Photo of Nataliya Rusetskaya, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in 10009, NY
Nataliya Rusetskaya
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, PhD, LCSW
Verified Verified
New York, NY 10009
Do you yearn to be in a fulfilling relationship, where you feel alive, desired, and connected to your partner? It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that your relationship problems are "just a cycle" or that "all marriages go through this”. You may find yourself feeling sad and hopeless about your marriage being stuck in a rut for too long, but you can turn this around. You can transform your intimate relationship into a vibrant and sexy connection with your partner. With me, you’ll learn how to explore, experiment, and express your intimate desires, plus gain access to effective communication tools to take home.
Do you yearn to be in a fulfilling relationship, where you feel alive, desired, and connected to your partner? It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that your relationship problems are "just a cycle" or that "all marriages go through this”. You may find yourself feeling sad and hopeless about your marriage being stuck in a rut for too long, but you can turn this around. You can transform your intimate relationship into a vibrant and sexy connection with your partner. With me, you’ll learn how to explore, experiment, and express your intimate desires, plus gain access to effective communication tools to take home.
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Intervention Therapists

How does an intervention work?

An intervention is a planned, structured meeting in which a person’s family or friends voice concerns about the person’s behavior and its consequences; the goal is for the person to accept treatment. In this meeting, the person’s loved ones (often with the guidance of a trained interventionist) share how the person’s behavior has harmed them and the consequences if the person refuses treatment. They collectively ask the person to accept a proposed treatment plan.

How effective are interventions?

There isn’t extensive research on the efficacy of interventions, in part because success is difficult to measure. Individuals often enter addiction treatment after an intervention, for example, but treatment itself may not work, especially if the person only begins due to external pressure from others rather than due to internal motivation to change. However, if all other attempts at helping someone have failed, an intervention may be worth exploring.

What are the limitations of interventions?

While a friend or family member’s intentions are in the right place in wanting to help a loved one through an intervention, there are significant limitations to the approach. The surprising nature of the event can make the person feel ambushed or judged. They may feel embarrassed or ashamed as a result, and relationships may be strained or broken. This can make it difficult for the individual to be receptive to the concerns of their loved ones and the interventionist.

Are there alternatives to interventions?

Rather than confronting a loved one through an intervention, an effective and less pressured approach is to create space for a caring, open, one-on-one conversation. This works best if the loved one asks open-ended questions, listens attentively to the answers, and frames their observations and statements with concern rather than judgment. More than one conversation may be needed, but change can take root over time.