Help Guides How To Stage An Intervention

What is an intervention?

An intervention is a carefully planned conversation where friends, family or loved ones come together to express their concern for someone who is struggling with addiction or harmful behaviours. The aim is not to shame or punish, but to help the person recognise the impact of their actions and encourage them to accept help.

Typically, an intervention involves a small group of people calmly and honestly sharing how the person’s behaviour has affected them. It’s often structured in advance to avoid emotional outbursts and to make sure everyone stays focused on offering support and solutions.

Things to consider when staging an intervention

You can’t just jump into an intervention and hope for the best. As much as you want to help, the wrong approach can do more harm than good. Interventions need to be planned with care, patience and a real understanding of the person you’re trying to reach.

To help you prepare, here’s a simple breakdown of what to do and what to avoid, both before and during the intervention.

✅ Before the intervention: what to do

✅ Choose the right people

Pick a small group your loved one trusts. Calm, grounded voices will be far more effective than those who carry tension or resentment.

✅ Write down what you want to say

It helps to prepare your words in advance. Focus on expressing concern, not criticism. Keep it about how you feel rather than what they’ve done wrong.

✅ Pick a calm time and a private space

Avoid intervening when they’ve just used, are tired or stressed. Choose a time when they’re sober and the environment is quiet and safe.

✅ Have rehab info ready

If they say yes, don’t let that window close. Have contact details, programme info and availability on hand so you can act quickly.

✅ Practice with others beforehand

Have a run-through so everyone stays on track. There’s no harm in a bit of practice beforehand.

❌ Before the intervention: what to avoid

❌ Surprising them in public

Doing it in front of others or ambushing them in a high-stress setting can trigger shame and defensiveness.

❌ Bringing too many people

An intervention isn’t a crowd. More voices can feel like more pressure, and that rarely leads to a breakthrough.

❌ Blaming or attacking language

Avoid “You always…” or “You never…” statements. They immediately put people on the defensive.

❌ Going in without support options

Saying “you need help” without having what that help looks like prepared can make the conversation fall flat.

✅ During the intervention: what to do

✅ Stay calm, even if emotions run high

If they lash out, walk away or cry, stay steady. Your calm presence may be what brings them back later.

✅ Speak honestly but with care

Use “I” statements. Let them know how their actions are affecting you and others but keep the tone loving.

✅ Offer a clear next step

Tell them what help is available now. “There’s a space at a centre we spoke to. I’ll go with you tomorrow if you want.”

✅ Let them know the door stays open

If they’re not ready, make it clear they’re still loved and that support is still waiting when they are.

❌ During the intervention: what to avoid

❌ Raising your voice or arguing

Even if you feel frustrated, shouting or debating will only push them further away.

❌ Piling on guilt or shame

The goal is to open the door, not to push them through it with guilt.

❌ Getting derailed by side topics

Keep the focus on your concern for their well-being, not past arguments or unrelated issues.

❌ Leaving it open-ended with no plan

Saying “You need help” without offering a path to get it can make the moment feel pointless.

Is it worth seeking help from an intervention specialist?

Staging an intervention can be emotionally exhausting and it’s not always easy to know if you’re approaching it the right way. This is where an intervention specialist can help. These professionals are trained to guide families through the process by helping you plan what to say, who should be involved and how to handle difficult reactions.

Having someone to bounce ideas off or talk you through the dos and don’ts in real time can be the difference between a breakthrough and a breakdown. When things feel tense or uncertain, a specialist offers calm, experienced support and helps keep the focus on your loved one’s well-being.

If you’re not sure where to begin or how to find the right support, contact Addiction Helper. We can talk you through your options and help you take the first step with confidence.

My loved one hasn’t responded well to the intervention – what can I do?

Sometimes, despite your best efforts and heartfelt words, the person you’re trying to help may lash out, deny there’s a problem or leave the intervention entirely. It’s painful, especially when you and everyone in the room can see how serious things have become. But they either can’t see it themselves or they’re not ready to face it. So, what do you do now? Give up? Shrug and say, “Well, at least I tried”?

That’s not what anyone truly wants.

If you’ve found yourself in this situation, the most important thing is not to let their reaction derail the bigger picture. Interventions often plant a seed, even if the response at the time is defensive or cold. Keep the door open. Let them know you’re still there for them and that help is available when they’re ready. Just because they said no today doesn’t mean they’ll say no tomorrow.

My loved one responded well to the intervention – what are the next steps?

If your loved one accepted the intervention and is open to getting help, that’s an incredibly positive step forward. It’s also where all the rehab planning you did beforehand becomes vital. They may be emotional, scared or even unsure about what saying “yes” really means, so the more prepared you are, the easier it will be to keep that momentum going.

This is the time to bring out the information you’ve gathered: names of rehab centres, the types of programmes available, what the first steps involve. The smoother the process feels, the more likely they’ll follow through.

If you haven’t yet made those arrangements or you’re unsure what to do now, that’s where we come in. At Addiction Helper, we can support you through this next stage. Whether it’s booking an assessment, finding the most suitable rehab centre or simply explaining how it all works, we’ll walk you through it step by step.

We’re here to make sure the momentum continues and that your loved one gets the help they need while they’re ready to take it.

Frequently Asked Questions