Effective Family Intervention Strategies
A family intervention is when family and friends of a person who is addicted to alcohol, drugs or another self-destructive behavior gather to get the addict to seek help. The intervention often takes place under the guidance of a professional counselor. Depending on the extent of the problem, there are different strategies that you may wish to consider when planning an intervention.
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Preintervention
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An intervention should be prepared beforehand, and a practice run should be done. You should also try to anticipate the person's reaction. He or she will likely become defensive and even abusive, so everyone involved should prepare themselves emotionally. Everyone should also know what they will say during the intervention and when they will say it. This helps prevent arguments from taking place and keeps the intervention focused on the goal of getting the individual help. You should also have a plan in place for what happens after the intervention. Make sure to make arrangements for treatment ahead of time.
Group Intervention
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If a family member is involved in drugs, alcohol or some other form of self-destructive behavior, you can begin by addressing the issue together as a family. Because an addict will generally rebel if it is only the parents trying to solve the issue, respected friends, peers or another authority figure such as a doctor or coach should also be invited. Make sure to create a nurturing environment by discussing the "problem" and not the individual. If possible, someone experienced with interventions such as an addiction counselor should be present.
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Carefrontation
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According to the Intervention Resource Center, one the carefrontation strategy requires those participating in the intervention to speak from the "I" point of view and not the "you" perspective. The goal is address the problem, whether it is alcohol or drug abuse and the negative behaviors associated with it, as a disease. Blame should not be assigned to the individual. This approach is more compassionate than confrontational. The goal here is to get the addict to understand how much people care for him or her and to seek help. It is also designed to be supportive.
Consequences
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Another strategy is to create consequences for the addict if he or she refuses to seek help. This strategy should be used if others have been exhausted. For example, a spouse could file for divorce, a parent could withdraw financial support from the child, a job could be terminated or a family and friends could ostracize the addict until the person seeks help. It is important that these actions aren't done to punish the addict, but rather to protect the family or friends from the negative behavior.
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References
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