Family and close friends of those suffering from alcoholism and drug abuse often become painfully caught up in the illness themselves. Consulting an expert skilled in drug and alcohol intervention can help families gain perspective, reduce confusion, and identify constructive next steps.

From my Cambridge office, I serve families across the greater Boston area and also support clients throughout Massachusetts via telehealth.

The Toll of Addiction on Family Members

The lives of adult children of substance abusers, partners, parents of troubled adult offspring, siblings, and close friends may become consumed by efforts to manage unpredictable behavior and cope with its consequences. Fear, frustration, and anger often give way to hopelessness and a sense of helplessness. Over time, family members may begin to question their self-worth and their ability to direct their own lives as they face the challenges of living with an addicted loved one.

Getting Help for an Addicted Loved One

Whether you are seeking help for someone who has never been in treatment or reassessing strategies that are no longer working, consulting a therapist with expertise in intervention can help. A professional with wide-ranging knowledge of treatment options, including alcohol treatment resources and methods of intervention, can assist in identifying an approach that increases the likelihood that your loved one will accept care.

Getting Help for Family Members

Family intervention can help significant others interrupt a downward emotional spiral by learning how to communicate concern without creating defensiveness and by reducing unintentional reinforcement of drinking behavior. Caregivers—those who over-function to compensate for the under-functioning of the substance abuser—are supported in finding ways to protect their own well-being and emotional stability.

Questions about Intervention

What if my loved one refuses to go to treatment or repeatedly relapses?

Neither situation is uncommon. Working with a therapist skilled in family intervention can help you set safe. realistic boundaries and reduce painful interactions so your own well-being and stability improve even if your addicted loved one is not yet ready to change.

To what extent does intervention prepare for the demands of the family (and the substance abuser) after return from treatment?

What happens after your loved one enters addiction treatment is as critical as the steps involved in getting him there. Careful preparation and often ongoing family work is critical to preventing a return to old dysfunctional habits.

Is effective intervention always highly labor-intensive and financially costly?

No. There are many effective ways of intervening when your loved one needs treatment. A skilled therapist typically begins with the least intensive steps likely to succeed, reserving more involved approaches for situations where simpler strategies have been unsuccessful or clearly inappropriate.

How important is it for me to get help for myself when a partner, parent, or adult child has a problem?

Getting help for yourself when a loved one is in need of treatment can make a meaningful difference in how you cope and is often an essential first step toward a successful intervention.

Is getting my significant other to see a therapist with me in a “couples format” a good way to intervene?

In some circumstances this may be helpful, but it is often not the most effective first step. An initial consultation with a therapist experienced in working with families affected by substance use can help determine how best to proceed.

If my loved one agrees to attend a residential or rehab program, should we expect better outcomes from more expensive options?

No. There is little correlation between treatment success and cost. Differences in price are more often related to amenities than to the quality or effectiveness of care.

If amenities are important to my loved one, does it make sense to pay significantly more to obtain them?

Possibly—if those features make the difference between accepting treatment or refusing it. However, higher-cost options should be considered carefully, particularly given that more than one round of treatment is often required.

Are you curious about how an intervention in the Boston area might work for your family?

Links to Relevant Resources

Readings

Self Help Programs