The Power of Family Unity: How an Intervention Can Help Loved Ones Struggling with Addiction.

Addiction can be a relentless and devastating force in a person’s life, affecting not only the individual but also their family and loved ones. When someone you care about is struggling with addiction, it’s natural to feel helpless, worried, and desperate to find a way to help them. In such challenging times, one powerful tool that can make all the difference is an intervention.

An intervention is a carefully planned and structured process that involves close friends and family members coming together to confront their loved one about their addiction and encourage them to seek help. In this blog, we will explore how bringing the family together and presenting a unified front can be a game-changer in convincing someone to accept the help they need.

1. Strength in Unity

Addiction often isolates individuals, making them feel alone and disconnected from their loved ones. By organizing an intervention, family members and friends can demonstrate their love, concern, and unity in helping their loved one overcome addiction. This collective show of support can be a powerful message that communicates, “You are not alone in this battle.”

2. Breaking Denial

One of the significant barriers to seeking help for addiction is denial. Individuals in active addiction often convince themselves that they don’t have a problem or that they can manage it on their own. During an intervention, family members and friends can provide concrete examples of how their loved one’s addiction has affected their lives. This can help shatter the walls of denial and make the person more receptive to treatment.

3. Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment

Interventions are typically conducted in a safe and supportive environment, often with the guidance of a professional interventionist. This environment encourages open and honest communication, allowing the individual struggling with addiction to express their feelings and concerns as well. It’s not just about confronting the person but also about providing them with a path towards recovery.

4. Presenting Treatment Options

One of the most important goals of an intervention is presenting viable treatment options. With the help of the interventionist professional, family members and friends can research and prepare information about treatment centers, therapy options, and support groups, offering a roadmap for their loved one’s recovery journey.

5. Motivation and Accountability

During an intervention, family members can express their love and desire to see their loved one healthy and happy. They can also outline the consequences if the individual continues down the path of addiction. This combination of motivation and accountability can be a compelling reason for the person to accept help.

6. Timing is Key

Timing an intervention is crucial. It should be conducted as soon as possible and before things escalate further. It should also be conducted when the individual is relatively stable and not intoxicated, if at all possible. Being proactive can prevent more severe consequences down the road.

Conclusion

When a loved one is struggling with addiction, it can feel like you’re standing on the sidelines, unable to make a difference. However, organizing an intervention can be a powerful way to bridge the gap and guide them toward the help they need. By bringing the family together, you present a unified front that communicates love, concern, and a genuine desire for their well-being. With the right support, encouragement, and treatment options, an intervention can indeed make all the difference in helping a loved one on their path to recovery.

Love and light to you all! 

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method
Cell:  732-599-7817

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The Power of Intervention: Transforming Lives in the Face of Addiction

In the battle against addiction, a crucial turning point often lies in the hands of a single decision: the decision to stage an intervention. When a loved one is caught in the grip of substance abuse, their world can quickly spiral out of control, leaving them isolated and in despair. This is where the compassionate guidance of an interventionist like Joe Ortiz can make all the difference.

Breaking the Silence

Addiction has a way of silencing its victims. The shame, guilt, and fear associated with substance abuse can lead individuals to withdraw from their support systems, leaving friends and family feeling helpless. However, silence is not an option when it comes to saving a loved one’s life.

The Role of the Interventionist

Joe Ortiz, a seasoned interventionist, understands the complexities of addiction and the emotional turmoil it inflicts on both the individual and their family. With years of experience, Joe specializes in orchestrating interventions that provide a platform for open communication, understanding, and ultimately, recovery.

A Turning Point

Interventions are a powerful tool for change. They create an opportunity for loved ones to come together, express their concerns, and offer a lifeline to the person in need. Joe Ortiz facilitates these gatherings, guiding families through the process with empathy and expertise.

The Path to Healing

The decision to call Joe Ortiz Interventionist at 732-599-7817 is not just a call for help; it’s a call for hope. It’s a step towards breaking the chains of addiction and a commitment to reclaiming a life that has been lost or derailed.

Recovery is Possible

The message is clear: recovery is possible, and it begins with the power of intervention. Joe Ortiz has witnessed countless individuals transform their lives after an intervention, and he is dedicated to helping more families experience the same hope and healing.

If you have a loved one who is struggling with addiction, don’t let silence be their only companion. Reach out to Joe Ortiz Interventionist at 732-599-7817, and together, let’s take that critical step towards a brighter, addiction-free future.

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INTERVENTION: A SUCCESS STORY

Often, when families reach out to me for help, they are at their very end. Meaning, they have tried everything they could think of and yet have not been able to convince their loved one to accept help for their addiction. The family is exhausted and feeling utterly hopeless. Sometimes, they decide to go through an intervention process as a “last ditch effort”. The “final box” to check off in order to be able to say, “We’ve tried everything. This is it.”  

Recently, I worked with one such family. I was hired by the eldest of two sons, both of whom are in their mid to late twenties. Their mother had been drinking alcoholically for many years and they were going to make one final attempt to help her. For the purposes of this writing, I will call her Abby.

Throughout the years, there had been many ugly scenes in Abby’s house. There were arguments and hurtful things said. There were falls resulting in broken bones, and other health challenges due to the drinking. The family was on the verge of collapse. Her husband had filed for divorce, which pained him greatly because he still loves his wife very much.

The four of us got to work and prepared carefully for the intervention. With my help, and support they did a great job in getting ready. We set a date and time and met with Abby.

Abby reluctantly participated in the conversation. With my help she was able to listen to her family. Her son’s and her husband were able to express their love and concern, and how her alcoholism was affecting them. They expressed how they wanted to see her happy and healthy and how they needed change. By the end of our meeting, we were able to help Abby see the reality of her life. We were able to overcome her denial. We convinced her to accept help for her drinking. 

That was four months ago and I’m happy to say that Abby is still sober. She is actively engaged in her program of recovery. Her husband has put the divorce on hold. Her sons are happy to have their mom back. They all have some work cut out for them but there is a new found peace in their home.

I believe Abby accepted the fact that she has a real problem. I believe she is committed to recovering. I can see it in her eyes and hear it when she speaks. I believe that this family is on the road to recovery!

Love and light to you all! 

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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HOW TO CELEBRATE NEW YEARS SOBER

New Year’s Eve, like so many other holidays, is often steeped in drinking culture. Many attend parties where drinking is expected, and celebrate the New Year at midnight with champagne. For those in early recovery, it may feel like New Year’s Eve is a holiday that doesn’t mix well with sobriety. However, being sober doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate. There are several ways one can have a sober New Year’s Eve while still having fun.

Host Your Own Sober Party

One of the best ways to cut the booze out of New Year’s Eve would be to throw your own party. This would allow you to keep things sober. The party can be large or small, and can be relegated to close friends and family. It may be a good idea to invite those who you know are supportive of your recovery efforts. 

There are also ways to make the New Year’s Eve party fun and exciting without booze. For example, you could give the party a 1920s theme, and focus on creating ambience and encouraging dancing. You could also host a party game, like hosting a murder mystery night. Overall, there are plenty of ways to organize a sober New Year’s Eve party.

Take a Vacation for a Sober New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is also a great time to take a vacation. You won’t be expected to attend a New Year’s Eve party if you’re away from home. While vacations can be expensive, they can also be a great way to start off the New Year. Time off from work and your usual routine can be an effective way to disconnect from your life. Spending time relaxing can help foster better mental health in the New Year.

There are plenty of places to go on a sober vacation during winter. Maybe you and your friends could organize a ski trip during the New Year. Perhaps you want to escape the winter weather by heading south. There are also several countries that don’t celebrate the Gregorian calendar New Year, and hence can make great destinations to avoid the New Year’s celebrations.

Keep it Small for a Sober New Year’s Eve

One of the best strategies would be to keep whatever sober gatherings you have small. When in early recovery, you’ll want to surround yourself with caring and understanding individuals. Friends and close family members that are supporting you during your recovery may be willing to help you through New Year’s Eve.

There are dozens of sober activities you can do with close friends. For example, maybe instead of watching the ball drop you want to host a movie night, filled with junk food and soda. Or perhaps you’d rather spend time with your friends hiking or doing a team activity like an escape room. Cooking is always another good way to spend time with close friends. Organizing a bake-off or preparing a grandiose dinner can be a great way to spend the evening.

You’re Not Alone

Whichever strategy you opt for to have a sober New Year’s Eve, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. There are millions around the globe who are struggling with alcohol and drug addiction and spend New Year’s Eve sober. While sobriety takes resolve, there’s nothing about it that means one cannot have a good time. By following the guide above, you can have a safe, healthy, sober, and fun New Year’s Eve celebration.

Addiction is a family disease. Recovery is the family solution. Happy New Year to you all!

Joe Ortiz, Interventionist

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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HOLIDAY INTERVENTIONS

Should I wait to do an Intervention until after the holidays?

When a person suffers from a substance abuse disorder, some members of his or her family and friends may think that it would be better to wait until after the holiday season is over to stage an intervention. However, the fact is that delaying an intervention for any reason at all increases the chances of an addiction further spiraling out of control. Addiction is progressive disease and only gets worse as time passes.

Why Conducting an Intervention During the Holidays Can be Particularly Effective:

1. Addiction doesn’t stop when the holiday season starts.

The holidays are a time that people look forward to; however, the season can be stressful, as well. It’s not uncommon for someone with a substance abuse problem to increase the amount that they use or drink during this time of year. They may be attending several social events or have vacation time during the holidays, which allows for more time to consume even more alcohol and/or their drug of choice.


2. Waiting won’t make the situation any better.

If you’re waiting for the “right” time to approach your loved one about their addiction, there really isn’t one. The saying, “There’s no time like the present” applies to scheduling an intervention. You may have heard that someone with substance abuse issues needs to “hit rock bottom” or “needs to want help” before an intervention can be successful. Both statements are myths. While waiting for someone with addiction to hit their personal rock bottom, they may be involved in an auto accident that will injure themselves or someone else, lose their job, lose their home or experience some other negative life event. It isn’t likely that your loved one will decide that they want help to stop their addiction. They will continue to drink or use drugs, and the addiction will become more ingrained and harder to treat.

3. Holidays are a good time to gather family and friends for the intervention.

When you’re putting together the team of people who will be participating in the intervention, ask yourself whether there is anyone whom your addicted loved one may hold in particularly high esteem. If so, make a point of asking this relative or childhood friend, who may not have seen your loved one for some time, to attend the intervention. Their memories of your loved one before the addiction took hold and hope for a sober future may help to influence them to make a positive change.

4. The holiday season is a time for gift-giving. Through an intervention, your family can help to give the gift of sobriety.

Your loved one did not start their drinking or substance abuse with the expectation of developing an addiction. No one who picks up a drink or uses drugs ever does.

Most people who have a substance abuse problem need help to stop. Holding an intervention over the holiday season sends a powerful message that your family is not prepared to stand by and let your loved one continue on the same path any longer.

Transcend Interventions provides alcohol, drug, mental health and eating disorders Intervention for all who are struggling. Clients receive an individualized Intervention which focuses on Recovery for the whole family and especially their afflicted loved one. The Intervention process will begin everyone’s healing and set them on new ground. Family and Friends will learn a new perspective and approach to the problem to help them all get better.

These are just few reasons why RIGHT NOW is the time to help your addicted loved one. It is always best for the family to hire a professional and not try doing this process on their own. They may only have one chance at doing it right.

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

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How do I find the best treatment for a loved one struggling with Mental Illness and/or Substance Use Disorder?

There are so many addiction and mental health programs and facilities out there. It can make finding the right treatment for a loved one very challenging and leave a family feeling overwhelmed.
There is so much to consider since we all want what’s best for our loved ones. 

Some considerations are: 

  1. Does the program specialize in the condition my loved one is suffering from?
  2. Do they have a good reputation and how do they rate?
  3. Do they accept my loved one’s health insurance and will we incur any out-of-pocket costs?
  4. Does my loved one need inpatient or outpatient treatment?
  5. Does the facility offer transportation?

These are just a few of the questions you’d want to ask. A reputable program will have a strong admissions/intake department to help you answer some of your questions. However, it is very important to do your own research. 

Another option is to find a Treatment Placement Specialist who can help you navigate this process in order to secure the best treatment for your loved one. A good Treatment Placement Specialist typically will have existing relationships with well-vetted programs already established. He/she will help you come up with the best short and long-term treatment plan possible for your specific needs. In addition to Interventions and Sober Coaching, I am also a Treatment Placement Specialist prepared to assist any family in this endeavor.
Please contact me, Joe Ortiz, if you or someone you love needs assistance at 732-599-7817.

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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WHO SHOULD GUIDE A FAMILY THROUGH A DRUG/ALCOHOL INTERVENTION?

When planning and conducting an intervention, families often choose friends, family members, and other loved ones. While this sometimes may work, oftentimes it does not produce the wanted results.

Interventions are often an unpredictable process and people may not react in ways that you have planned for. The addicted loved one may deny that they have a problem, may attempt to deflect and blame others and resist treatment. The participants may get too emotional and lose their composure. All of which helps to create a situation where the intervention becomes a “confrontation” as opposed to a “conversation”.

For these reasons, addiction professionals often recommend a professional who is trained in moderating an intervention. A professional whose responsibility is to lead and guide the conversation. The professional interventionist is trained in navigating complex family dynamics and overcoming unplanned challenges during the process.

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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HELPING FAMILIES OVERCOME ADDICTION

What is a Family Intervention?

When people think of family interventions, they inevitably think of a confrontation between themselves and their addicted loved one. Some believe an intervention is only what they see on television. Most people do not understand that an intervention is a process. It is not a one time event. This process is ultimately used to help a family and their addicted loved one move towards change. 

Understanding the importance of a professional intervention and how they work is essential.

An intervention is a pre-planned strategy to calm a volatile situation and improve it. An intervention, by definition, is when specific methods are used to address particular problems or behaviors to achieve specific goals.

A professional family intervention is when an interventionist forms specific intervention strategies for and with the family of a substance user. The ultimate goal is to help the addicted loved one see the need for change and accept help by way of a predetermined treatment plan.

One of the most important roles of the interventionist is to identify problems and potential behaviors that may not be helping. The idea is to help the family see how their current strategies may actually be working against them and preventing the substance user from accepting help. 

Some of what interventionist will educate and coach the family on also includes:

  • The addiction’s impact on the family as a whole and as individuals.
  • An overview of addiction
  • Codependency, enabling, and reactivity
  • The importance of family recovery
  • The benefits of long-term treatment

As the interventionist learns of the family dynamic and more about the behaviors of their addicted loved one, he or she will modify and customize the intervention process accordingly. Any new information obtained during the family preparation will be considered and more modifications may be made. The idea is being as prepared as possible in order to have the impact needed so that their loved accepts the help they so desperately need.

Finally, a well planned and effective intervention process helps to begin the healing process for the entire family and not just their addicted loved one. Everyone caught up in the destructive cycle of addiction deserves to recover and live happy and healthy lives. 

Helping families and their loved ones affected by alcohol and drug addiction.

We understand how addiction impacts families. 

Our services are geared to help families and their loved ones heal!

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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What to Do When a Loved One Relapses

Recognizing and understanding the problem, and helping a loved one reach the point of accepting treatment and entering into recovery, is an important milestone. But what happens after they have been treated and start to use or drink again!?

Watching a loved one relapse can be gut-wrenching. It’s normal to experience a flood of emotions. You may feel angry, sad, scared, and resentful. You thought this was behind you and your family, and now, here you all are again. The truth is that like any other disease an individual can regress or relapse. But that does not mean that your loved one is doomed to a life of addiction.

It’s easy to become frustrated by your loved one’s repeated attempts to stop using drugs and/ or alcohol. It’s very easy to think that if they wanted to stop, they would just stop. It may seem that simple in the mind of someone who has never struggled with addiction, but it isn’t that simple at all. In fact, drug and alcohol relapse is a common part of addiction recovery. SO NOW WHAT? What can a family do to help their loved one?

FAMILY INTERVENTION 

It is difficult if not impossible to see the situation from the stage. A clearer understanding most often comes from the view in the balcony. The intervention process helps families see from a different perspective.

Being emotionally attached and overwhelmed can compromise the family’s ability to find a successful solution. A professional Interventionist is able to see things from a different perspective and help determine if a family intervention is appropriate.

The Many Ways Addiction Affects The Family

Battling a substance use disorder is viewed by many as a personal experience. Because harmful substances have devastating effects on the user, many may not take into consideration the other people involved. Spouses, children, and parents may all be impacted by the way addiction affects the family.

The effects of drug and alcohol addiction can be both short-term and long-term. Peaceful, loving homes can be divided by the strain caused by drug and alcohol abuse. Conflict becomes normal as family members fight to engage with their loved one who abuses alcohol, for example. Trust begins to erode. Family members may become more guarded when a loved one is abusing illicit substances acts with aggression or hides their disorder in secrecy. Marriages can end due to changes caused by addiction. Communication becomes increasingly difficult, if not impossible, which only heightens frustrations.

GET HELP 

Compounding the aforementioned challenges and frustrations is the fact that recovering from a relapse can be very difficult for an individual who suffers from addiction. Some folks in recovery say that recovering from the relapse was harder than getting sober the first time around. This is often due to their feelings of disappointment in themselves, accompanied by feelings of guilt and shame. A well planned intervention can help get your loved one and your family back on track and back to recovery. Interventionist Joe Ortiz can serve as your guide and support throughout this process! 

Joe Ortiz
Interventionist
Certified CRAFT Method
Certified Break Free Method

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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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