Photo of Patrick James Hart, Counselor in 98104, WA
Patrick James Hart
Counselor, PsyD, LMHC, MHP
Verified Verified
Seattle, WA 98104
Private Addiction Treatment | Family Intervention Specialist for Alcohol Drug Crisis Prevention: Evidence based cognitive behavior therapy that goes far beyond the mundane alcohol drug addiction "rehabilitation" programs model.
Mental Health Counseling in Seattle | Psychotherapy Private Practice: Psychotherapist and counselor for problems of depression and anxiety. Therapy for panic disorder, generalized anxiety, post traumatic stress, simple phobia, anger management, stress reduction, social anxiety, phobias and avoidance. I help people by providing skills based therapy to assure you effectively manage your moods, emotions and behavior. I'll help you learn the competencies to resolve unwanted life defeating habits. Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Learn effective personal solutions from anxiety and panic to sex & pornography addiction - lasting behavior change. Thanks for your interest in my practice! I'm just a phone call away!
Private Addiction Treatment | Family Intervention Specialist for Alcohol Drug Crisis Prevention: Evidence based cognitive behavior therapy that goes far beyond the mundane alcohol drug addiction "rehabilitation" programs model.
Mental Health Counseling in Seattle | Psychotherapy Private Practice: Psychotherapist and counselor for problems of depression and anxiety. Therapy for panic disorder, generalized anxiety, post traumatic stress, simple phobia, anger management, stress reduction, social anxiety, phobias and avoidance. I help people by providing skills based therapy to assure you effectively manage your moods, emotions and behavior. I'll help you learn the competencies to resolve unwanted life defeating habits. Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Learn effective personal solutions from anxiety and panic to sex & pornography addiction - lasting behavior change. Thanks for your interest in my practice! I'm just a phone call away!
(253) 642-7941 View (253) 642-7941
Photo of Matthew Horner, Psychologist in 98104, WA
Matthew Horner
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Seattle, WA 98104
If you need a committed and competent professional to help you with making changes in your life and how you experience it, I'd be more than happy to talk with you about what that might look like. I'm a lifer, dedicated to my profession, my clients, and to making your efforts count so that they lead to real and lasting changes. I work hard to get you results that are as quick as possible, and that will last through the lifespan. I am licensed in both Washington State and Alaska. I offer conventional psychotherapeutic services, as well as Tier 2 services for the highly motivated individual.
If you need a committed and competent professional to help you with making changes in your life and how you experience it, I'd be more than happy to talk with you about what that might look like. I'm a lifer, dedicated to my profession, my clients, and to making your efforts count so that they lead to real and lasting changes. I work hard to get you results that are as quick as possible, and that will last through the lifespan. I am licensed in both Washington State and Alaska. I offer conventional psychotherapeutic services, as well as Tier 2 services for the highly motivated individual.
(406) 732-2446 View (406) 732-2446
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.