Therapists in 37830
Dawn Fortich, LCSW
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
6 Endorsed
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
The process of initiating therapy can be scary. Trusting someone you don't know isn't always easy. The truth is that life is difficult. We have all experienced sadness, loss, fear, and loneliness. Therapy can help find clarity and strength. My experience is as diverse as those I serve such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, & LGBT issues, marital counseling, and PTSD. I enjoy my work and feel blessed to be a tool for God to help those who are hurting or in need of understanding. My greatest reward comes from empowering people with the confidence and tools to make a positive change.
The process of initiating therapy can be scary. Trusting someone you don't know isn't always easy. The truth is that life is difficult. We have all experienced sadness, loss, fear, and loneliness. Therapy can help find clarity and strength. My experience is as diverse as those I serve such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, & LGBT issues, marital counseling, and PTSD. I enjoy my work and feel blessed to be a tool for God to help those who are hurting or in need of understanding. My greatest reward comes from empowering people with the confidence and tools to make a positive change.
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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.