Addictions & Families - Online CEUs

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“Addictions: Treating Family Manipulation, Mistrust, and Misdirection”, “Track #13 10 Pre-Intervention Steps Part 2 of 2” - MM

The following video is a summary of the CEU course “Addictions: Treating Family Manipulation, Mistrust, and Misdirection”, “Track #13 10 Pre-Intervention Steps Part 2 of 2”. This course is designed for psychologists, social workers, counselors, and MFTs seeking continuing education credit.
These 5 steps are the second part of a group of 10 steps for pre-intervention for families dealing with addictions. This is a continuation of the first 5 steps outlined in “Addictions: Treating Family Manipulation, Mistrust, and Misdirection”, “Track #12 10 Pre-Intervention Steps Part 1 of 2”.
Step 6 - Write an Intervention Letter
The sixth step is to write an intervention letter. Letters are often a good way to maintain order and control in an intervention as people are rarely interrupted while reading a letter and saying the wrong thing is limited. Usually a one to two page letter is a good length for team members to write. Here are three parts that should be included in an intervention letter:
Part 1: Love. This section of the letter details how much the addict is loved. It is a good idea to include fond memories, important accomplishments, and good qualities. This part should be a celebration of the person.
Part 2: Honesty. In this section, refrain from statements that show judgment, blame, or anger by focusing on the addiction as the issue. For example, this section can include statements like “Alcohol is robing you of your best qualities.”
Part 3: Hope for the Future. This section offers the addict an image of who they can be in sobriety. In this section, addicts can be reminded of their dreams, strength, standing in the family, and how much they are needed by others. I encourage team members to end this section with a question such as “Will you please accept the help we are offering you today?”

Step 7- Brainstorm Objections
Addicts will come up with many reasons to avoid treatment once an intervention happens. It is important to brainstorm these objections and excuses to prepare answers. Some excusing will be valid and will warrant planning postponing treatment. Other excuses such as leaving a pet, while they are not legitimate, will still require planning on how to deal with them such as getting a team member to watch the addict’s pet.
Step 8- Determine Bottom Lines
To determine bottom lines, I encourage clients to answer the following questions: What have I done in the past, and what am I willing to stop? What do I need to do to take care of myself if the addict refuses treatment? The bottom line includes the decisions that team member will make if the addict does not agree to go into treatment.
If the addict refuses treatment after letters are read and all of the addict’s objections are addressed, only then can the bottom lines that team members have written be read. It is important that team members have concretes steps to act out their bottom lines if the intervention comes to that point.
Remember that this course is designed to provide continuing education for healthcare professionals like psychologists, social workers, counselors, and MFTs.
Step 9- Rehearse the Intervention
To prepare for the intense emotions of an intervention it is important to rehearse the intervention beforehand so emotions can be better controlled on the actual day. This includes reading letters, reviewing objections, and sharing bottom lines. This is also the time to make sure that other aspects like reservations at the treatment center, a packed suitcase, and everything else is in order.
Step 10- The Intervention Day
The team should arrive 30 minutes early on the day of the intervention an park their cars in a discreet location. In order for everyone to remain present distractions such as phones and food should be put away and children and pets should be taken care of in another space. Either the professional interventionist or chairperson should greet the addict and the first letter should be read.
This video is a summary of a section taken from the continuing education course “Addictions: Treating Family Manipulation, Mistrust, and Misdirection”, “Track #13 10 Pre-Intervention Steps Part 2 of 2”. The course meets the requirements for CEU licensure renewal for psychologists, MFTs, counselors, and social workers.