How Systemic Family Intervention© Works

Twenty million Americans are alcohol dependent or drink enough alcohol to be at risk of impaired health. Another six to eight million are addicted to other drugs. The chemical dependents suffer, and so do the 70 million people who have close relationships with them. In addition, many people suffer from other addictions, such as gambling, sex, food, and similar compulsive behaviors which threaten their own health as well as those close to them. The vast majority of these addicts won't "hit bottom" and experience spontaneous insight that sets them on the course toward help. Most of these people will profoundly influence all those who relate to them, and they will continue to drink and use drugs until they die, unless someone intervenes and helps them find the right treatment for their particular addiction. Historically, intervention has been a process of confronting an alcoholic, drug abuser, or other addict and convincing the person to enter a recovery program. Most people who hear the word "intervention" think of conspiratorial meetings and secret discussions that lead up to an emotional˜and often hostile˜confrontation that humiliates and shames the chemical dependent and the family members. But there is another way.

Over the past 15 years, Interventionist Wayne Raiter has developed and refined a new style of intervention, Systemic Family Intervention©. Systemic Family Intervention© involves a process of changing the maladaptive relationships that have inadvertently allowed, and sometimes even encouraged, the gambler or other addicted person to continue his/her behavior. In this new model of intervention, the focus is on family and friends.

As these people develop new boundaries, the addicted person sees she/he must change as well. As part of the process, everyone involved learns about addiction. Because Systemic Family Intervention© involves the person's entire support system˜family, friends, and sometimes co-workers˜all the means through which the addict sustained his/her behavior are no longer in place. Everything changes˜and the addicted person moves into a new environment that insists on change in him/her as well. With the addicted person's entire support system involved, the means through which the person previously sustained her or his behavior are no longer available. Everything changes, and the addict is pulled into the change process. In this new intervention model, success occurs when the family system and the identified patient recognize old patterns of behavior, learn new communication skills, establish boundaries, and accept personal commitment for change. We have found that Systemic Family Intervention is a highly effective prevention strategy. The family, while intervening in the present situation also creates new norms and behaviors that help prevent the system from reforming in future generations.

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