How to Plan an Intervention: A Compassionate Guide for Families
South Florida Intervention provides families with the tools they need to plan an intervention for loved ones experiencing substance use disorder (SUD) or mental health issues. Expert interventionists offer compassionate guidance and support to families as they prepare and implement effective interventions. Consultants also provide ongoing support during treatment and aftercare to ensure families and individuals make educated decisions.
What Is an Intervention?
An intervention is a planned event for addressing addictive or maladaptive behaviors. Family members and close friends collaborate with professional intervention consultants to create a non-confrontational meeting with the individual struggling with mental health or addiction issues. Loved ones and consultants present the person with facts about their condition and prompt them to seek professional help. Successful interventions are carefully planned and coordinated to reduce stress and increase the likelihood that individuals will transition directly from the intervention to treatment centers.
Family interventions are effective tools for convincing individuals with alcohol or drug addictions to attend rehabilitation programs. All family members benefit from an effective intervention. According to Systematic Reviews, “Interventions [respond] to the needs of the family members in their own right.” Interventions begin the healing journey for the entire family by giving everyone a voice and allowing family members to share how their loved one's condition has affected them.
Understanding the Purpose of an Intervention
An intervention has several primary purposes, including:
- Offering families the opportunity to prompt loved ones into seeking life-changing treatment
- Showing individuals with SUD or mental health issues how their condition has impacted their loved ones and their own ability to function
- Providing options for moving forward, including private or community-based programs and services
Interventions allow families to show their love, compassion, and empathy. No one pressures the individual to get treatment. Instead, family members, friends, peers, and interventionists inform individuals struggling with addiction or mental health issues about various treatment options and explain how rehabilitation will help them experience a better life.
Why Families and Parents Plan an Intervention and Seek Help
The emotional pain of watching a loved one struggle with the consequences of chronic substance abuse or untreated mental health issues can significantly impact parents and other family members. An intervention allows family members to communicate how the effects of addiction have harmed them and enables them to compassionately plead for their loved ones to get help. Interventions are often the first step in a healing journey for the entire family.
Signs Your Loved One May Need You to Plan an Intervention for Substance Abuse or Mental Health Disorders
The warning signs of substance abuse or mental health disorders vary significantly depending on many factors, including a person's age, their home environment, and the presence of any co-occurring conditions. Symptoms exist along a spectrum from mild to severe and may include:
- “Doctor shopping” to get multiple prescriptions for the same drug
- Extreme mood swings
- Unusual irritability, anger, or violent episodes
- Manic behaviors, including taking sudden monetary risks or feeling invincible
- Depressive episodes
- Paranoid thoughts and behaviors
- Increased signs of anxiety
- Unexplained injuries, including puncture wounds on the arms and burning around the lips or fingertips
- Wearing long sleeves and layers even in hot weather
- Unusual lack of personal hygiene
- Financial difficulties, including frequently borrowing or stealing money
- Inability to manage work or home responsibilities
- Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or oversleeping
- Changes in eating behaviors leading to significant unintentional weight gain or loss
Many individuals who chronically abuse alcohol or drugs have co-occurring mental health disorders. A clinical assessment is necessary to ensure individuals receive an accurate diagnosis.
Recognizing Problematic and Addictive Behaviors in Youth and Adults
Youth and adults may exhibit very different behaviors in response to addiction or mental health issues. Addiction and mental health disorders may cause young people to react in a variety of ways depending on various factors, including their personality type, access to social support, and preferred types of coping mechanisms.
Some of the behavioral indicators of substance abuse or mental health issues in young adults include:
- Social withdrawal from friends and family
- Spending more time with a new social group
- Secretive behaviors
- Physical side effects, including frequent flu-like symptoms
- Loss of coordination
- Slurred, slowed, or increased speech patterns
- Abrupt changes in temperament and severe mood swings
- Lack of interest in previously enjoyed hobbies
- Antisocial behavior, including illegal activities and bullying
- Risk-taking behaviors, including unprotected sex
- Frequently sneaking off or spending excessive amounts of time locked in their room
- Problems at school and failing grades
Many of the signs of addiction and mental health issues overlap with typical changes young people experience during their teen and young adult years. Parental figures who feel concerned about their children's behaviors may benefit from having them undergo a mental health screening with a medical professional.
How to Effectively Plan an Intervention
Interventions help families ensure young people get the help they need to become contributing members of society. Effective interventions take time to plan and generally involve family and friends with close ties to the distressed individual. Below are the five primary steps that improve the effectiveness of family interventions.
Step 1: Consult a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Professional
A medical professional must use a clinical assessment to ensure individuals receive an accurate diagnosis and access to effective treatment. Experts in addiction or mental health provide critical education, insight, and guidance for families and individuals going through the intervention and recovery process.
Getting a clinical assessment may involve reaching out to South Florida Intervention, speaking with a primary care doctor, or seeking the support of other medical professionals. Individuals trained to treat substance use disorder and mental health issues provide the most accurate information and resources.
Step 2: Gather Information and Evidence on Substance Use Patterns
When planning and implementing an intervention, families should focus on objective facts rather than subjective emotional responses. Individuals in distress often react more favorably if they are treated with compassion and empathy. An intervention consultant can educate family members on how to use judgment-free wording and non-threatening body language to create a calm and safe environment.
Family members should compile a list of their loved one's behaviors and how they may relate to substance abuse or untreated mental health issues. A loved one visiting multiple doctors to get multiple prescriptions for the same drug is objective evidence they may be abusing the drug. Families must educate themselves on what patterns of behavior may indicate their loved ones need help.
Step 3: Form a Family and Support Team for the Intervention
Developing a support team to conduct or attend the intervention shows the individual in crisis that others care about their well-being. Individuals invited to participate in the support team should be able to approach the situation with objectivity and nonjudgmental compassion. Anyone who cannot put aside their own feelings for the benefit of their loved ones may not support the intervention process. Carefully choosing a support network improves the effectiveness of an intervention.
Step 4: Plan an Intervention Using a Comprehensive Checklist
Families work with experts at South Florida Intervention to create a structured intervention checklist and comprehensive plans for addressing any potential outcome. Preparing for multiple scenarios and having a set list of steps for post-intervention interactions can help families remain focused on helping their loved ones. Interventionists offer guidance and support during the planning stage.
Step 5: Prepare for All Possible Outcomes of the Intervention
No one can predict how an individual will react to an intervention. Some people may be moved by their family's choice to intervene on their behalf, and others may lash out in fear or anger. Preparing for all potential outcomes allows family members and friends to react nonjudgmentally and compassionately.
How Interventionists Support Families and Community Partners in Intervention Planning
The primary role of an interventionist is to provide support and guidance. An intervention consultant promotes a compassionate and empathetic environment to ensure everyone feels safe and comfortable throughout the intervention process. Interventionists also help families choose the best addiction treatment or mental health programs to meet the needs of individuals seeking help.
South Florida Intervention offers recovery coaching, case management, and other services to facilitate mental health and addiction recovery. Expert consultants have the training and knowledge to evaluate substance and mental health treatment programs and present families with the highest-quality options.
Interventionists offer families the following:
- Compassionate, evidence-based approaches for families to use during the intervention and treatment process
- Non-confrontational and problem-solving solutions for overcoming challenges
- Resources for achieving long-term addiction recovery goals and positive behavioral changes
Every family has unique needs and preferences. We offer tailored treatment plans and ongoing support for individuals and families.
South Florida Intervention Services: Supporting Families and Youth With Addiction and Mental Health Disorders
Our comprehensive approach to addiction and mental health interventions in South Florida empowers individuals and families to make positive changes that promote healing and personal growth. We prioritize family support and engagement to ensure individuals seeking help have a solid foundation of support to encourage lasting sobriety and positive mental health.
South Florida Intervention helps families plan interventions to ensure individuals receive the care they need to heal from the effects of substance use disorder, mental health issues, and other conditions affecting quality of life. To learn more about our services or to get help hosting an intervention, contact our office today at (202) 390-2273.