IN PARTICIPATING IN THE WHOLE INTERVENTION PROCESS, EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM BEGINS TO SEE AND ACCEPT THAT THE PERSON THEY VALUE HAS A SERIOUS DISEASE, ADDICTION.

THE DISEASE MAY TAKE THE FORM OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SUCH AS ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. IT CAN ALSO MANIFEST ITSELF IN ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR SUCH AS DISORDERED EATING, SEX, GAMING, AND GAMBLING).

IN THE INTERVENTION PROCESS, EVERYONE BEGINS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR THEIR PART IN THE ADDICTION. WHOLE FAMILIES INTERVENTION AND HOLISTIC RECOVERY SERVICES AIMS TO BOLSTER THE FAMILY IN TAKING STEPS TOWARD THEIR OWN HEALING AND WELLBEING.

WE DO THIS BY HELPING THE FAMILY TO TAP INTO ITS INHERENT STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE.

EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO DRAW ON THEIR INHERENT STRENGTH AND COURAGE

WHOLE FAMILIES INTERVENTION  SERVICES OUR TEAM AIMS TO CONNECT FAMILIES AND THE PERSON OF CONCERN  TO THEIR OWN FORTITUDE AND STEADFASTNESS. WE HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES REAFFIRM AND EMBRACE THEIR INHERENT STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND HOPE. AS HUMANS, WE ARE INTRINSICALLY STRONG AND RESILIENT. HOWEVER, OUR COURAGE AND HOPE ARE OFTEN LOST IN THE FACE OF ADDICTION.

WHOLE FAMILIES’ INTERVENTION SERVICES PROCESS EMPOWERS THE FAMILY TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR INNER STRENGTH AND RESOLVE SO THAT EVERYONE FINDS HEALTH AND HEALING. OUR COMPASSIONATE MINDFULNESS-BASED PROCESS HELPS THE WHOLE FAMILY TAP INTO THAT RESOLVE.

FAMILIES ARE STRONGER UNITED THAN SPLIT APART. TOGETHER, FAMILIES HAVE EXPERIENCED THEIR OWN PERSONAL TRIUMPHS AND CHALLENGES.

OUR PROCESS IS CARING, INVITATIONAL AND NON-SECRETIVE. THE FAMILY’S COMMITMENT TO BOTH SUPPORTING THE PERSON OF CONCERN AND HEALING ITSELF IS WHAT MAKES THE PROCESS SO EFFECTIVE. BOTH IN THE SHORT TERM WITH A DECISION TO ENTER TREATMENT AND FOR THE LONG HAUL IN ACHIEVING LONG-TERM RECOVERY.

AN HONEST LOOK AT DENIAL

DENIAL PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN ADDICTION, BOTH FOR THE PERSON OF CONCERN AND THOSE WHO LOVE AND CARE FOR THE ADDICTED PERSON. OFTEN, THOSE LIVING WITH ADDICTION CONVINCE THEMSELVES, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS THAT THEIR SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS MANAGEABLE OR NON-EXISTENT. AS FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, WE TRY TO CONVINCE OURSELVES THAT WHAT THE ADDICTED PERSON IS TELLING US IS TRUE.

AT WHOLE FAMILIES INTERVENTION AND SERVICES, WE DEVISE  THE INTERVENTION PROCESS TO BREAK THROUGH ALL THE LAYERS OF DECEPTION. WITH HONESTY AND COMPASSION, WE AIM TO REVEAL ALL THE REPERCUSSIONS THE ADDICTED PERSON HAS EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF HIS OR HER SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HELP THE WHOLE FAMILY ESTABLISH THEIR OWN GOALS, GROUND RULES, AND EXPECTATIONS TO HELP THEIR LOVED ONE ACCEPT TREATMENT.

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR AN INTERVENTION?

ONE OF THE MOST COMMON MYTHS IN OUR CULTURE IS THAT AN INTERVENTION WON’T WORK UNTIL THE ADDICTED PERSON HAS HIT ROCK BOTTOM. WAITING FOR THE ‘END’ CAN WREAK SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES BOTH FOR THE PERSON OF CONCERN AND THE FAMILY.

THE SOONER FAMILIES AND FRIENDS INTERVENE, THE EASIER THE INTERVENTION PROCESS, TREATMENT, AND READJUSTMENT WILL BE. THE LONGER AN ADDICTION CONTROLS SOMEONE, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO BREAK.

DO I NEED A PROFESSIONAL INTERVENTIONIST?

THE MYTH IS THAT AN INTERVENTION IS EMOTIONALLY CHALLENGING AND PAINFUL FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. THAT CAN BE TRUE IF YOU TRY TO DO IT ALONE.

HIRING A PROFESSIONAL INTERVENTIONIST TEAM CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. AN INEFFECTIVE INTERVENTION CAN CONVINCE AN ADDICTED PERSON TO FORGO TREATMENT AND REMAIN IN HIS/HER DISEASE. THIS DECISION CAN FURTHER DISINTEGRATE THE FAMILY.

HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONAL INTERVENTIONISTS IS TRAINED TO UNDERSTAND DENIAL, FAMILY SYSTEMS, AND HOW ADDICTION AFFECTS THE MIND. THEY KNOW HOW TO EMPOWER THE FAMILY AND ENCOURAGE WITH COMPASSION AND DIGNITY. PROFESSIONAL INTERVENTIONISTS CAN MOBILIZE THE FAMILY TO ACCESS THEIR STRENGTH AND RESOLVE TO HELP THEIR LOVED ONE SEEK TREATMENT.

ACCORDING TO THE NCADD (NATIONAL COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPENDENCY), OVER 90% OF PROFESSIONALLY-LED INTERVENTIONS RESULT IN THE ADDICTED PERSON SEEKING TREATMENT.

HOW WHOLE FAMILIES INTERVENTION & SERVICES CAN HELP YOU GET STARTED

AS FOUNDERS OF WHOLE FAMILIES, WE EACH BRING OVER 25+ YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SOBRIETY TO YOUR INTERVENTION. AS SOON AS YOU ASK FOR OUR HELP, WE BEGIN PLANNING YOUR INTERVENTION PROCESS.

WE MEET WITH YOU TO DISCUSS ALL THE VARIABLES THAT MAY IMPACT YOUR INTERVENTION. WE BEGIN GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND ITS DYNAMIC.

THE INTERVENTION  PROCESS: STEP BY STEP

YOUR INTERVENTION PROCESS BEGINS FROM YOUR FIRST PHONE CALL SEEKING HELP FOR THE PERSON OF CONCERN. DURING THIS CALL WE’LL ASK PERTINENT QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PERSON OF CONCERN AND YOUR FAMILY HISTORY.

IF THE CALLER AND INTERVENTIONIST ARE IN AGREEMENT TO PROCEED, TERMS OF THE INTERVENTION ARE CONFIRMED SO THAT EVERYONE ON THE TEAM UNDERSTANDS THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE PROCESS AND INTERVENTION.

HERE WE ENCOURAGE YOUR INTERVENTION TEAM TO GATHER THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE SIGNIFICANT IN YOUR LOVED ONE’S LIFE – FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, TEACHERS, COACHES, EMPLOYERS, COLLEAGUES, CLERGY. DISCERNING THE PERSONAL DYNAMICS OF YOUR INTERVENTION NETWORK IS CRITICAL. EVERYONE NEEDS TO AGREE THAT THE SOLE PURPOSE OF COMING TOGETHER IS TO SEEK THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THEIR LOVED ONE.

THE FIRST MEETING IN PERSON WILL BE LED BY THE INTERVENTIONIST AND WILL INCLUDE EVERYONE GATHERED.

INTENTIONAL intervention PREPARATION PROCESS DURING YOUR INTERVENTION PROCESS

THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTION PROCESS IS INTENTIONALITY. WE AT WHOLE FAMILIES CONTROL THE PROCESS FROM THE START SO THAT THE MEETING WITH THE PERSON OF CONCERN GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN.

PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL MEETING, FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL MEET WITH THE INTERVENTIONIST TEAM. THE PRIORITY IS TO  KEEP ALL CONVERSATION COMPASSIONATE, HONEST, AND RESPECTFUL. IN THIS MEETING, THE INTERVENTION NETWORK REVIEWS THE OVERALL PROCESS, ASK QUESTIONS, AND BEGINS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ADDICTION.

DURING THIS TIME TOGETHER, THE NETWORK LEARNS MORE ABOUT THE SITUATION, HOW THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION MANIFESTS ITSELF, AND HOW THE WHOLE TEAM IS GOING TO GET HEALTHY TOGETHER.

WITH THIS INFORMATION, THE INTERVENTION TEAM BEGINS TO RESEARCH TREATMENT OPTIONS AND SET A DATE FOR THE INTERVENTION.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TREATMENT CENTER

A CRUCIAL PART OF THE INTERVENTION PLANNING PROCESS IS DECIDING ON THE RIGHT TREATMENT PLAN FOR THE PERSON OF CONCERN. PRIOR TO THE INTERVENTION, OUR INTERVENTIONIST TEAM WILL PROVIDE INSIGHT IN THE CHOOSING THE TREATMENT CENTER THAT BEST SUITS THE NEEDS OF YOUR LOVED ONE AND YOUR FAMILY.

ONCE EVERYONE AGREES ON THE RIGHT TREATMENT CENTER, WE’RE READY TO BEGIN ESTABLISHING THE STEPS NECESSARY TO GET THE ADDICTED PERSON TO SEEK AND ACCEPT HELP ONCE AND FOR ALL.

CONDUCTING THE INTERVENTION

YOUR LOVED ONE IS INVITED TO THE INTERVENTION AND WELCOMED WITH LOVINGKINDNESS. THERE IS NO BLAME OR SHAME.  WE AIM TO CHANNEL ANY HURT AND ANGER AMONG FRIENDS AND FAMILY INTO HONEST, SUPPORTIVE, PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION.

OUR SOLE PURPOSE IS TWOFOLD: 1) TO MOTIVATE YOUR LOVED ONE TO SEEK AND ACCEPT TREATMENT AND,  2) TO BEGIN THE HEALING PROCESS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY – PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND MENTALLY. EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME TEAM.  THE GOAL IS FOR EACH PERSON TO SHIFT INTO A NEW WAY OF LIVING AS A WHOLE PERSON. LOVING WITH CLEAR BOUNDARIES, DIGNITY, AND RESPECT.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STATEMENTS TO MAKE AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR INTERVENTION IS THAT EVERYONE IN THE MEETING IS HERE BECAUSE OF LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR THE PERSON OF CONCERN.

THE INTENTION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE INTERVENTION IS FOR TEAM MEMBERS TO SPEAK WITH RESPECT, LOVE AND CARING FOR THEIR LOVED ONE. TEAM MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SHARE HOW THE DISEASE HAS AFFECTED THEM AND WHAT THEY ARE WILLING TO DO TO SUPPORT THEIR LOVED ONE TO SEEK TREATMENT.

IT IS APPROPRIATE TO ASK THE QUESTION, “ARE YOU READY TO ADMIT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL, DRUGS OR DISORDERED EATING?”

IF THE ANSWER IS, “YES,” THE INTERVENTION CAN STOP, AND THE GROUP CAN DISCUSS THE DETAILS AROUND CHECKING INTO A TREATMENT CENTER IMMEDIATELY.

IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT THE ADDICT WILL:

– DENY OF ANY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEM

– ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY OR EXCUSE THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE

– ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM, BUT REFUSE TO SEEK TREATMENT

– BLAME FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR THE PROBLEM

– REFUTE AND/OR BERATE THE INTERVENTIONIST FOR BEING PRESENT

HERE, FAMILY MEMBERS RESPOND WITH LOVINGKINDNESS. THE LANGUAGE AND DELIVERY ARE FREE OF BLAME OR SHAME. GUILTING AN ADDICT INTO TREATMENT DOES NOT WORK.

THE INTERVENTION SIMPLY OFFERS PERSON OF CONCERN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE RELATIONSHIPS AND REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE ADDICTION. THE PERSON OF CONCERN CAN TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY BY AGREEING TO TREATMENT OPTION PROVIDED BY THE FAMILY.

CLEAR BOUNDARIES, EXPECTATIONS, AND CONSEQUENCES during the intervention

DURING THE INTERVENTION, CLEAR AND HONEST COMMUNICATION IS ESSENTIAL. FIRST, IT’S ESSENTIAL THAT THOSE ATTENDING THE INTERVENTION LEAD WITH COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING FOR THE ADDICTED PERSON’S WELL-BEING IN THEIR LETTERS. SECONDLY, IT’S EQUALLY ESSENTIAL TO ARTICULATE CLEARLY THE CONSEQUENCES IF THE ADDICTED PERSON REFUSES TO SEEK TREATMENT.

THE CONSEQUENCES WILL VARY ACCORDING TO THE RELATIONSHIP. THE FOLLOWING  PROVE TO BE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE: WITHDRAWING CONTACT, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, HOUSING. CONSEQUENCES NEED TO BE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH FOR THE ADDICTED PERSON TO HEAR HOW SERIOUS THE FAMILY IS. NO MATTER WHAT THE CONSEQUENCE IS, IT IS OFFERED WITH COMPASSION AND A DESIRE FOR THE LONG-TERM WELLBEING OF THE ADDICTED PERSON.

IT IS LOVING DIFFERENTLY. WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

NEXT STEP – TREATMENT

IF THE PERSON OF CONCERN AGREES TO GO TO TREATMENT, THE FAMILY MOBILIZES IMMEDIATELY. THIS CAN BE A SCARY MOMENT FOR THE ADDICTED PERSON. IF THE FAMILY, WITH THE INTERVENTIONIST, HAS LAID OUT A PLAN TO PHYSICALLY GET TO A TREATMENT CENTER, IT WILL FEEL SAFER. NOW THE PERSON OF CONCERN KNOWS THERE IS NO BACKING OUT.

WHOLE FAMILIES INTERVENTION  SERVICES WILL ESCORT YOUR LOVED ONE STRAIGHT TO THE TREATMENT CENTER THAT DAY IF POSSIBLE OR THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT THERE IS NO “LATER.” THERE MAY NOT BE A “LATER”. “LATER” MAY BE TOO LATE.

HOW THE INTERVENTION PROCESS SERVES TO HEAL THE FAMILY

THE INTERVENTION IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD HEALING INDIVIDUAL FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE FAMILY AS A WHOLE. SHARING HEARTFELT EMOTIONS WITH EACH OTHER AND THE PERSON OF CONCERN ENGENDERS TRUST BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY WHERE IT MAY HAVE BEEN LOST.

WHEN WE’RE WILLING TO EXPOSE OUR PAIN TO EACH OTHER, WHEN WE’RE WILLING, TO BE HONEST, WE CONNECT AT A DEEP LEVEL. WE REALIZE THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE AND THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FEELINGS. THESE STRENGTHENED RELATIONSHIPS SERVE TO SUSTAIN EACH OTHER WHEN THE PERSON OF CONCERN RETURNS HOME.