FAQ: SHIFTING INTO SOLUTIONs
Many people have questions about interventions, treatment centers and the process. Here are the answers to commonly asked questions. If you have more specific questions please call.
Do treatment centers work?
I do believe some treatment centers offer consistent quality clinical care. When you match a quality treatment center with an identified patient who is ready to “surrender an old way of thinking" in exchange for courageously defining a new one., treatment centers can work very well. The secret is matching the two. With over 4,000 treatment centers in our country and about a dozen that I would send a loved one to having some help selecting the best treatment provider can be a real differentiator between success and failure.
Do addicts/alcoholics need to hit bottom before they can get help?
No. Bottom can often mean death, jail, broken relationships, or lockdown psychiatric holds. Everyone’s bottom is different and waiting for the disease to progress to these depths does not need to occur.
Do 30-day treatment experiences work?
Normally, no. My experience is that it takes a few weeks to simply get grounded & feel safe enough to begin your work. So 30 days is simply not enough. Outcomes studies have shown time and time again that 30-day models don't offer the kind of results that families & individuals are seeking. I believe that a 90-day “primary care” facilities that also offer a year-long continuum will offer the best results. This is not to say that a patient must stay in the same facility for a full year, but rather a teired or step-down approach throughout that first year with reliable providers within each step.
Why is my adaptive model of intervention successful?
Because the key to a successful intervention resides primarily within thoughtful preparation. Starting with a clinical assessment to determine the actual needs of the individual. Working intimately with each of the key family members and friends is also crucial. Adapting & understanding these individual characteristics will determine in large part the success of the intervention. Another essential piece is that the intervention itself needs to be rooted in loving kindness while the group extends the "gift "of treatment to the identified patient.
Can younger children participate?
Younger children can many times hold the key. Generally about 10 years old would be a minimum age but each family is different. Again, these choices are made after careful consideration and multiple discussions.
If some participants are uncertain if they can or should attend the actual intervention, are they welcome to participate in the preparation?
Yes, this is often the case. myself and the key stakeholders within each process will determine who is appropriate for the intervention itself. Often as well if an individual is appropriate for the intervention, but simply can’t make it. There are some effective ways to bring their message into the process.
Do you work for a treatment center?
No! I do understand treatment well having visited over 100 facilities over the years. I also have run both Jaywalker Lodge (for men only & a fantastic offering) as well as Momenta Recovery (for women only, rooted in trauma & remains strong clinically). I bring a vast amount of knowledge and value to families I work with because knowing the best places to send your loved one is another key to sustainable healing.
It’s very important to me that I fully educate each family as to their best options for treatment plans and allow them the ability to make a well-informed decision for themselves. Offering no bias of any kind is important to the integrity of this selection process, I just complete a thoughtful assessment and put the families I work with in front of the best possible options given their unique set of needs.
Do you intervene in the house?
Yes. The home of the identified patient is usually the most appropriate place for this very private process. However, there are exceptions to this norm. Every situation is unique and proper planning may indicate that another venue would be more appropriate.
Are there different intervention models?
Yes, there are a handful of wonderful models that are evidence-based. The “Arise Model” is highly effective along with “Love First” just to name a few. At the end of the day, you need to trust that whomever you select to work with your family is well-studied and purposefully grounded in whatever type of intervention they provide. I learned from a few different mentors, over two decades ago. Ed Storti and the “Storti Model” was the most impactful to me and whom I’ve modeled much of my approach around.
What does a successful intervention actually look like?
Most would answer simply if the identified patient goes to treatment it’s successful. Though this can be true, I believe it is much bigger than that. I would suggest that through thoughtful preparation families gain tremendous insight into the disease model, healthy boundaries, and what they as loved ones can control. Sometimes, simply planting the “seed of hope” to the identified patient is also successful. It’s a first step. Hundreds of families I’ve worked with have said, “Thank you for providing a living eulogy for my loved one.” Success is defined in many different ways. I believe that taking action, planting a seed, and honoring your loved one with a respectful intervention is the first step out of the darkness of this disease. Though well over 80% of my interventions lead directly to treatment, this is not successful. To me, success looks like the entire family engaging in their own healing out of respect and awareness that this is a family disease.
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If you or your family is in the storm of addiction and mental health challenges, get help.
My greatest gift is my ability to meet people exactly where they are in their life’s journey without judgment. I’ve worked with professional athletes, rock stars, moms and dads, sisters, and brothers from every imaginable background.