How to Facilitate a Group Intervention Session
A group of people, usually comprised of family and friends, may stage an intervention to help someone who is engaging in self-destructive behavior. Popularized by the A&E reality television show "Intervention," such encounters are widely thought to be for people who are struggling with substance abuse and addiction, but an intervention can occur to stop other types of behaviors as well. Whether your loved one is battling an eating disorder, hoarding, gambling or some other mental-health issue, an intervention is designed to help him accept he has a problem and agree to seek help.
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Instructions
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Gather members of your family and friends who are close to the individual for whom you want to stage the intervention. Gather close co-workers if the person is an employee at your company. Discuss the idea and ensure that everyone is board. Share your reasons for wanting to help the person. If your loved one is dealing with a life-or-death condition, such as drug addiction or a severe eating disorder, stress that he may die or suffer from chronic or terminal health problems if he does not stop his behavior.
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Hire a professional interventionist, a person who is trained to facilitate interventions, if you desire. Your loved one may be very angry with you and the family members and friends who participate in the intervention, so having a neutral third party present can be helpful. An interventionist can also help you and the other group members handle the intervention emotionally so you can stick to your goal of getting help for your loved one.
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Decide the terms of the intervention as a group. To be effective, an intervention usually includes an ultimatum that you must issue to your loved one. If you enable his behavior by giving him money, allowing him to stay in your home or letting him drive your car, for example, tell him he will lose these privileges if he chooses not to get help. If he is engaging in illegal activity, tell him you will report him to the police. You may also tell him that you will no longer see him, take his phone calls or otherwise communicate with him.
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Arrange a date, time and place for the intervention. It's best if the intervention can take place on neutral territory, such as a hotel room or a neutral friend's house, but if that's not possible, select the home of the group member in which your loved one will feel most comfortable.
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Write letters to your family member, describing how difficult it is to see him engage in his self-destructive behaviors and how much you want him to receive help. Avoid language that assigns blame and focus on what he will enjoy if he seeks help. Have each family member write a letter and prepare to read it to your loved one. The letters should end with your ultimatum. Your interventionist can help you compose the letters and emotionally prepare to read them.
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Arrange for your loved one's treatment at a professional facility that specializes in his particular affliction, so he may go to it immediately if he agrees to get help. Inpatient or private residential psychological treatment facilities can be expensive, with some running tens of thousands of dollars a month or more. Select the facility that will provide the best care for your loved one at the best price.
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Stage the intervention. Have a member of the group arrange to be with your loved one on the scheduled date and to bring him to the intervention. If your relative agrees to stay, read him your letters and issue your ultimatum as planned. If he accepts your treatment offer, arrange for transportation to take him to the facility immediately. If he refuses, tell him that he has 24 hours to change his mind. If he does not, cut off all contact with him as you said you would.
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Tips & Warnings
The intervention must be a secret from your loved one. If he suspects an intervention, he may refuse to come. He will likely feel betrayed when comes to the intervention, but hopefully he is so surprised he agrees to listen to what you have to say. Having the element of surprise is advantageous.
If you suspect your loved one may become angry or physically violent during the intervention, arrange for a police officer to be present.
References
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