One of the most fascinating things about addiction is that, although it has biological antecedents, it revolves around choice. A lot of people don’t know that. But AA knows that. AA almost never says, “You must stop drinking, and you must follow our program”, as if AA had some kind of external leverage to make [...]

I hope you enjoyed Part One, of So You Want To Be An Interventionist! I will now continue with Part Two. Please remember, in this series, I am speaking to a new prospective person who is contemplating entering the field of intervention specialty. BOUNDARIES I would like to explain this subject in two parts. Many [...]

When is it too late for an intervention? I believe as long as an addict is breathing it is never too late, you never give up. There is still time to save a life. I believe this because I am a product of an intervention. I have the gift of being able to help people [...]

A few years ago a treatment magazine highlighted an expose on the intervention industry.  One of the quotes in the article stood out:  “It seems everyone wants to be an interventionist.”  Although my colleagues and I found the quote humorous—the point was well taken. Many are attracted to the field of addiction and once they [...]

It was believed by professionals in the drug and alcohol treatment field, and even those recovering in A.A., that a practicing alcoholic/addict must reach “bottom” before he/she would benefit from any kind of help for his/her addiction. Many were allowed to lose their jobs, families, material belongings, health, and even their lives before they were [...]

In our first article of Head, Heart and Feet, we encouraged the addiction counselor to notice whether the client moved through the world as a thinker, feeler, or reactor and we promised to offer the counselor exercises that assist clients who are stuck in their head or heart or feet.  People “stuck in their head” [...]

Have you ever played the game, “If you could go back in time and have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be?”  The hardest part of the game for me is selecting the person from whom I could gain the most from in that short period of time.  Interestingly, even in a game [...]