Family Intervention
The Systemic Model
– or Family Systems Model – of intervention
builds on the Johnson Institute model of therapeutic
intervention. The Systemic Model focuses on family
members and friends/co-workers, inviting them
to participate in informational sessions and intervention
planning. The Systemic Model is a gentle process
that addresses change within the family system
with the interventionist as facilitator.
Family meetings take place for weeks
or months prior to the intervention and include
informational sessions, response planning for
each member, and relationship change. The family
learns to address the emotional pain caused by
the addicted individual and his or her misuse
of chemicals over time. The support system becomes
aware of the role of enabling as detrimental to
the disease of addiction, and family members adopt
new directions and commit to change.
With the addict's entire support
system involved, all the means through which his
or her behavior was sustained disappear. During
the intervention, the addict is invited into the
change process. This method of intervention is
considered successful if each member of the system
understands addiction and is willing to change
his or her behavior.
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