Intervention Counseling: Overcoming Self-Destructive Behaviors

Self-destructive behaviors resulting from mental illness or drug or alcohol addiction can become so prevalent they harm performance at work, school and interpersonal relationships. Intervention counseling is a treatment method used to change these self-defeating patterns.

Definition

• The Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders website describes counseling intervention as "any outside process that has the effect of modifying an individual's behavior, cognition or emotional state." It can be done with or without a mental health professional present.

Technique

• A group of close family, friends and colleagues meet and confront the individual. They discuss honestly the emotional pain and suffering caused by the impaired behavior. Simultaneously they describe the value and importance of this person in their lives.

Theory

• The theory of intervention counseling is that the combination of love expressed by significant others and frank descriptions of the anger and fear impaired behavior produces can motivate a positive behavior change.

Goal

• Goals of intervention counseling include breaking down the defense system the person needing intervention has in place. The power of many loved ones saying the same thing also should increase the significance of the message and the possibility of change.