How to Do an Intervention on a Family Member

An intervention on a family member is a formal attempt by a group of people, including relatives, to express their concern to a person engaging in risky, damaging behavior, with the goal of convincing that person to seek help. This person may suffer from an addiction, such as to drugs, sex, gambling, eating, or the Internet, or be engaging in other self-destructive activities. In most interventions, members of the group approach the person together and take turns talking about that person's behavior. The person is encouraged to take certain concrete steps to change their behavior, such as entering treatment.

Things You'll Need

• Professional trained in conducting interventions
• Private space

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Instructions

Preparing for the Intervention

• 1

  Bring together a group of between three and six people who know, and are significant to, the family member. These people should be adults, including relatives, who are able to describe the physical and emotional changes they've witnessed in the person, and testify to the damage that person's illness has caused them.

• 2

  Meet with a trained professional, such as a substance abuse counselor or a therapist, to discuss how to best express your concerns to the family member. The professional will outline specific strategies and speaking techniques to make a more effective intervention.

• 3

  Prepare statements, either written or memorized, to read aloud to the family member. These statements should communicate your concern for her well-being and explain how you have been personally impacted by her behavior.

• 4

  Identify possible objections and denials that the person will use when confronted, and develop responses and rebuttals to each one.

• 5

  Make a list of actions that the family member can and cannot do, and the consequences if he breaks these rules. For example, a spouse might say that if their partner drinks alcohol again, the person will have to leave their house.

• 6

  Conduct at least one dress rehearsal of the intervention with the professional. This will help everyone know the role they will be playing, and give the professional a chance to critique and correct your approaches to the person.

• 7

  Arrange for the person to begin treatment immediately after the intervention.

The Intervention

• 8

  Begin the intervention by gathering everyone together and confronting the family member in a private space. Tell the person you care about her and are concerned for her well-being.

• 9

  Ask the family member to admit that they have a problem. If the person refuses, begin taking turns stating your personal experiences.

• 10

  Outline the behavioral guidelines you've crafted for the person, and then request that the he enter treatment immediately.