When you’re trying to get a loved one to admit they have an addiction and enter treatment, you may need a little help. Often, that assistance comes in the form of a professional interventionist who can help you get your loved one into rehab.
The decision to seek help for your loved one can be a tough one. It’s an important step, as the right interventionist can be key to your loved one’s recovery. In fact, some studies show that 90% of interventions that involve a professional end up with the addicted person entering treatment.
Finding the right interventionist could be the most important thing you can do for your family. But how do you find a professional interventionist? Keep reading to learn where to seek out an addiction professional and how to determine that you’ve found the right person.
What Is a Professional Interventionist?
A professional interventionist is a specialist in mental health who is trained to guide people with addictions and their families through an intervention. Interventionists are able to identify issues related to addiction and develop strategies to deal with them. They provide the support, direction, and education needed to determine the optimal approach to each intervention, taking into account individual family dynamics.
Interventionists understand what works and what doesn’t in different types of interventions, based on their training and experience. They understand all the treatment options available to your loved one and can help you make the right choices about the next steps to take. They also can help you understand what the road to recovery looks like and what to expect not just during an intervention but through your loved one’s journey to sobriety.
Qualifications of a Professional Interventionist
Interventionists come from a variety of mental health specialties. They may be psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, or other types of therapists or counselors. A credential of CIP, or certified intervention professional, lets you know that they have the right training and experience.
A professional interventionist understands the importance of absolute confidentiality regarding every intervention. They protect the privacy of your loved one and your family completely.
In most cases, professional interventionists are connected to local treatment centers. That relationship eases the way to get your loved one into treatment. It also indicates that your interventionist isn’t just thinking about the few hours you’ll spend in the intervention — they also are focused on long-term recovery.
Interventionists understand the way addiction can twist family dynamics, and they focus on your whole family while still keeping the addicted person at the center. They’re prepared to handle tension within the family resulting from efforts to deal with an addicted family member. They provide practical support that helps your family come together rather than break apart.
Professional interventionists are also cognizant of the mental health disorders that often co-occur with addiction. They’re prepared to handle those during the intervention and to direct your loved one to treatment for all their issues. An interventionist also knows how to deal with the unexpected, including the possibility that your loved one may resist going into treatment.
Because they bring a trained, experienced third-party perspective into an intervention, an interventionist can help keep your family focused on the well-being of your loved one, regardless of the different attitudes and emotions of family members.
Reasons for Hiring a Professional Interventionist
A professional interventionist is always of value when you need to confront a loved one about their addiction issues. Your interventionist has the experience to help you plan and implement a successful intervention, as well as the connections you need to get your loved one into treatment.
In some cases, hiring a professional interventionist is essential. Make sure to bring an interventionist on board if any of these situations apply in your case.
Your Loved One Has a Co-Occurring Mental Health Issue
People with certain mental health disorders are more likely to battle addiction than other people, as the National Institute on Drug Abuse points out. If your loved one deals with anxiety or some personality disorders, it’s not surprising that addiction is also occurring. Similarly, a professional interventionist is recommended if your loved one is using drugs and alcohol together.
Your interventionist understands these mental health issues and knows how they relate to your loved one’s addictions. They know what to expect in an intervention as a result of these mental health disorders and can take appropriate action to keep the intervention on track. In addition, they can help you find the treatment that’s appropriate for someone with a dual diagnosis.
Your Loved One Has a History of Violence
While most people with drug and alcohol addictions are not aggressive, if your loved one has shown a tendency to be violent, you want to have a professional interventionist on your side. Professional addiction specialists can guide the intervention to minimize conflict and to keep your loved one from becoming antagonistic. They understand that, while your loved one may not intend to harm anyone, they can nevertheless be dangerous.
Your Loved One May Be Suicidal or Self-Harming
If your loved one has a history of suicidal ideation or suicide attempts, you definitely want an interventionist in the room during your intervention. Bear in mind that your loved one may have suicidal thoughts that they haven’t shared with you. Addicted people are more likely to think about suicide if they have suffered abuse in the past, if there’s a family history of suicide, and if they also experience depression and anxiety. Your interventionist can not only help deal with these issues in the intervention, but they can also help you find appropriate treatment.
Your Loved One Has Relapsed
If your loved one has already undergone treatment for drug or alcohol addiction but has relapsed, they may need more intensive treatment. They may also be more resistant to an intervention, feeling that they’ve tried this and it didn’t work. A professional interventionist understands the delicate balance needed during this type of intervention.
Your Family Is in Conflict
Your loved one’s addictions affect everyone in your family. Each person participating in the intervention is likely to approach the occasion with different feelings. Some may feel discouraged, while others are furious. You may not all agree on how to proceed, and some family members may find themselves overly emotional as the intervention goes forward.
An interventionist brings soothing calm to this fraught situation. They can help family members keep any resentment and pain on the back burner so you can all focus on the addicted person. They can also keep the intervention moving forward even if things get especially tense.
Where to Find a Professional Interventionist
One of the most reliable ways to find an interventionist is to ask for a referral from a mental health professional. A psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker should be able to make recommendations.
Addiction treatment centers are also generally staffed with professionals who have a great deal of experience with interventions. Starting your search by finding the right treatment center for your loved one is often the best way to connect with the right interventionist. Doing so eases the way to getting your loved one into treatment since all the connections already exist to get started.
Once you’ve narrowed down your search by checking out addiction treatment centers near you, confirm that your chosen interventionist has the appropriate certifications and licenses. The Network of Independent Interventionists and the Association of Intervention Specialists provide the information you need to let you verify your interventionist’s credentials.
At Topsail Addiction Treatment, we can provide the help you need to move your loved one away from their addictions. Our professional interventionists are ready to open the door to sobriety and get your loved one into the treatment program they need in the Andover area. Contact us today to see how we can help.
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