What is an Interventionist and Should Your Family Use One?
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), almost 20 million American adults battled a substance use disorder in 2017. There is every indication that this number has continued to rise over the past 5 years.
These numbers are staggering and suggest that millions of families in this country have one or more loved ones who may be struggling with an addiction. You yourself may be reading this because of a loved one who is abusing drugs or alcohol.
What is the best course of action and how can you help your loved one?
The Benefits of Using a Substance Interventionist
Many times, families believe they can handle an intervention on their own. But the reality is, few can handle this complex and emotional situation and remain objective and unemotional themselves. That is why it is always recommend that families use a professional interventionist.
A professional interventionist can be a non-judgmental and objective third party. Since they do not share a history or emotional ties to anyone, there are no allegiances and no worries about possible manipulation.
A knowledgeable and skillful interventionist is there to help facilitate effective communication so that all parties can share their feelings without tempers flaring.
The overall role of the interventionist is not to act as a family therapist, but rather help the entire family build a bridge to recovery. Addiction damages entire families, not just individuals. An interventionist can help begin the healing process for everyone.
If you have a loved one that is struggling with an addiction and would like help with an intervention, please reach out. Our counselors have been trained to deal with individuals who may also have a serious mental illness or a tendency to become violent or aggressive. Don’t go this alone, get the help you need to get your loved one help.
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