What does an interventionist do?

3 Apr 2024 | 3 min read | Updated: 29 Apr 2024

When a loved one is struggling with addiction, they may find it difficult to accept help. The involvement of an interventionist can then become a potentially crucial step towards recovery. But what exactly does this involve? In this blog, we take a closer look at what an interventionist does, how an intervention works and why it plays such an important role in the addiction recovery process.

An intervention is a structured confrontation, often organised by friends and family and conducted by a professional practitioner known as an interventionist.

The aim of this intervention is to encourage the person with the addiction to accept help and acknowledge their addiction, setting positive change towards recovery and better health in motion.

The person trained to lead the intervention is called an interventionist. Although this is not a protected title, an interventionist is a professional with expertise in addiction and experience of facilitating interventions. Their role is to guide families through the process and lead the intervention itself.

The process begins with a request for an intervention, often from the family of a loved one struggling with the disease of addiction. This is followed by a comprehensive assessment, during which the family is asked to provide all relevant information. This also includes identifying “weaknesses” within the family system and determining the suitability of everyone involved. This stage usually takes around 2.5 hours.

After the assessment, the family is encouraged to take at least 24 hours to consider whether to proceed with the intervention. An intervention is an intensive process requiring time, attention and commitment from everyone involved. It is therefore important that the family fully supports the decision.

If the family decides to proceed, a contract is drawn up setting out all agreements and expectations.

During this stage, the interventionist shares knowledge about the intervention process. The family is guided in preparing for the intervention. Those involved must, for example, write letters to the loved one they want to help. The interventionists provide feedback and advice and are also available for family counselling. “It is not only the person with the addiction who is ill, but the entire system around them.” The intervention is therefore also intended to provide new insights and break unhealthy patterns. This can help the family establish healthy boundaries so that they no longer enable the addiction.

Before the intervention, a full rehearsal is held, also known as a pre-intervention. The letters that will be read aloud during the intervention are discussed. The family is prepared for possible scenarios, responses and emotions. Everything is designed to prepare them for the intervention so that, afterwards, they can enter it well prepared and without too much anxiety.