What Are the Methods of Intervention?

The 3 Most Common Types of Interventions

Substance abuse not only affects the person struggling with the addiction, but the people who love them as well. Addiction can lead to destructive behaviors that can have a negative impact on friends, family, and coworkers.

Sometimes, if the individual with the addiction or addictive pattern does not see or respond to feedback on the issue, their loved ones might stage a gathering that is known today as an intervention.

What Is An Intervention?

An intervention, in this context, is an organized attempt to confront a loved one about an addiction or otherwise addictive behavior.

They can either be surprise gatherings or previously planned meetings, depending on the needs of the person suffering from the substance abuse issue.

The Purpose of an Intervention

The main point of an intervention is to tell someone you love about how their addiction is affecting your life and the lives of others.

Interventions are typically organized when people show signs of abuse. They can be used to help with the following issues:

Alcoholism
Illicit drug use
Prescription drug abuse
Compulsive eating
Compulsive gambling

Friends and family members organize these events in hope that someone they care about will go to rehab or get the treatment they need.

The 3 Intervention Methods

Every intervention is different, and a variety of different types of interventions exist. Three of the most common kinds of interventions are:

The Johnson Model – a family & interventionist confront a loved one about abuse without their prior knowledge
The Invitation Model – the entire family is invited to a workshop with an interventionist to discuss how the addiction affected all of them in a group setting
The Field Model – an interventionist assists before & after the intervention as well (for more serious cases)

How to Properly Host An Intervention

Before you host any of these interventions, it’s important to do your research first. Try your best to understand your loved one’s addiction and to choose a support system/team that will lead them toward success.

There should be close family members or friends, a therapist, and an interventionist at every intervention. The interventionist should be a carefully-selected professional with experience. Every person in attendance should be ready for negative reactions and come prepared with consequences to discuss if your loved one doesn’t agree to change their destructive behaviors.

What to Do After An Intervention

There is no way to know what will happen during or after an intervention. All you can do is encourage your loved one to get the treatment they need to start their recovery process.

Recovery may include inpatient or outpatient treatment at a rehab facility. At one of these facilities, someone may experience the following addiction treatment methods:

Detox
Medication
Behavioral therapy
Motivational interviewing
Support groups (NA, AA)

But most importantly, each friend or family member participating in the intervention should take care of themselves. There are many support groups out there for loved ones of those with addictions.

To find a support group or rehab treatment center for after an intervention, contact our team of substance abuse professionals by visiting us here or calling 267.719.8528.