Should I Hire a Professional Interventionist?

When preparing to stage an intervention, you want to do all you can to ensure a successful outcome. Maybe you’re intimidated by the planning that goes into an intervention—and it’s a lot—so you’re considering hiring a professional interventionist to help. But is it really necessary? Do you really need to hire a professional?

First, let’s see what the experts have to say:

Families who take the time to educate themselves, follow all the guidelines, and thoroughly prepare for an intervention do not need to hire a professional.” –Intervention by Vernon E. Johnson

“Anyone who sincerely wants to help, can help. Chances are you’re quite capable of doing an intervention without the assistance of a  qualified professional.” –Love First by Jeff and Debra Jay.

The help of a professional interventionist is not always necessary; even the professionals agree to that. However, hiring a professional interventionist will increase the chances that your loved one gets into treatment.

• Professionals are experienced. Not only do professionals have experience running a number of interventions, but also many have experience being addicted. Many professionals are in recovery themselves, and they know first-hand how powerful addiction’s denial is. With all their experience, they’ll know what words or actions will lovingly pressure your loved one into treatment.
• Professionals do most of the work. Professionals will do all the heavy-lifting: they’ll help educate you and your family about addiction, enabling, they’ll help you make the right decisions, they’ll run the intervention. You’ll still have a lot of homework to do, but the stress of undertaking an intervention will be off your shoulders.

Below are 11 circumstances listed from Vernon E. Johnson’s book Intervention and Jeff and Debra Jay’s book Love First of when it would be best to seek a professional:

• There is a history of mental illness.
• Behavior has been abusive or violent.
• There has been a long-lasting, deep depression.
• You suspect illicit or prescription drugs are being used, but can’t verify which drugs.
• There have been previous treatments followed by relapse.
• There have been suicide attempts or threats of suicide.
• The addicted person is suffering from chronic pain.
• There is a history of physical or psychological trauma.
• There is evidence of serious emotional problems or brain damage.
• There is evidence of a cross-addiction such as gambling or sex addiction.
• Family relationships have greatly deteriorated with the drug addict and no one is appropriate for the chairperson role.

If any of the above applies to your loved one, you should seriously consider hiring someone with experience. It may add more to the bill, but you will find that it’s worth it to invest toward a safe and successful intervention.

Hiring a professional is always your best choice, but we understand that it’s not an option for everyone. Download our free intervention guide to learn more.