How to Do an Intervention for Gamblers

An intervention is a planned meeting in which the family, friends and significant others of a person with an addiction attempt to influence that person to seek or accept professional help and treatment. An intervention may be planned for any person who has an addiction or compulsive behavior, and this can include a person with a gambling problem.

Things You'll Need

• Meeting place
• Information about appropriate treatment facility or plan

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Instructions

• 1

  Call a professional interventionist if you have the means and desire to use a professional's services. Experienced behavioral interventionists work at treatment and rehab centers, with outreach and community programs, and independently. A professional interventionist can help you plan, structure and respond to the intervention.

• 2

  Make a treatment plan that you are going to offer at the intervention, and explain this plan to others attending. If you are using an interventionist, she can develop this treatment plan with you. Otherwise, decide whether it is best to offer inpatient rehab treatment or a structured care plan in the community. Gamblers Anonymous is one example of the latter. If your loved one has problems additional to gambling, such as substance abuse problems or alcoholism, assess whether these issues can be addressed during treatment for gambling addiction.

• 3

  Build a team of people who will be present at the intervention and will take part. Consider those who are closest to the person with the gambling problem, and who he would first turn to for help with problems. This team could include parents, children, partners, friends and siblings. As a team, plan the intervention and rehearse what each of you will say and do.

• 4

  Schedule the intervention to take place in a safe, neutral meeting place. Get the person with the gambling problem to the intervention. Typically it is best if only one member of the intervention team is involved in bringing the person to their intervention. It may be best not to tell him about the intervention in advance. If you are using a professional interventionist, meet with her the day before the intervention is scheduled.

• 5

  At the intervention, be supportive of the person who has a gambling problem, while encouraging him to accept the treatment you are offering. A common practice for an intervention is for each member of the intervention team to write a letter to the person with the addiction, stating how that person's addiction has affected him, his loved one, and their relationship.