EATING DISORDER TREATMENT AND RECOVERY

Is your loved one suffering from an Eating Disorder disorder and in denial about needing help? A well-planned family Intervention can help get your loved one the treatment they so desperately need.
What is an Interventionist?

An Interventionist is a professional who will help to educate and empower the family so that they can influence their afflicted loved one into accepting treatment for their disorder. He or she will guide, coach, and support the family through a well-planned and customized Intervention.

You and your Interventionist will create an action plan specifically designed to help your loved one recognize their problem. The intervention plan should include building the intervention team (typically family and close friends), enabling, how to lovingly (yet effectively) set healthy boundaries, what an intervention is and what it is not, intervention setting, and writing letters to be used at the intervention, and more.

During this process, the interventionist will also coordinate the enrollment and entrance into a treatment program that is best suited to your loved one’s needs. 

If your loved one is in denial about their eating disorder, take the first step today and find a Professional Interventionist who can help.

How Do Eating Disorder Interventionists Work?
The first step in the eating disorder intervention process is to seek help. If your family member or loved one has an eating disorder but is unwilling to admit it, you don’t have to sit back and watch them suffer in denial. You can do something to help!

Do some research and find an eating disorder interventionist in your area. Once you’ve identified an interventionist contact them and let them know what’s going on.

After speaking directly with the interventionist specialist, they will create an action plan specifically designed to motivate your loved one to recognize his or her problem and enter treatment. The intervention plan will include factors like the setting, participants involved (family members, etc.), and a specific approach best suited to your loved one’s needs.

Before the intervention, the specialist may spend time educating you and your family on eating disorders and how you can best support and help your loved one during treatment.

The intervention itself will most likely involve a counseling session/s, so family and friends have a chance to share how the disorder’s destructive behavior has impacted them. If the individual agrees to treatment, the interventionist will typically coordinate the enrollment and entrance into a treatment program.

Interventionists help countless people recognize their illnesses and accept their need for help. In fact, a study on ED interventions showed that there is an 89 percent success rate with an intervention.

If your loved one is in denial about their eating disorder, take the first step today and find a professional eating disorder interventionist in your area who can help.

Reach out for support 

Interventionist Joe Ortiz can help guide you and your family through the intervention process. Together you will explore how the eating disorder is affecting your relationships—and how various family dynamics may be contributing to the problem or impeding recovery. Joe will help you regain control of your lives and enter into a life of Recovery. Recovery for the whole family!

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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EATING DISORDER TREATMENT AND RECOVERY Read More »

STEPS OF AN INTERVENTION PROCESS

The stress and burden of watching a loved one struggle is too great for most of us to bear alone. We begin to react and respond emotionally, often feeling isolated, lost, and afraid during this time.

Interventionist Joe Ortiz has helped many families move from fear to hope.

When it comes to getting treatment and finding recovery, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Interventionist Joe Ortiz’s experience gives him unique insight to know which possible solutions will be the best fit for your family.

FIND A SOLUTION

Joe believes that meeting the client where they are at is a very important and crucial aspect of his work. One of Joe’s greatest strengths is the ability to create a safe, loving, and caring dynamic within the family. Creating a loving and safe environment is key to overall success.

CREATE AN INTERVENTION TEAM

Over the years, Joe has learned that working with families and their loved ones in a loving and caring dynamic enhances the intervention process and allows family, friends, and loved ones more ability to relate safely and positively.

GUIDE THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

Joe guides families in selecting the appropriate treatment for their loved ones. The goal is always to select the most appropriate clinical treatment that is either covered by insurance and/or is within the family’s budget. As an independent interventionist, he is not connected to any one treatment center in the country. Meaning he has no administrator relationships with any center ensuring the highest ethical conduct.

EDUCATE THE FAMILY SUPPORT TEAM

Joe believes in recovery for all. He is committed to helping families and their loved ones as a whole, so all can become healthier and happier. He helps each member of the family develop and practice self-care and establish clear boundaries.

SPEAK WITH JOE ORITZ AND TOGETHER, WE’LL FIND A HEALING SOLUTION TO GET YOUR LOVED ONE THE HELP THEY NEED.
BOOK CONSULTATION
Call 732-599-7817 for a free, confidential consultation.

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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STEPS OF AN INTERVENTION PROCESS Read More »

THE FAMILY’S RECOVERY IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE RECOVERY FROM ADDICTION

How to Help Your Loved One When They Don’t Want Help
I often get calls from friends and family members asking for guidance for a loved one. They are watching a parent, a child, a spouse, or someone they love in pain and want to get them help.

One of the first questions I ask is, “Does the person want help?”

The answer to this question greatly affects the guidance I can offer someone. The frustrating part about any mental illness, including substance use disorders, is that the person who suffers typically has an altered perception of how their actions affect themselves and the people around them. The idea of help may not enter their mind because they truly don’t believe there is a problem. In some cases, this is denial. In other cases, this is a lack of insight.

When walking families through the process of getting help, these are some of my biggest messages:

Get help for yourself first—it’s just like when you are on a plane and the flight attendants remind you to put your oxygen mask on first before you help another person. Working through your own “stuff” helps you be available to your loved ones in a positive way.

Set realistic expectations—often family members just want their loved ones to be “fixed”. I set the tone with families that recovery is a process and you can’t put a timeframe around getting better. Expectations are especially important for parents to orient around as sometimes children are pushed back into activities or school sooner than is recommended.
You can’t work harder than your loved one—there are times that I see family members go into crisis mode getting help for their loved ones as the person sits back without buy-in to the process. As frustrating as it is to sit back and “do nothing”, the person must be willing to engage in their own treatment and recovery before changes can take place.

Time takes time—I have to reiterate to families that we have to allow a person time to recover. Their recovery is not on our timeline, it is their own journey. That does not mean family members don’t have healthy boundaries or reasonable expectations. This is where working with a professional Interventionist can be very helpful for loved ones to have their own parallel journey of recovery.
I enjoy supporting family members through their own journey as their loved one struggles with their addiction. As painful as it can be to watch a loved one suffer, it is also empowering and freeing for family members to learn that they have tools they can use to keep themselves healthy through the process.

There is hope in recovery and my best work is when I can instill that in individuals, their families, and the communities they live in.

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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YES, IT WORKS. YOU ARE WORTH IT. YOUR FAMILY IS WORTH IT!

An Intervention.

One simple word, but yet it evokes such a vast range of emotions. Fear, anxiety, hurt, pain, and bitterness can all keep us from taking this step in addiction recovery. Thoughts that swirl through the mind when contemplating an intervention could include:

  • What will they do?
  • What will they say?
  • What should I say?
  • What if I screw it up?
  • What if they hate me?

This mental narrative can prevent us from taking necessary action. 

YES, IT WORKS. YOU ARE WORTH IT. YOUR FAMILY IS WORTH IT.

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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YES, IT WORKS. YOU ARE WORTH IT. YOUR FAMILY IS WORTH IT! Read More »

THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC

According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics there were an estimated 100,306 drug overdose deaths in the United States from April 2020 to April 2021. This was an increase of 28.5% from the 78,056 deaths during the same period the year before. 1

How did we get here?  In the mid-1990’s, Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, promoted its Opioid based pain killer as “safe”, “effective” and “non-addictive”. Purdue launched a massive marketing campaign and marketed this powerful drug as “non-addictive” knowing full well that in fact, it was. Other pharmaceutical companies followed suit, though not on as large a scale as Purdue. 2

In addition, despite a lack of adequate studies, the FDA approved the medication for both short term and long term pain. Thus beginning the over prescribing by physicians across the country and leading to the Opioid epidemic that we still find ourselves in today. There have been several waves of this epidemic since the 1990’s which have included Heroin and the proliferation of the very deadly synthetic based opioid, Fentanyl. 2

In my own personal and professional experience, I have met many individuals that were prescribed an opioid drug for acute or chronic pain and found themselves addicted in a relatively short period of time. Many of these people had never had any type of addiction problem prior to taking this medication. The opioid was typically prescribed for an injury or after a surgical procedure. These people came from all kinds of backgrounds. Backgrounds such as injured high school athletes, business executives, attorneys, nurses, union workers, urbanites, suburbanites…etc. The list goes on and on. In the nine years I’ve been sober, I have personally lost three friends to an opioid overdose. Leaving behind heart broken families, children and friends.

But, there is also the good news. In my personal and professional experience, I have also known countless others who have overcome their opioid addiction and have remained in long term Recovery like myself. Men and women, young and old, from of all sorts of backgrounds, living happy, healthy, and productive lives.  As difficult as it can be, there is Help and there is Hope! Lives are being saved and families are being restored. There is an entire army of people fighting this epidemic! Interventionists like myself, therapists who specialize in addiction, detoxes and rehabs, physicians, law enforcement, government, non-profits, and many, many more. There are scores of people willing to help those who need of Recovery! I encourage you to reach out to these people and organizations for help! Thousands of people are recovering today! Yes! We Do Recover!

If your family is struggling with a loved one addicted to opioids or any other substance, please call me for a free consultation. An intervention may be just what you and your family need. Let’s build a strong family team and begin your journey to wellness and wholeness.  Your journey of Recovery!

I hope this article helps someone today!  Love and light to you all!

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist

Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method
Cell:  732-599-7817

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ADDICTIONS EFFECT ON FAMILIES

I wanted to write about this very important subject. When I begin to work with a family, I immediately see the painful and damaging effects their loved one’s addiction is having on them. Every member of that family is negatively impacted in one way or another. They have become sickened and often they are suffering even more than the addict or alcoholic themselves. I say this for the following reasons. First, the addicted or alcoholic loved one is almost always incapable of seeing the destruction they are causing. They honestly do not see “what the big deal is”. Delusion and denial are just two of the classic symptoms of addiction. Second, their addicted loved one has an “escape” from the insanity they create. Their “escape” is their substance of choice. The family typically does not have an escape. Third, by the time a family reaches out for help they are mentally, emotionally and spiritually exhausted.

What is the answer to all this? Recovery. Recovery for the entire family. How is this achieved? The family needs to learn a new perspective and approach to the problem. They need to learn about addiction, enabling, boundaries, natural consequences, and a new way of communicating. And then they need to take action. When a family learns these things, executes a plan of recovery and intervenes, that is where change begins. Remember: If nothing changes, then nothing changes. Something different and new needs to be done. Recovery and change take work. But it’s so worth the journey!

Please contact me, Joe Ortiz, to learn more. You can call me at 732-599-7817 or fill out the private contact form on this website. Thank you!

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist

Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method
Cell:  732-599-7817

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ADDICTIONS EFFECT ON FAMILIES Read More »

CHOOSING AN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTER

Choosing the right Substance Abuse Treatment Facility is very important when it comes to your loved one’s recovery from addiction. Matching your loved one’s needs with the most appropriate clinical care and treatment setting can make a very big difference in their long-term success.

Here are some considerations to keep in mind when conducting your search: Does the treatment center specialize in substance use disorders? Do they offer treatment for “other” mental disorders that may be contributing to your loved one’s addiction? Do they offer a family program? Are they JCAHO accredited? Do they accept your health insurance plan? What are their ratings/reviews on Google? These are just a few of the questions you will want answers to.

It may also be helpful to try and match the treatment facility with your loved one’s interests and personality. For example: If your loved one enjoys the outdoors you may want to choose a facility located in the mountains. If they love animals, you may want a program that offers equine therapy. The right setting may help your loved one feel better about being in treatment. Of course, none of this should ever be the first consideration. The most important factor is that the treatment facility offers exceptional clinical care. Sometimes, a person may be able to recover by being treated in an Outpatient Treatment setting. You still want to ask the same questions and look for answers that meet your loved one’s needs.

I hope this blog is helpful to you. If your family is struggling because of a loved one’s substance abuse problem and you are considering an Intervention, please call me at 732-599-7817 or email me at joeortizinterventionist@gmail.com for a free consultation.

Love and Light to you all!

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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CHOOSING AN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTER Read More »

ADDICTION: FAMILY IN CRISIS

By the time a family reaches out to me for help they are exhausted and in real crisis. They’ve done everything they can and know to do in order to help their addicted loved one. Unfortunately, be it alcohol or drugs, the result is typically the same. The entire family is suffering emotionally, mentally, and even physically. Addiction causes a ripple effect and negatively impacts everyone in the family.

During the Intervention process my team and I teach families how to approach the problem in a new way. We provide them with a new perspective. We teach them to change their family dynamic in order to effect change in their addicted loved one. We show the family how to lovingly, yet firmly, start delivering a new message. A message that says, “We love you and we will support you in your efforts to recover, but we will no longer support your addiction.” That is just one aspect of what we do. A very important one. When the family dynamics and responses change, their loved one has no choice but to change. The family expresses, “We want change, we want Recovery, and we want you to Recover with us. Will you join us?” Boundaries are established and put into place and lovingly yet resolutely followed through on or if you prefer, enforced. When it comes to addiction, a family needs to be strengthened and empowered in order to regain control of their lives!

Addiction is a family disease. Recovery is the family solution. Love and Light to you all!

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist

Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method
Cell:  732-599-7817

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ADDICTION: FAMILY IN CRISIS Read More »

HOLIDAYS AND RECOVERY

The holiday season is meant to be a joyous occasion that brings family and friends together. For those of us in recovery the holidays can also be a bit challenging. Especially in early recovery. Here are a few tips on how to protect your sobriety and enjoy the holidays: 1. Bring a sober friend with you to holiday gatherings for support if possible. 2. Carry a non-alcoholic drink with you during a holiday party. No one has to know that it’s not alcohol. 3. Always keep an eye on your drink so as not to pick up the wrong one. 4. Create an exit strategy. You can arrive a little late and leave a little early if you feel that you’re sobriety is in jeopardy. Say something like “My babysitter needs to get home early” or “I have an appointment at the crack of dawn.” 5. Avoid people and places that may trigger you whenever possible. 6. Get to AA or NA meetings if you practice the 12 Steps or to whatever support group you belong to.

In my own personal experience, I found some of these methods to be very helpful. Especially in my early recovery! Now 8 years later, I am free to partake in holiday gatherings without any desire for a mood or mind-altering substance. I hope that you find these tips to be useful! Happy Holidays!

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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HOLIDAYS AND RECOVERY Read More »

ADDICTION: STIGMA VS. FACTS

Many families and their loved ones struggle with the stigma of addiction. One definition of stigma is “a negative attitude or discrimination against someone based on a distinguishing characteristic such as mental illness, health condition, or disability.” Unfortunately, even in this day and age, there is still a large portion of our society that view addiction in this way. They see it as a disgrace or a moral weakness. It is neither. Stigma is nothing more than ignorance and ignorance is defined as “lack of knowledge or information.”

The fact of the matter is that addiction is a mental disorder. Period. The National Institute on Drug Abuse, a U.S. government medical agency, defines addiction as ” a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain. It is considered both a complex brain disorder and a mental illness.” Folks, when we talk about addiction or alcoholism, we are talking about a Disease. Not disgrace or moral weakness.

I know it’s hard to let go of the feelings of shame, embarrassment and guilt that are often associated with this family disease. Take the time to educate and inform yourselves on what is true and what is not. The brain is an organ like any other organ in the body. Although incredibly complex, it too can be diseased. This brain disease involves complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences including trauma.

Here is the good news! This is a treatable disease and it can be arrested. You and your loved ones can end the vicious cycle of addiction. Forget about the ignorance of others and the stigma out there and take action! You can do this! Be encouraged! Thousands upon thousands have recovered and you can too! There is help! There is Hope! If you or someone you love is struggling, I am here to help. Love and Light to you all!

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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ADDICTION: STIGMA VS. FACTS Read More »

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