8 Steps to a Successful Interventions

You may be longing for a friend or family member to admit that they need help, but the most successful stories about overcoming addiction often begin with a professional intervention. Our  Certified National Alcohol & Drug Interventionists have a 99% success rate, and our caring team helps you navigate getting a loved one help when your family is in crisis mode. 

Step 1. Call the our Christian Intervention Hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at (866) 434-1330. Your phone call is private and confidential and is answered by a trained interventionist who will determine whether an intervention is appropriate. 

Step 2. Allow us to work as an advocate on your behalf: helping you choose a facility and treatment protocol, assisting you with financial planning, requesting insurance authorization, and explaining self-payment options. Once a facility has been selected, our team can take care of all necessary admissions details, travel plans, and other logistics. 

Step 3. Meet with your interventionist over the phone or in person to discuss the intervention process, including timing, location, and participant selection. 

Step 4. Invite significant people—family members, friends, or clergy—to participate in the intervention team. Participants should demonstrate love and respect for the addicted person, and should be trusted to keep all details confidential. Make sure that they understand the urgency of the situation and are willing to dedicate several hours to pre-intervention planning and the intervention meeting, itself. In some cases, a family member or friend may participate via Skype if they cannot be present at the meetings. Ask attendees to review our website to gain a better understanding of the intervention process and the services offered by our Christian Intervention Service. 

Step 5. Meet your interventionist for the pre-intervention meeting. This meeting typically lasts several hours and is designed to provide disease education, discuss the recommended treatment course, and prepare verbal or written statements that will be shared the day of the intervention. These statements are written out of love and concern rather than blame, and contain insight about changes in behavior and the impact of your loved one’s addiction. Under the guidance of our certified interventionists, you will have the opportunity to refine the statement and prepare emotionally for the intervention meeting. 

Step 6. Select a location for the intervention, such as a conference room, church classroom, therapy office, or another neutral spot. Choose a time when your family member is likely to be sober and controlled, and arrange for their transport to the meeting. While you may be tempted to have the intervention at home where the addict feels comfortable, it is best to remove them from an environment where they might be tempted to avoid the participants by retreating to a bedroom or private area.

Step 7. Hold the intervention. Gather together with the goal of being non-judgmental and solutions-focused. Your interventionist will maintain the structure of the meeting and help participants share feelings in a constructive manner. Have realistic expectations. The addicted individual is likely to become frustrated and emotional, and may temporarily shut down or have an outburst. While there is a chance that the intervention is not successful, or that more than one meeting is required, this is unlikely. Our Christian Intervention team has a 99% success rate and has years of experience guiding addicted individuals toward treatment programs that will change their lives. 

Step 8. If your family member accepts help, they will be escorted from the intervention locale to the selected Christian drug and alcohol treatment facility. The interventionist will remain available to answer questions, discuss the treatment process, or recommend family therapy options so you can begin your own journey to recovery.