The Intervention Process - What it's really like.
For those who’ve never talked with an interventionist before, Burr Cook of Family Intervention Now answers some very straightforward questions about intervention, families and addiction. With 17 years experience as a nurse and 9 years experience doing interventions, Burr is a Certified Alcoholism and Other Drug Recovery Specialist (CAS) and BRN/1 Board Registered Interventionist recognized by the Association of Intervention Specialist Credentialing Board. He knows first-hand what intervention and addiction are all about.
Following is the first in the series, "The Intervention Process - What it's really like".
Q: Thanks Burr for talking about what an intervention is like and what it’s like to call an interventionist for the first time. It’s great that you’ve taken the time to answer some questions. Many people don’t know what to expect so it’s helpful to get some straightforward information.
First off, can you explain what intervention is?
Burr: Absolutely, an intervention is a deliberate process of bringing a family together with a professional to lead them, to educate them, to guide them and unite them through the process of intervening on behalf of a loved one’s addiction.
More specifically, an intervention is a deliberate and structured process of bringing a group together to address a harmful or destructive behavior and to provide a solution for the person engaging in that behavior. Typically the group consists of family, friends, co-workers. The behaviors are usually drug and alcohol abuse, but can be gambling, sex, eating disorders, mental illness etc.
Q: Who typically calls for an intervention?
Burr: Usually it is a family member, but it can be a friend, co-worker, boss or employee, it is somebody who cares about the person. Generally, by the time somebody calls an interventionist, they’ve already tried to help, they’ve tried to confront the alcoholic or addict, and found they can’t get any meaningful results from their efforts. Occasionally someone will call for help before they have tried, or even said anything to the addict directly. I’ll say “why don’t you tell them your concerns and ask them to get help, and see what their response is?”
Q: Why should they ask first?
Burr: Because they may not need an intervention. It may not be appropriate. A wife says to her husband, “I need you to get help,” and her husband might say, “okay.” It’s important to have the conversation before calling an interventionist. It doesn’t hurt a future intervention to let somebody know you’re concerned.
Q: When someone calls you, what is usually their largest concern?
Burr: Their biggest concern is that someone’s behavior is harmful. It’s destructive to them. It’s destructive to their family. Their biggest concern is that someone is killing themselves.
Q: Who is an intervention appropriate for?
Burr: It’s appropriate for anyone with a serious drug or alcohol problem, or other type of compulsive behavior. When efforts short of an intervention have failed that may be the next step.
Click here to read the next part in this series on "The Rehab Intervention Process -- The Call."
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