Trauma-Informed Culturally Respectful International Interventions

Helping Loved Ones Enter Treatment and Stay Supported When They Return Home

Recognizing that a loved one, friend, family member or a colleague needs help may take time, sometimes years and often by the time it is apparent a person needs help it may be very difficult — almost impossible — for you to convince them to get help or enter into treatment. 

We have often heard from clients that they were told that their loved one “needs to hit rock bottom” or “they just arent ready yet to get help” -- words to someone who cares about a person who is self-harming through alcohol, drugs, disordered eating or other life-threatening behaviour would certainly cause agony as they think: What is Rock Bottom? or How much worse does it have to get before someone will help?

An Intervention is a Structured Process aimed at saving a life.

Utilzing a Trauma-Informed Culturally Sensitive Intervention, the person of concern is encouraged and motivated to recognize the need for help for an addiction to drugs, alcohol, eating disorders or any compulsive behavior or other problems.The goal of the Intervention is to approach the individual of concern in a manner which is compassionate and non-threatening, and to help them to see how their substance use or behaviour is impacting their life – and the lives of all around them, their health, their work, their future.

All Interventions begin with an assessment and discussion and depending on the seriousness and nature of the self-harming behavior a suggested path for the Intervention is recommended. 

A Culturally Respectful International Intervention utilizes various models of interventions based on the needs of the person of concern — all possible rejections by the person of concern are addressed,  all family members are coached on how to present their concerns, every detail of the client's transfer to treatment is prepared in advance so that they may swiftly move from home to treatment center. 

Another very important aspect of the CRII is the need for flexibility and the ability to roll with the resistance of the person of concern. Only our Interventionists have the International acumen to adapt to the ever changing landscape of Interventions.

While it is helpful to have a solid pathway when working with people -- especially people with addictions and behavioral health needs -- one needs to be able to find immediate solutions, recalculate the course and implement diverse options for the client. 

One of the most useful Intervention Methods is the ARISE® Intervention and Continuing Care process. This process developed by Dr. Juidth Landau (USA) is highly effective at helping individuals and families dealing with addiction (either substances or process/behavioural addictions) or any chronic, relapsing mental or physical illness.

All Interventions are a process, not a single isolated event, with the primary goal of long-term sustainable recovery. 

The process begins with a conversation, may progress to a family meeting and depending on outcomes of each process, incremental pressure is applied until treatment is achieved. Family and significant members of the individual’s support system are encouraged to participate in the process. 

[“Results of a clinical trial in the United States through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) resulted in 83% of addicted individuals entering treatment in three weeks and 96% in 6 months. Several real world replication studies showed 61% sober by the end of the first year, with an additional 10% using less. - ARISE Network Continuum of Care]