Thanksgiving Wishes

Intervention Knows No Season

Fall . . . a time of year when we think of holidays, of family, of giving thanks, of being together, of joy and love, good friends and good food. For families suffering with addiction, the holidays are anything but these things. Addiction doesn't go away, take a break or give us a reprieve because the festivities of the season are upon us. In fact, it can be quite the opposite; the ugliness of the disease comes out in all its glory.

As family and friends slowly and with trepidation come to the conclusion that intervention might be a viable option for them, they then struggle with when to move forward and do it. The obstacles are many . . . Thanksgiving with family is planned . . . kids are in college and have exams . . . travel is so hard during the holidays . . . let's not ruin everyone's festive mood . . . Yes, the holidays are a convenient obstacle.

In reality, there is never a "perfect" time to address this issue; it is an issue the family has hoped they would never have to address at all. But alas, addiction runs its own course and holidays are not a shield to illness or a reason for putting off serious healthcare. Rather than focusing on the obstacles of the holidays, consider the benefits they offer; the family is coming together anyway, intervention is a gift of love and what better time to give it than the season of giving, what better way to say "I love you!"

If you or your family need help, there is no better time to reach out for it!

Intervention: Gift of a Lifetime

Another year is rapidly coming to a close, the holidays are fast approaching. The "problem" is still here . . . addiction. It comes in various forms, no two families are the same. For some it is alcohol, others it is drugs, others it is gambling, sex, internet, food, spending. For still others it is a combination of these. Regardless, the frustration, despair, chaos, anxiety, anger is all as large as life. Periods of calm are always replaced by another "incident." Another year and nothing has changed. And, we promised ourselves it would get better.

You are not alone in putting off intervention. For most families professional intervention is the last stop, the resource they are forced into using when there is nothing else left. Sadly, they don't realize what a gift systemic intervention is. That's right, a gift! It is the greatest gift a family can give itself and its loved ones. To learn what this gift has to offer or talk to others who have experienced its rewards, please call.

Happy Holiday From Addiction

Happy Holidays to all of our friends and family from Bay Area Intervention and Addiction Consulting - Alice Tanner & Loki my 3 year old Chow

Intervention is Only a Start

I was having coffee with a friend of mine from Southern California this afternoon and we got to talking about intervention, treatment and recovery. We both are in the field of addiction recovery; he has been in this business for over 30 years. We both agreed that intervention and treatment are mere beginnings, a bridge if you will, to recovery. Recovery is long-term . . . a lifelong process if we are lucky. Intervention and treatment are short-term, the start of this lifelong journey. Comparatively, they are simple and easy when you stack them up against long-term recovery. Staying sober in a facility is not hard. The real challenge begins when addicts and alcoholics leave treatment.

Sadly, most don't make it . . . at least not the first time. They relapse, usually within the first year. Those who are most likely to do so are easy to spot. They are the ones who don't follow their discharge plans, don't follow them fully, completely and with vigor. They are the ones who want to rush back to a "normal" life, however they define that. It's madness. They have sunk to a place of such desperation and illness that they need to be in treatment for at least 30 days and then they want to fly on their own, unaided professionally, making their own decisions, picking and choosing what discharge recommendations they will follow expecting that they have the ability to do this successfully. What?? Typically, they will not go to the meetings recommended for the length of time recommended. They won't go to extended care or an SLE or if they do they won't go for the length of time recommended. They will want to get back to work or get a job if they weren't working before treatment and they will want to work long hours to make up for lost time and fill their damaged bank accounts. Then they are too busy to go to meetings. They won't engage in monitoring if that has been recommended. They begin to see recovery as a "waste of time" because they are now so busy. They might engage in some of the discharge recommendations, but not all of them. They pick and choose which ones they will do like it is a smorgasbord.

This almost always spells relapse. It is as predictable as April showers. Families are often complicit in their addict's unwillingness to do everything recommended instead urging them to get "back to a normal life", to engage in the things that normal healthy people do because that is what their loved ones so desperately want to see (normal, healthy behavior), thus bolstering their hope that their loved one is really "okay."

When the relapse comes, as it inevitably does under these circumstances, they are all dismayed and surprised. "Treatment didn't work", they claim. "Twelve step programs don't work, either", they go on. Not so. These things do work and there is living proof around us every day that they do. As my friend quite correctly pointed out, "It's not the 12 steps do the work, it is we who need to work the steps."

A final comment: it is naive and unrealistic to think that this very ill person can go from the cocoon of treatment where they are getting 24/7 care and regimentation back to an environment with no professional support, guidance or structure and expect to make it. Those who fare best will be those who continue with professional help, guidance and structure of some sort.

There is Help~There is Hope

Intervention for Impaired Professionals

When it comes to intervening on a licensed professional or conducting an intervention for a family member or friend of a licensed professional are all interventions and interventionists the same? Or, are licensed professionals a unique population where an interventionist's common background and experience can be beneficial?

Licensed professionals are people such as lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians, nurses, airline pilots or other license holders. They are indeed unique in a number of ways. Overall, they generally hold a higher level of education and/or specialized training than most of the population. They are in positions of power, trust and authority. They are used to giving direction, not taking it and they are used to being in control. They are people who provide others with help and are not used to being in a position of needing it themselves. Because of this, their denial is unusually very high and is even harder to break through than the average person's. On top of this is an inherent arrogance people in this group tend to possess. They don't like being told what to do and are loathe to accept help particularly from anyone who has less education or no professional background.

When it comes to addressing their addiction licensed professionals have other considerations, too. They often have licensing board and/or malpractice issues that need to be dealt with. Whoever is conducting the intervention needs to be familiar, sensitive and prepared to deal with these issues.

Finally, when intervening on a licensed professional consideration needs to be given to the model of intervention to be used. Johnson model . . . or the invitational systemic model or executive intervention?

Yes, working with the licensed professional population takes certain skill, expertise, education and background in order to increase the odds of a successful outcome. An interventionist who holds a doctorate, shares the same or similar licensing background, knows about licensing boards and how they operate brings to the table something special and uniquely beneficial that other interventionists and consultants without such a background do not.

Addiction is not easy to deal with. Denial is extremely tough to break through. This is particularly so with licensed professionals. Having an interventionist with a professional background provides one more edge in dealing with this very unique population. I guess that is why I feel so comfortable working with this group and why they as a group feel more comfortable with me and so do their families. Having a doctorate degree, taking and passing a professional licensing board, having had a private legal practice for many years and knowing the stresses and strains of a professional life make identification and working with this special population one that goes beyond mere lip service. It is real. It is shared. And, it helps.

There is Help ~ There is Hope

Intervention: Changing Directions Before It's Too Late

If we do not change our direction we are likely to end up where we are headed~ Chinese Proverb

Makes sense, doesn't it? Addiction intervention is all about changing direction. It is about changing direction as a family, changing direction regarding health and wellness. Systemic Family Intervention is an open invitation to all, including the loved one you are concerned about, to embrace an opportunity to transform . . . to heal and grow in a different direction. It is not about minor little adjustments, it is about big changes, ones that are guided and supported as you go through this process. Addiction is not little; you know that. The changes necessary to deal with it will not be little either; you know that, intuitively. You know where you have come from. You know what you have done in the past has not worked. You know that the addiction is getting worse and your best efforts have not succeeded, or not succeeded for long.

Intervention is about changing direction before a consequence results from which you and your family can not recover. There are such consequences . . . the death of a loved one, a child perhaps, from drunken driving; death resulting from alcoholic or drug-fueled anger; permanent paralysis from an injury while under the influence. Yes, the proverb is right on . . . If you don't like where you are headed make a bold, healthy move and get help in intervening so that you can head in a direction that you really wish to go . . . before it is too late.

There is Help ~ There is Hope