The motivational intervention planning and preparation process will typically follow three-fundamental steps to assure success:

Each step involves careful clinical planning and dedication to take compassionate actions toward life preserving change. Intervention helps save lives, livelihoods and marriages.


1. Intervention Assessment and Treatment Planning

Comprehensive intervention assessment and treatment recommendations.
This is our initial briefing which will serve to illuminate:

(A) An Accurate Statement of the Problem: Assessment
(B) A Decisive Statement for a Solution to this Problem
(C) A Clearly Established and Compassionate Plan of Action.

Having practiced as and independent intervention specialist for the past twenty years, Dr. Hart will help you Select The Intervention Approach that is most appropriate to your situation. We will review the viability of each available intervention method and gain clarity as to what will work best. We must carefully evaluate the challenges and vulnerabilities implicit in your case by anticipating all potential defensive maneuvers and legitimate objections to accepting appropriate help following our intervention.

We must establish clear safety precautions and determine appropriate treatment-matching recommendations. Numerous family drug addiction intervention methods are available and we will carefully assess your case. Well justified clinical recommendations will be provided that are “tailor-made” to the challenges the confront both you -- and your loved one.

2. Intervention Rehearsal: Safety and Defense Precautions
We must fine-tune our actions and clarify all of our intentions. Every predictable challenge will be anticipated in advance. Ultimately, you will know exactly how to respond when we make nonconfrontational contact with your love one during our intervention session.

3. Formal Motivational Intervention Session
Conducting and closing the actual intervention meetings.

What to Expect: Choosing an Intervention Strategy and Planning

1. Assessment and Intervention Planning Meetings
Initially, our group meets for an extended session to initiate our discussions and establish the general nature of the intervention strategy. Decisive and clear recommendations will be provided to the members as the intervention model unfolds.

Such sessions are usually quite intense, and two or three hours are routinely necessary (one long session!) to construct a point of readiness for our rehearsal session. It clearly works best to schedule our rehearsal session within the next couple days. Steadfast attention shall be paid to safety-precautions and all predictable risks are to be minimized. This includes the risk of triggering unanticipated defensive reactions in the individual for which we are conducting the intervention.

Task-oriented and specific actions will be suggested to individuals when this is deemed appropriate for the success of our intervention strategy. All members will be offered my clinical guidance throughout this process. Essentially, my role is to assist you to formulate a compassionate and strategic “contact plan” (timing and logistics of the actual intervention session) and to help you deliver a powerful and effective intervention message that mobilizes immediate change – a receivable and compassionate message – an awakening to reality.

The “quality” of the actual intervention is determined by the nature of the messages that individuals present to their loved-one. My role involves managing the “contact-quality” of our intervention. Intervention is not to be coercive, combative or shaming. We extend our health-bound wishes, and offer appropriate care. I will provide you explicit recommendations and you may follow them at your own discretion.

A written outline suggesting intervention message-content will be provided to team members and this helps structure the messages of individual participants. This written outline provides the general structure for participants communications at the time of the intervention. The content of the written outline that I provide to your team members shall be “tailor-made” to respond to emotional “style” of each individual participant.

Our training will assure that you engage yourself in the formally planned intervention session knowing exactly what you will say, and you will have a strong sense of exactly how you will say it. You will also be clear about your motivations to help yourself – as well as to help the recipient of our well intended intervention message.

2) Intervention Rehearsal Sessions
Our next meeting is involves a rehearsal or “dry-run” of the formal intervention event. This event will may involve the a direct invitation of your loved one's participation, or in some cases a surprise contact plan must be elaborated. This aspect of the intervention process is critical and it is intended to diminish any unforeseen risks that may occur during the intervention itself. Practicing the actual intervention message provides the team with a sense or their potency and this reinforces our commitment to mobilize change.

3) Prepared and Confident – We Intervene!
Somewhat surprising is the fact that a well conceived intervention is usually quite brief. The formal intervention never engages argumentation or debate. All or our planning is organized to minimize conflict and intervention is never intentionally confrontational. Our planning has yielded clear answers to old patterns of defense. New and productive actions of change will be clear to you.
The doors to an appropriate facility (for formal assessment and/or treatment) must be wide open (immediately available) so that recommended care is available directly following our formal intervention session.

In many cases the “treatment-plan” involves suggestions for on-the-spot admission to a well-matched recovery center. This typically involves a complete evaluation, safe medically supervised detoxification, and an extended stay on an “inpatient” basis. All arrangements for care must be clearly established at the time we intervene. As part of our planning I will help the team establish a clear and specific “contact plan” – the time and place that we engage in the actual formal intervention.

Families and concerned others should realize that some intervention contexts do not point the individual toward formal inpatient care for an extended stay in a recovery center. Many alternatives exist, and I shall provide you appropriate recommendations. Treatment matching is one of my primary functions in managing your case.

Many substance impaired individuals can benefit from an honest “unified” and truthful message – a matter of fact – extension of concern, support, and hope.

I shall provide you with clearly justified, specific, and helpful referral options. These frequently suggest formal evaluation and corresponding care. Some teams warmly extend their message of hope and provide a clear-path to appropriate and useful resources for personal change. The intervention process should never involve hostility, threats or coercion. Intervention is first and foremost – a realistic and motivationally enhancing extension of hope - and authentic help!

Independent Intervention Specialist
Seattle Based National Family and Corporate Intervention Specialist