What an Interventionist Does
An interventionist is a professional person who has had training in helping families and friends of an addict or alcoholic to convince the individual to go into treatment. This is often the hardest part of treatment because the addict or alcoholic must come to terms with the effects of their use on the people they care about. An interventionist has a great deal of experience with this and can guide the process toward having the addict or alcoholic make the right decision around their drug or alcohol use.
The interventionist usually meets at least once with the family or friends who will be involved in the interference. There, they talk about the addict's problem and the effects the drinking or using has had on the loved ones of the addict. Each person has his or her own story about what has happened because of the addict's or alcoholic's using and should be encouraged to share those stories.
The interventionist can teach the family how best to pull off this situation. The interventionist has hopefully done many of these and knows what things can go wrong. They can help the family understand issues like denial, anger, and fear, and can share with the family how any of these things might come up at this time. The interventionist can teach the family coping strategies around these things that might get in the way.
The interventionist might be affiliated with a program that will take the addict or alcoholic immediately after the intervention. When this time is successful, the person is usually the most motivated to enter treatment right after the intervention. The trick is to get them into detox and rehab as soon as possible so that the addict has no time to change their mind. A good interventionist can make this happen so the process can continue without a hitch.
The interventionist usually has training in alcohol and drug addiction. He or she can help the addict, alcoholic or family learn about the physical effects of the drug or alcohol on the person's body. The interventionist can teach the addict about the physical effects of drinking or using on the addict and can provide information on why stopping the addiction is the way to go. A good interventionist takes no sides and is on the side of the health and wellbeing of everyone involved in the process.
The interventionist usually meets at least once with the family or friends who will be involved in the interference. There, they talk about the addict's problem and the effects the drinking or using has had on the loved ones of the addict. Each person has his or her own story about what has happened because of the addict's or alcoholic's using and should be encouraged to share those stories.
The interventionist can teach the family how best to pull off this situation. The interventionist has hopefully done many of these and knows what things can go wrong. They can help the family understand issues like denial, anger, and fear, and can share with the family how any of these things might come up at this time. The interventionist can teach the family coping strategies around these things that might get in the way.
The interventionist might be affiliated with a program that will take the addict or alcoholic immediately after the intervention. When this time is successful, the person is usually the most motivated to enter treatment right after the intervention. The trick is to get them into detox and rehab as soon as possible so that the addict has no time to change their mind. A good interventionist can make this happen so the process can continue without a hitch.
The interventionist usually has training in alcohol and drug addiction. He or she can help the addict, alcoholic or family learn about the physical effects of the drug or alcohol on the person's body. The interventionist can teach the addict about the physical effects of drinking or using on the addict and can provide information on why stopping the addiction is the way to go. A good interventionist takes no sides and is on the side of the health and wellbeing of everyone involved in the process.
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