Help For Your Loved One Begins With The Family First
What Makes Our Family First Interventionists Unique?
Recovery From Addiction and Mental Health Starts On the Inside
The way your family is addressing the problem may be drawing you further away from a solution.
The family member with a substance use or mental health disorder is often viewed as the cause of the problem. Although a valid point of view, the way the family roles change in response to the chaos and drama of the addiction and mental health concerns is equally problematic.
Who we are and how we came to be Family First Intervention
Being emotionally attached and overwhelmed can compromise the ability to find successful solutions. An unbiased professional is able to see things much differently. Here are some effective approaches.
The Non-Negotiable in Intervention
The family is often forgotten in this drama. We started Family First Intervention to meet an unaddressed need in dealing with the addiction and mental health problem and, hopefully, provide a solution. We believe that rare is the loved one with a mental disorder, drug addiction, or who is an alcoholic capable of sustaining a comfortable situation (i.e., the addiction) without assistance from someone or something else. With all we know about addiction, mental health, and dual diagnoses, and with all the opinions and theories as to what works best, we have witnessed one thing, both professionally and personally, that appears to be nonnegotiable for the treatment process to begin. That nonnegotiable is some form of recognition of the hardships and consequences of addiction and mental health behavior. We do not believe these things alone get or keep anyone sober or stabilized. We do believe it is the most impactful way to start the process. To move through the stages of change, at least from pre-contemplation (denial) to contemplation (awareness that a problem exists), ambivalence needs to be introduced into the situation.
Until the loved one with a substance use or mental disorder sees a greater need to seek help than not, it is inevitable that little to nothing will change.
No one with addiction and mental health struggles accepts help, wants help, or asks for help when things are going well. No one asks for help or wants help when provided comfort and is enabled and encouraged while acting out negative behavior.
— Mike Loverde, MHS, CIP
Mission Statement
To provide every family of a loved one with a substance use or mental disorder the opportunity for closure, knowing they did all they could to help themselves and their loved one.
Vision Statement
We look forward to the day when the healing of the family is recognized as at least as important as the healing of the loved one with a substance use or mental disorder.
We believe the family has a more accurate assessment of the situation than their loved one with a substance use or mental disorder.
We believe there are many underlying factors that prevent a family from doing an intervention.
We believe all our clients are good people, some of whom are making unhealthy decisions.
We believe all our clients have the ability to change and improve the quality of their lives.
We believe we are making a difference in the world.
We believe in what we are doing.
We believe in simultaneous recovery for both the family and the loved one with substance use or mental health concerns.
We believe in treating others with respect and compassion.
We believe in listening.
We believe in empathy.
Families often play a larger role in the life of their loved one with a substance use or mental disorder than they may realize.
Many believe the problem is either solely the addiction or mental health. Families almost always default to a mental health concern, even when alcohol and drug use is present or obvious. Many do this to convince themselves that enabling is necessary to help their loved one who is a victim of mental health concerns. For many, it is easier to justify enabling a mental health disorder than an addiction. Very few see early on that the shifting of the family system due to enabling and ineffective strategies for coping with the problem is of equal importance and requires attention. If an addict, alcoholic, or someone with mental health concerns is comforted by the family, he or she may never see the need for change and ask for help. Families react, engage, and enable for various reasons. Some of these reasons may include their own family of origin, guilt, shame, and the role of being needed in the relationship. Others may feel that serving as the loved one’s caretaker will prevent things from becoming worse. What we know and see today is that families often enable and react to chaos in exchange for the comfort they receive. Families receive comfort as well by avoiding a confrontation. Interestingly enough, therapeutic confrontation is one of the most effective intervention tools professionals use to bring about change within a group.
The fear of change must become secondary to the fear of staying the same. Until then, all those involved are likely to have further struggles.
What a Successful Outcome Looks Like
We believe in our mission, values, and goals statements. Remaining faithful to our purpose reveals itself in our performance. By focusing on families and remembering what we are trying to accomplish, we can help improve upon our goals. We know from experience that the families who use our services see their loved ones do far better in treatment than those whose families fail to change as well. Common reasons for a successful outcome include family boundaries, self-awareness, education, insight, and accountability with regard to a loved one with a substance use or mental disorder.
How We Provide You With the Most Effective Intervention Services
Our outcome measures are essential to determine if what you are doing is working. It allows us to add or deduct services. When something is working, we continue doing it and always look for new ways to see if it can be improved upon. If it is not working, we look for how it can be corrected or if it needs to be removed from our program altogether. We believe that by retaining the best staff who share the same belief in our mission, vision, values, and goals, we can provide you with the most effective intervention services to help you and your loved one achieve your goals.
An intervention is not about how to control your loved one with a substance use or mental health disorder; it is about learning how to let go of believing you can.
An Overview of Our Mental Health, Drug, and Alcohol Intervention Process
What makes Family First Intervention different is this: we are a team. Although there are many good intervention professionals who can help, most operate alone or with only a few others in their organization. Our process starts with a call or a chat with a live person or filling out a contact form which receives prompt attention. Beginning with the initial contact, it is our responsibility to listen to you, to hear where you are, and to see how we can help.
Most families do not know what they want, but even when they do, they don’t know how to achieve it. By listening, we can understand how best to proceed. Once your loved one accepts help – we will escort them directly to the treatment center approved upon.
Meet Our Professional Interventionists
Our team of professionals knows what it takes to help you and your family find healing.
Family First Intervention Professionals Come to You
Family First Intervention
Helpful Resources for You and Your Loved Ones
Why You Need a Professional Interventionist
The desired outcome of the intervention process is that regardless of your loved one’s decision to accept or refuse help, the family will understand how to cope and navigate either outcome.