What Makes a Good Intervention Specialist?

Watching a loved one struggle with addiction is painful. You may have tried confronting them directly, imposing consequences, or even cutting off contact. If you haven’t been able to get through to them, you might want to enlist the aid of an intervention specialist.
There are plenty of independent interventionists, specialists affiliated with treatment centers out there. But how do you find an intervention specialist that’s right for you and your situation?

Find an Experienced Addiction Interventionist

No two addictions or people are the same. When you stage an intervention, your loved one may react in unpredictable ways. That’s why it’s important to have the support of someone who has been involved in a variety of interventions.
It would help if you also searched for a specialist who is licensed or registered. Some abbreviations or titles you may encounter during your search could include LAADC (Licensed Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor), LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), or CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor). Ask about their credentials and what types of interventions they have organized to ensure they have adequate experience dealing with your loved one’s substance abuse.

The Methodology of Your Professional Interventionist

Interventions can take many forms. The Johnson Intervention Model is probably the most commonly recognized approach.
Using this model, your specialist will meet with family and friends to understand your loved one’s situation, their history, and any co-occurring issues like anxiety or depression. Then, the people closest to your loved one are selected to participate in the intervention. Everyone is educated on the process and their roles before the actual intervention take place. The person typically enters treatment within a few days if the event was successful, but the specialist stays engaged with the family for support in the days that follow.
Other models take more of a family-focused approach-educating them on how to communicate with and behave around their loved ones. Please talk with your prospective interventionists about their approach so you’ll know what to expect.

The Motivations of an Addiction Interventionist

Talk to your interventionist about why they do what they do. Addiction impacts many people’s lives, and interventionists are no exception. Some of them have faced personal struggles with addiction, and it can be comforting for you and your family to talk with someone who has made great strides in their own recovery.
Their experience might mirror yours if they have also dealt with alcoholism or addiction within the family. Building rapport with your interventionist can have a calming effect on what can be a very stressful situation.

Find Help Staging Interventions in Palmdale, CA

Interventions require a great deal of planning and experience. The addiction interventionists at Cycles of Change in Palmdale, California, are here for you and your family. We understand that every situation is different. Your loved one’s intervention and the treatment plan that would follow will be customized to fit his or her needs.
Our staff and facilities are equipped to deal with alcohol addiction and drug abuse problems, and we offer dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. With innovative treatment programs, your loved one will have access to various therapy models that include education and relapse prevention to help keep them on the road to recovery.
Contact our team for a confidential conversation today.