If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, you know how difficult it is to get sober. Sobriety is a choice, and it is one that you must make every single day.
Every journey towards sobriety begins the moment you admit that you have a problem and need help. Sometimes, a person experiencing addiction reaches this conclusion themselves. In other cases, support from family and friends is required to encourage the individual to seek help.
At times, even the encouragement of loved ones is not enough by itself. Some situations are complex and delicate and may benefit from facilitation by an interventionist.
When to Involve an Interventionist
How do you know if you should involve a professional interventionist in your loved one’s personal matters?
Interventions are a very fine balance of expressing love and support for the individual while also being firm enough to push them to get the help they need. And sometimes, family and friends simply do not know how to strike that balance in a healthy and productive way.
There is nothing wrong with asking for the help of an interventionist. Interventions are never easy to do and they take a lot out of everyone involved because they are so difficult and emotionally-charged. Thankfully, you don’t have to do it alone.
A good interventionist is not only Board Certified but also has specialized training and experience in the field. You should consider seeking out an interventionist if you have concerns about any of the following factors, either regarding the individual or the interveners:
- Underlying mental illness
- The potential for violence or aggression
- Suicidal threats or tendencies
- Possibility of relapse
- Fraught familial relationships
- Inability to communicate
What to Expect
The key to a successful intervention is ensuring that the subject doesn’t feel attacked, but supported. It’s about getting across the severity of the situation and helping the individual realize that they need to seek help, while also underscoring these sentiments with encouragement, love, and acceptance.
An interventionist effectively acts as a facilitator or referee between the individual and the interveners. They are there to ensure that both parties hear and understand each other while ensuring that things don’t get out of hand and become angry or combative. It can be extremely beneficial to have an unbiased third-party mediator present, especially in such a potentially explosive environment.
During the intervention, the interventionist helps you communicate productively with your loved one. They will be able to help you devise statements that effectively get your point across without inflaming the situation or heightening tension. They’ll also help manage the situation with various diffusion tactics and calming exercises.
Help is Here for You
An intervention is an extremely serious, highly personal undertaking. No two are ever exactly the same, which is why having a professional interventionist can help you devise a plan to support your loved one in overcoming addiction.
Addiction is a disease that affects everyone in its vicinity, but you don’t have to tackle it alone. Reach out today to learn more about intervention support.
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