Questions about Family Intervention
Q. I'm scared that if I do an intervention, my loved one will hate me and not speak to me again.
A. In our experience, this very rarely happens, though we can understand your fear. It is likely that while in the midst of their addictions they are unable to fully understand that you are part of the intervention to help them. While they may be angry or upset at first, it is unusual for the person to discontinue their relationship with you going forward.
Q. I have heard that a person needs to hit rock bottom before they can really get help. Is this true?
A. We do not beleive that a person needs to lose everything (including their jobs, relationships, money, physical health) prior to actually getting and responding to professional help.
Q. What if my family member walks out of the intervention? How do you handle this?
A. While this has occurred a few times in the past, it is not typical. Yes, the person may want to leave as it can be difficult hearing how their supports have suffered but it is our experience that the individual tends to stick around and hear us out. If in the rare event they do leave, all participants are coached ahead of time regarding proper responses. We never physically restrain a person from leaving. Part of the intervention planning is to develop contingency plans for all possible scenarios.
Q. Why do you require at least 14 days of working with us prior to the intervention?
A. ICM Associates, Inc. has been facilitating family interventions for nearly a decade. During this time, we have learned that intervention outcomes tend to have the highest success rate when the intervention team is fully familiar with all aspects of the client's case. Effective planning is the key, and planning takes time. We do not specialize in "crisis" interventions so are unable to accomdodate families needing immediate services.
Q. Why should we consider hiring an interventionist? Can't we do this on our own?
A. Utilizing a professional intervention team increases the likelhood of success in convincing their loved one to accept help. Our intervention team does not have a personal relationship with the person which allows us to remain neutral and not become emotional during the intervention. Family members may only have one opportunity to "do it right"; using an experienced intervention specialist increases the odds of the intervention being a success.
Case Management Questions
Q. Is case managment different from life coaching or recovery coaching?
A. It is very different. Case management services are highly personalized and addresses all aspects of a person's life; not just their goals or their recovery from substance abuse.
Q. If I do case management, can I stop seeing me therapist? A. Case management services are designed to compliment, not replace traditional therapies. ICM case managers are NOT therapists or counselors. We act as part of the entire team, coordinating all treatment efforts. This allows your therapist to be able to focus on your clinical needs, and let's us address your lifeskills development needs.
Q. I heard that case management tends to enable people. Is this true? A. No, case managers assist clients directly in dealing with any of their life needs while working with us. We do not "do" for the clients what they are able to do themselves individually.
Q. Why work with an indepedent case management firm?
A. As case managers, all we DO is case management. We do not complicate our relationships with clients by having dual or co-existing relationships with them. This neutrality allows us to work with our clients without bias or for reasons other to help them specifically with their individual needs.