If you are considering staging an intervention for a family member or close friend, you may be wondering what you should say during the intervention. The professional interventionists at Drew Horowitz & Associates want to help you lead a successful intervention with the conversation guidance below.
“I Love You”
Coming from a place of love and support is the most important step in an intervention. If your loved one is struggling with substance abuse or having a mental health crisis, the last thing they need at this time is to feel attacked by their support system.
A person struggling with alcohol or drugs or a mental illness often feels alone and nobody cares about them. By letting them know you love them and care about their wellbeing, you’re giving power back to them. Reminding your loved one that they do have people who care about them can help break down the hold their substance use disorder has over them.
Even if you feel hurt and resentful, remember that you are holding an intervention so this person that you love and care about will get better. Make it a priority to express your love for them.
“Thank You”
Thanking your friend or family member for all the good memories you have made together and sharing how thankful you are they are a part of your life is also important.
When the person suffering from addiction walks into an intervention, they are typically caught off guard and may consider fleeing at the first sign of being attacked. A great way to break down their guard is to speak positively about their value to your life and all the ways they have enriched your life.
By reminding them what your relationship was like before addiction took over, it could spark a desire inside to return to those positive feelings and that accepting addiction treatment or mental health services can get them there.
“I Am Worried”
During an intervention, it’s important to remain calm and speak from a place of love and support. But, it’s also the time to let the person know you are worried about them, their family, children, and long-term health.
You will share how you feel their addiction is harming not only themselves but everyone close to them. Let them know you want to support them during their recovery so that they get better for the sake of their entire family and friends, not just themselves.
“Your Addiction Is A Disease”
Many addicts believe that their addiction is physical and they can stop at any time. At Drew Horowitz & Associates, we know this is not true. They have an illness, addiction is a disease, and it is very treatable. Expressing this to them and that with the help of the proper treatment programs at treatment facilities, they can cure this disease.
Many addicts hear stories about relapse and convince themselves treatment never sticks. Part of the intervention process can be used to speak about how relapsing isn’t a failure, but actually part of recovery for some addicts. Treatment for addiction is a lifelong process, not something that happens overnight.
Consult With An Intervention Specialist
If you’re considering hosting an intervention in Minneapolis, the Drew Horowitz & Associates crisis intervention team in Minnesota is ready to help your family become whole again. We are trained professionals that understand what the addict is going through and how they will react to an intervention.
We will work with you and other participants to prepare everyone for the intervention. We handle everything from the order in which you’ll speak, what you’ll say, and what you’ll do if things don’t go as planned. We also help find the proper treatment programs the addict will enter if they agree to receive treatment.
Our team is available 24/7 and has the experience to help stage a successful intervention.
