How to Write a Sample Intervention Letter

Families possess a powerful capacity to support a loved one’s journey toward recovery. While past family dynamics might inadvertently present obstacles, they can also become a source of immense strength. An intervention, when approached collaboratively, offers a structured way for families to unite and encourage their loved one to seek treatment. By working together, families can create a supportive environment that fosters change, breaking free from patterns that may have contributed to or sustained the challenges of addiction. 

This article explores the intervention process, particularly the intervention letter, a vital tool for families seeking to guide their loved one toward a path of healing, whether facilitated independently or with the assistance of a professional interventionist.

How Does an Intervention Letter Fit into an Intervention?

To best understand how an intervention letter fits into an intervention, it is necessary to have an understanding of the overall process.

Members of an intervention group wear two important hats; they are taking action to get the loved one into treatment and, at the same time, they are working to heal themselves.

The first step involves a collaborative effort among those who care about the individual. They’ll work together to create a supportive plan aimed at encouraging their loved one to seek help. When the time is right, they’ll gather to share their concerns and offer a pathway to treatment at a rehabilitation center. If the individual agrees, the group, possibly with the aid of a professional, will assist in facilitating immediate admission.

Why Write an Intervention Letter?

Intervention letters are central to both the preparation and the implementation of the intervention. In the planning phase, each person involved writes a personal letter, sharing their concerns and offering a path to recovery through treatment. During the intervention, these letters are read aloud to the loved one, creating a powerful message of support.

Jeff Jay, author of Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention, provides exceptionally insightful advice on why an intervention letter is so helpful. Jay points out that an intervention letter can:

• Serve as a roadmap during the intervention.Interventions can be emotionally-charged and it can be challenging to stay on track. An intervention letter provides a point of focus and helps to ground a person.
• Prevent a person from becoming overly excited, frozen, or bewildered. Each letter is written with a calm and compassionate voice, ensuring that the message of support is clear. Even amidst the intensity of the intervention, the letter’s positive tone will come through when it’s shared.
• Be perfected with group feedback. Typically, an intervention group will go through a rehearsal. During this time, members can read their letters and receive helpful feedback, which can help ensure that the final letter has content and a tone tightly aligned with the intervention’s main goal.
• Be sent to the treating therapist at the rehab center after the event. If the individual chooses to enter a recovery program following the intervention, these letters can offer valuable insights to the treatment team, enabling a more collaborative and personalized approach to their care.

Tips for Writing an Intervention Letter

Author Jeff Jay also provides great guidance for writing an intervention letter. The following are some helpful tips:

• Begin the letter with a heartfelt statement that is full of the love and concern that one truly feels.
• Communicate gratitude to the person. For instance, if the loved one is a parent, share a memory about when they did something loving, like going to a school play.
• Think about including a statement that reflects your understanding that substance abuse is a disease. By putting the issue into a medical context, the loved one may feel less guilty. Further, it can convey that you know the difference between who the person is and how addiction may compel them to behave.
• Include statements of fact about the loved one’s behavior when on drugs. It’s a good idea to provide more than one specific example.
• Remind the person of your positive feelings and concern. Then, state that the group is offering them treatment at a rehab center.
• Ask the loved one to accept the offer of treatment.

According to Jay, in his experience, only about 5 percent of interventions will require an ultimatum. Some professional interventions may insist on including an ultimatum in the letter. If an ultimatum is included, it should be a clear “if … then” statement. For example, “If you do not accept treatment and enter rehab today then I am no longer going to give you any money.” It is thought that the ultimatum lets the loved one know each intervention member is serious and will no longer support or enable the addiction.

Helping Your Loved One Get Treatment

When writing, remember that the goal of this letter is to show your support, and that treatment provides a way to break the cycle of addiction. If you need help for your loved one, we’re here to offer support and a path toward recovery.

Through American Addiction Centers’ nationwide network of treatment centers we’ve helped thousands of people find hope and healing from addiction. To learn more about treatment options for your loved one, give us a call at . Our navigators are on hand to listen to your story, offer support, and help you get your loved one on the road to recovery.