RedChair Pre-Intervention & Preparation
Mentality & Perspective.
It is important, from this moment on, you adopt a mentality based on the following:
- Addiction in any form is an illness which can be treated.
- We do not wait for an AI (addicted individual) to want help or hit rock bottom.
- The group has hit rock bottom already. We are ready now.
- Addiction is a family condition that affects all, so all are involved in change.
- Enabling is not helping. Enabling is the major facilitating environment for addiction to develop.
- We are going to invite the AI (addicted individual) to join us, the CO’s (Concerned Others) in recovery.
- Resist doing others people thinking for them. Assuming often creates problems.
- Keep dignity and love at the heart of the process,
- Trust that good treatment works. We just have to get them there.
- Individually we can not help a poorly person, but as a group we can. Always trust in the group consensus.
- There will no longer be any secrets or alibis regarding the nature of the addiction within the Intervention Group.
- Detail is important. A methodical approach works.
Pre-Intervention To Do List.
Keep this secret for the moment from the AI (addicted individual). Work through this process with your Interventionist.
- Forming An Intervention Group.
- Make a list of everyone who is, could, and should be in contact with the AI.
- Ignore any reasons why people should not be involved. Just list them initially.
- List health and legal history of AI.
- Discuss with Interventionist and short-list group members.
- Decide on a date and location.
- Invite members –Â asking each of them to talk with your Interventionist.
- Based on the sharing and collation of information from previous steps.
- Decide on Intervention Model. (ACT, Johnson etc)
- If it is a Johnson model, then plan a method to ensure we can meet with the AI when we need to.
- Choose and organise treatment option.
- Contact GP and prepare a GP referral letter should it be required.
- Take a deep breath. This works. It will be OK.