Interventions For Sex, Drugs & Alcohol Addictions
An intervention is a carefully planned process to persuade a loved one to seek help. Interventions provide an opportunity for each participating friend and family member to explain how they have been personally affected by the person’s addiction whilst being guided and advised by a qualified interventionist.
Intervention for Addiction and Mental Health Concerns
Examples of addictions that may require an intervention include:
- Alcoholism
- Drug abuse
- Gambling
- Eating disorders
- Sex or love
Paracelsus Recovery can provide carefully planned intervention services anywhere in the world. An effective mental health or addiction intervention requires the assistance of a trained professional, especially if the person struggling from the addiction has co-occurring disorders such as depression or anxiety.
Whether it is alcohol, drug or sex addiction, interventions are often recommended when an individual in need is unwilling to accept help or when the person is making dangerous, life-threatening choices that impact themselves and others. This is regularly the case for ultra-high-net-worth individuals whose lifestyle, power and success can sometimes act as a shield against the consequences of their addiction or mental health issue.
This can delay the individual from seeking treatment.
It can be challenging and frustrating trying to help a loved one struggling with a substance abuse dependency or mental health condition as more often than not, the individual in need is in denial. This is a coping mechanism, which means that the individual is unable to look at their own behaviour objectively.
We all employ denial from time to time to help us adjust to distressing situations and stressful life events. Essentially, it gives us time to process a traumatic experience in bite-size doses. However, it can also grow maladaptive and hinder our chances of healing.
If someone is in denial about their mental health or addiction, it can lead to an escalation of the issue and a worsening of their psychological and physical health. In such cases, the individual may require a mental health or alcohol/drug addiction intervention. Intervention specialists are specifically trained to help break these cycles of denial and to keep communication constructive, compassionate and beneficial to the wellbeing of everyone involved.
FAQs
An intervention is a carefully planned process during which family and friends try to get a loved one to seek professional help for an addiction or mental health issue. Interventions can be highly emotional experiences which require an intervention specialist to be present to help contain these emotions and ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible. Paracelsus Recovery can provide intervention services anywhere in the world to help facilitate change in a loved one’s life.
Yes – there are numerous different methods, types and strategies. There are three main types of interventions: direct, indirect and forcible. During a direct intervention, an intervention specialist helps family members and loved ones confront the individual struggling with an addiction. Indirect interventions are less confrontational and focus on assisting families in working through issues such as co-dependency, denial and unhealthy boundaries. A forcible intervention occurs when an individual refuses help but is putting their lives, and sometimes other people’s lives, in danger because of their mental health difficulties.
Experts estimate that 80 to 90 percent of intervention subjects agree to accept treatment. However, the final decision to go into treatment must come from the individual. If they are not ready, the intervention should not be considered a ‘failure’. The seed is planted, and the person may decide to enter treatment at a later date.
The actual intervention usually lasts between 30-90 minutes, but it depends on the specific circumstances of the individual. The planning stage of an intervention can take anything from several days to a few weeks.
It is highly inadvisable to attempt an intervention without the help of a professional. An intervention professional can help organise an effective intervention strategy and a suitable plan for follow-up. The professional will also assist in deciding who should be involved in the intervention.