Interventions are often the last resort for family members and friends who witness their loved ones struggling with dependency or destructive behavior. Interventions are necessary to offer support to teens and help them recover. If you’re planning on staging an intervention, there are a few main tips to follow to effectively provide your love and support to your teen struggling with substance dependency.
Consider Approach and Location When Staging an Intervention
One of the main purposes of an intervention is offering your support to a teen you care about in your life. You can provide your support by becoming educated on their dependency and offering resources. Research a local drug and alcohol treatment center that they can enroll in. Being proactive about ways you can help will make them feel like you want to offer your assistance rather than judge their actions.
It’s important that the intervention takes place in a natural setting and only includes people the teen trusts. This will create a safe environment, which will promote vulnerability. All letters provided should be concise, with a positive focus.
It’s also necessary for the intervention to be limited to 60 to 90 minutes. This is enough time to communicate your feelings without overwhelming your loved one. Longer interventions can cause the individual to become angry and for compassion to decline for those involved.
Make Notes During the Intervention
Each person who is invited to attend the intervention should write down what they plan to say. Before it’s time to stage an intervention, consider writing a letter. Putting your thoughts onto paper can ease your nerves and organize your talking points. Read over your letter a few times prior to the intervention. Think about how your teen will respond, and edit as necessary until you have the main takeaways.
It’s normal to feel nervous or anxious about the meeting. This can make it challenging to think rational once it’s time to talk to the person who is struggling with dependency. Short notes will ensure strong and fluid communication. Write bullet points on a small card, and read it before the meeting to refresh your memory and remain focused.
Discuss Your Concerns
If you’re wondering how to stage an intervention, start by sharing your concerns about your loved one, and communicate how you feel. Each person should discuss specific incidents where the dependency has led to problems and the emotional and financial issues that it’s caused.
Avoid talking points that feel inflammatory, and avoid pointing the finger as this can cause the teen to feel targeted and defensive. If your teen shuts down because they feel attacked, the intervention may not be successful. Give examples of how their actions have affected you, other people, and even themselves, but do so without a hard tone.
Decide on the Consequences
Showing your support for your loved one also means that you need to decide what consequences they will face if they fail to attend a treatment program. The teen may need to be cut off financially, or move out of the home if they’re over the age of 18. Communicating the potential consequences during the intervention can help them understand the ramifications of their actions and define the next steps.
Follow Up After the Intervention
After an intervention takes place, find a treatment program to ensure the teen knows where to seek help. Involving other family members and friends can help the teen find the motivation to enter rehab and complete the program. You can also offer to participate in counseling together and even obtain your own therapy.
If you want to learn more information about how to stage an intervention, contact Venture Academy at 866.762.2211. You can also learn about the services provided at the facility.