Alcohol Intervention: What to Expect & How to Get Help
When your worries, prayers, and demands all have failed to curb a loved one’s drinking, an intervention could be the solution. Yet, after so many failed attempts to help, it can be hard to muster the strength and hope to try one more option. Understanding what an alcohol intervention is, what to expect from an interventionist, and how to get help can give you the confidence you need to move forward to a better future for your loved one and your family — in recovery.
When Should You Do An Intervention for Alcohol?
If you are considering holding an intervention for a loved one, it’s probably the right time. Indeed, it’s never really “too soon” for intervention services, since waiting for an obvious rock bottom moment could lead to irreversible repercussions for your loved one and your family.
If you’re still not sure whether to take such an impactful step, however, consider whether your loved one’s drinking is having a negative effect on their life and yours. Take a closer look at your loved one’s relationships, finances, career, mood, and health: Is alcohol causing difficulties in any of those areas? Have they tried to quit before and failed, or flat-out refused to even attempt a period of sobriety? Your answers to those questions can be even more telling than the amount that your loved one is drinking, or how often. Even one glass of alcohol can have drastic consequences for someone with a substance use disorder; others might need to consume much more before they see an impact, but their behavior is equally dangerous.
Why Hire an Interventionist?
A professional interventionist has the training and experience to help you do what you have not been able to do so far: clearly communicate the impact your loved one’s drinking is having on your life, ask them to get help, and respond appropriately if they choose not to do so. Interventionists can give you advice in preparation for the event and provide the support that you may have been lacking to this point. During the intervention itself, they are an impartial third party that can keep things on track when emotions are running high. They also have the professional relationships to help you choose and coordinate next steps — whether that includes detox, rehab, sober living, or something else.
What Happens in an Alcohol Intervention
There are many different models of intervention. At United Intervention Services, our experienced team has chosen to utilize the Johnson method, the leading model of intervention for alcohol and one with which you already may be familiar. In the Johnson model of intervention, friends, family, and colleagues of the person with a drinking problem gather to confront them with statements about how that person’s drinking has impacted their lives. They offer a clear path for that person to find help, and state what actions they will take if their loved one does not pursue treatment.
A professional interventionist can help you prepare your statement to your loved one so it is both authentic and impactful. They also can work with you to develop your boundary around treatment and what you will do if the offer of treatment is refused.
On the day of the intervention, the interventionist will work with you to coordinate a meeting with your loved one — concealing the purpose of that meeting until your loved one arrives. From there, they will lead the meeting, encouraging each participant to share their statement and boundaries at the appropriate time. They also will help reiterate the offer for treatment and can explain what that entails. In short, they are like a general leading troops into battle with a plan for a successful outcome.
Get Help for an Alcohol Intervention
If you’re ready to explore alcohol intervention for a loved one, contact United Intervention Services. Our experienced and caring team will listen to your story and help you figure out if intervention is right for you. In addition, we’ll work with you to ensure that this powerful tool is affordable and available for you in your time of need. You’ve spent so much time fighting this problem on your own. Let us help you find the solution, at last.