PLEASE NOTE: For the purpose of answering frequently asked questions the word “addict” is used to describe anyone with an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol

1. What is an intervention?  An intervention is a carefully planned meeting that is facilitated by a trained therapist, between an addict, alcoholic or person with mental health problems and the influential people in his or her life. The purpose of the intervention is to break through their denial long enough to get them to enter an inpatient treatment center that day. We begin the intervention process by meeting with the family and any close friends, (without their knowledge) to address everyone’s concerns and prepare for the actual intervention. All details of the intervention are carefully planned and rehearsed. We help everyone write and rehearse letters that are read to them on the actual day of the intervention. The letters are written in an honest, loving and direct way. Arrangements are made prior to the intervention with an appropriate treatment center for admission. Plans are made for immediate transportation by our staff to the treatment center, if he or she agrees to go following the intervention. Preparation is the key to our success with interventions.
2. When should an intervention be done? An intervention should be done when someone you are concerned about is in denial, out of control, and a possible danger to themselves or others. Addiction, mental health problems and personality disorders deeply affect those closest to the person struggling. Most families are in a lot of pain and at their wit’s end because no matter what they have tried by themselves, the situation has only become worse. Left untreated, addiction and mental health problems are progressive and often fatal. So if what you are doing is not working and giving you the results you want, then it is time to do an intervention. While the timing of an intervention is important, waiting too long can have disastrous results. Our interventions are carefully planned because each intervention has different circumstances. No matter how scared you are or how much pain you are in, there is hope.
3. Who should be included in an intervention? Interventions are most successful when the key influential people in their life are included. They are the ones that are most affected and together they are most likely to have a positive impact on their decision to enter treatment. The key influential people are family, extended family, friends, mentors, colleagues or co-workers. The optimal number of participants who should be included in the intervention process is six to eight people.
4. Are you willing to travel to meet with us to do an intervention? We are willing to travel to meet with families in crisis anywhere in the United States.
5. Who benefits from the intervention? While the primary goal of the intervention is to get the person into treatment it also leads to positive changes for the other participants. Most participants find the following benefits:
   • A sense of relief that stems from finally addressing their loved one’s problem
   • A feeling of unity in having faced this situation together
   • New ways of coping and communicating
   • The ability to stop enabling them and regain control of their lives
   • The comfort of knowing that they did everything they could do
6. Should the person you are concerned about know of the intervention in advance? No. It is very important that they do not know. The “element of surprise” is crucial for the intervention to be successful in getting your loved one into treatment. Denial is so  powerful that if they have prior knowledge of an intervention, he or she will be defensive or go to great lengths to avoid it.
7. But won’t they feel “ganged up” on? What is really happening is that the family and friends are rallying  together out of love to confront the disease of addiction and/or mental health problems. It is not an attack  on the person. Interventions are the most loving thing that the family can  do for them. Planning an intervention without their knowledge may create  anxiety in some of the participants, so it is something that we address in the planning stages, and most families feel the anxiety is a small price to pay in order to save their loved one’s life.
8. What percentage of clients enter into treatment? We are very committed to the entire intervention process and the families we work with. We maintain over a 95 % success rate of getting them into treatment on the day of the intervention. Family Interventions has one of the highest success rates in the country. If they do not wish to immediately seek treatment, they often hit bottom shortly after the intervention and eventually choose to seek treatment.
9. How long does an intervention take? The intervention process takes place over two days. On the first day we spend approximately six to eight hours addressing everyone’s concerns and preparing the family for the actual day of the intervention. This preparation time is crucial for the success of the intervention. The actual intervention usually takes between one to four hours and they often agree to go to treatment right away. In some cases, more time may be needed as part of the intervention to address any resistance, denial and obstacles to getting them to enter treatment that day.
10. Should a family consider doing an intervention on their own? No. In most cases, it is best that families do not attempt to do this by themselves. Interventions are a very complex, serious and delicate matter. They should be carefully planned and facilitated by a trained professional. This is due to the serious life or death nature of addiction and/or untreated mental health problems and the importance of all of the relationships at stake. Because of these difficult dynamics, most families who try an intervention by themselves are unsuccessful and often feel that they have made the situation much worse.

What should we do if we are ready to move ahead with an intervention? Please feel free to call us anytime toll free at 1-888-750-0911 to schedule an intervention, or for a free 30- minute confidential consultation of your situation and/or e-mail us at help@familyinterventions.net to schedule a consultation.