Addiction is a national epidemic with staggering numbers. In 2015, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse reported that 15.1 million adults aged 18 or older had a serious alcohol use disorder. The numbers are shockingly high for narcotic drugs and prescription drugs abuse as well.
If you live with an addict or have one in your immediate family, their struggling can take over your life. Your first instinct is to help them, but addicts don’t often admit they have a problem.
Many families decide to stage an intervention, but this can go wrong in so many ways. Addicts are vulnerable, and they will reject any treatment and even get mad or aggressive if they feel attacked.
To prevent this, you need a professional interventionist who knows exactly how to approach the addict and get them to listen.
Finding the right person for the job can be challenging, so read on to learn what you should ask a certified intervention professional before you hire them.
Ask To See Their Credentials and Licenses
The most important factor in choosing an interventionist is expertise. You can check this by asking to see their credentials and state-issued licenses.
You should look for titles like CIP (Certified Intervention Professional), LADC (Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, CAP (Certified Addiction Professional), CCDC (Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor) or CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor).
They may also have a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology or Counseling.
Ask Which Intervention Models They Use
Families with addict family members often try to stage an intervention themselves but fail because they don’t know how to approach the addict.
This is why they hire professionals who use special intervention models for different addiction types. For example, a drug intervention specialist has a different approach from a substance abuse interventionist.
Some of the most commonly used models are:
- The Systemic Family Model
- The Love First Method
- The Johnson Model
- The Confrontational Model
- The Tough Love Approach
- The ARISE Model
- The Crisis Interventions Model
- The Invitational Intervention Model
- The Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT)
Make sure to ask the interventionist about their preferred methods and how they plan to use them in your loved one’s case.
Ask About Their Success Rate
One of the fastest ways to see if you’re working with a professional interventionist is to ask about their success rate. Someone who’s just starting out won’t have much to show but experienced interventionists can show their expertise by the number of patients who have agreed to go to rehab.
The success rate is often measured by the number of people who agree to sign up for rehabilitation, not by the number of people who actually go there. Sometimes, the addict may change their mind due to financial or family issues and not go right away.
Ask For Rehab Center Recommendations
An experienced certified interventionist can recommend rehab facilities where they’ve sent previous clients. Ask for a list of the best rehab centers in the country or your area and do some research.
This is to see if the centers have a good reputation, a solid success rate, and prices that’ll suit your family budget.
Ask These Questions to Find the Best Certified Intervention Professional
Dealing with addiction is hard for both the family and the addict, but luckily, there’s hope and help available.
If you’re looking to hire a certified intervention professional, these questions will help you discover whether they’re the right person for the job.
To learn how certified interventionists help addicts and convince them to seek help, read this article.
