InterveneFamily Intervention in Los Angeles. Calm, planned help for families whose loved one will not accept help for addiction or mental health, from the first call through aftercare.

An intervention is not a surprise attack or a shouting match. Done well, it is a planned, loving conversation where the people who matter most ask the person to accept a specific kind of help, today. The planning is what makes it work. Families who walk in prepared tend to stay calmer, say what they mean and know what to do whether the answer is yes or not yet.

Our intervention work is part of Blackburn Recovery Services, one area of service within The Blackburn Group. That matters because an intervention is only the start. The same organization can help with case management, family support, monitoring and clinical care after the conversation, so your family is not left alone the next morning.

Here is what usually happens when you call (888) 305-5422:

• A real person answers or calls you back, and listens first. You do not need the right words or a diagnosis.
• We ask a few simple questions to help sort out what is going on. We want to know who you are worried about, what has changed, what has already been tried, and what feels most urgent.
• We point you to the right team inside The Blackburn Group, or to an outside resource if that fits better.
• Nothing is shared with anyone without consent. If the person you are worried about is an adult, we talk about what they have agreed to share.

For intervention questions, we will also ask about safety, who is close to the person, and whether there are urgent medical or legal concerns. If an intervention is not the right step yet, we will say so and talk about what might help instead. Calling does not commit you to anything.

• Parents of an adult son or daughter whose drinking or drug use keeps getting worse.
• Spouses and partners who have tried talking, pleading and setting limits, and nothing has changed.
• Families facing addiction and mental health problems at the same time.
• Families of professionals or public figures who need the process handled quietly.
• Families who already tried an intervention that did not go well and want to try again with a better plan.

If you are not sure an intervention is the right step, our guide on how to help a loved one who will not accept help is a good place to start. Or call (888) 305-5422 and we can think it through together.

In general terms, the work moves through a few steps:

• Getting the facts. We learn what has been happening, what has been tried and what the family is most afraid of.
• Preparing the family. We help each person get clear on what they want to say and what boundaries they are ready to hold. Many families find this step helps them even before the intervention happens.
• Choosing the next step. Before the conversation, there is a specific plan for care so that a yes can turn into action right away.
• The conversation. It is calm, planned and focused on love and concern, not blame.
• Afterward. Case management, family support and aftercare help keep things moving, whatever the first answer was.

Learn more about this area of service on our recovery services page, or read what to expect at a family intervention.

Living with someone else’s addiction or mental illness is exhausting. Blackburn Recovery Services runs a free virtual family support group every two weeks, open to any family. It is a place to learn, ask questions and feel less alone. Family coaching through Blackburn Clinical Services can also help parents and partners learn new ways to respond.

If you are comparing options, our guide on how to choose an interventionist lists good questions to ask anyone you are thinking about hiring, including us.

• How to Help a Loved One Who Won’t Accept Help
• How to Choose an Interventionist
• What to Expect at a Family Intervention

All guides →

Call (888) 305-5422 or email info@theblackburngroup.org. You can also visit our page for families or contact page.

If someone is in crisis, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911.