commitment to change usually a short-term or long-term treatment program, many times inpatient in some cases outpatient. To get an intervention started you need to make it clear the urgency of the situation and set up negative consequences if the addicted person still fights treatment. The intervention team will see a family through the entire process and into aftercare helping the patient achieve a sober life.
Ken Seeley
About the Author:
Information by interventionsit Ken Seeley, founder of Intervention 911 a company offering alcohol and drug interventions and helping answer the important questions like 'how to start an intervention?'.
Information by interventionsit Ken Seeley, founder of Intervention 911 a company offering alcohol and drug interventions and helping answer the important questions like 'how to start an intervention?'.
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