When to Call an Interventionist (And What Happens Next)
By Jodi Liston
You might be wondering whether you’ve hit that point.
When what you’ve tried isn’t working anymore.
When you’re watching someone you care about shut down, refuse support, or slowly drift away.
And you don’t know what else to do.
That’s when families ask me:
Do we need an interventionist?
It’s an important question. One that deserves a thoughtful answer.
Because knowing when to bring in an interventionist isn’t just about timing, it’s about safety, trust, and how ready everyone is to do something different. Getting it right can change the course of someone’s care, and often the family’s future too.
What an Interventionist Actually Does (And What They Don’t)
At its most basic level, the job of an interventionist is to help a loved one who is struggling or resistant take the first step toward treatment. Interventionists are typically called in to work with clients eighteen and over, using a clinically informed and highly relational approach to interrupt patterns of avoidance, navigate denial, and guide the family toward a clear, compassionate plan for care. Their focus is on creating a safe and structured opportunity for change, often when other efforts haven’t worked.
They’re not someone who shows up and convinces your loved one to go to treatment in a single dramatic moment. They aren’t there to pressure or threaten. And they are never meant to take over your role as a parent.
In practice, a trained interventionist works with the entire family system to move from chaos and conflict into clarity and action. They don’t just talk to the person in crisis. They work with the whole family. They prepare everyone involved. They create space for honest conversation and aligned decisions.
Here’s another way to understand it, from a recent conversation with my team:
“A certified interventionist collaborates with the family in the beginning stages of a healing process. They take the temperature down emotionally. They strategize. They understand where the family is coming from. They spend a lot of time preparing for the intervention, understanding which family members will be involved and how.”
That preparation often includes:
Several phone or Zoom calls with the family
Clarifying the story, timeline, and dynamics
Helping loved ones write or speak messages during the intervention
Deciding if the intervention should be invitational (where the loved one is invited into a conversation and asked to accept help) or structured (where the family presents a united plan and clear next steps, even if the loved one is resistant)
Supporting the family in holding boundaries before, during, and after the intervention
When it comes time for the actual intervention, the interventionist doesn’t just lead. They regulate. They listen. They help the family avoid common traps like reactivity, blame, or giving in out of fear. They help everyone stay focused on the goal: helping someone accept the care they need, without coercion or shame.
Intervention Is About the Family, Not Just the Client
Something that often surprises families is just how much of the intervention process is not about the person struggling at all (at least not at first). It’s about the family. The system. The patterns that have formed over time and the ways those patterns are showing up now.
Interventionists don’t walk in to “fix” one person. They walk in to support a family that’s been stretched to the edge of its capacity.
Maybe one parent has become the enforcer while the other avoids conflict. Maybe siblings are caught in the crossfire. Maybe a partner, spouse, or close friend is offering support and feeling pushed out. Maybe grandparents are helping financially but adding tension.
Every family system looks different. But most are navigating unspoken fears, guilt, grief, and uncertainty all at once.
A skilled interventionist can help:
Identify dynamics that keep the family stuck
Coach parents on how to hold firm and loving boundaries
Bring clarity to years of miscommunication and mixed signals
Establish a shared vision for what comes next
When families feel empowered to communicate differently, to stand united, and to hold the line with care, that’s when real shifts begin.
While interventionists are often brought in when a loved one is over 18, families with teens (or with loved ones who aren’t quite ready) still need guidance. In many of those cases, a consultant or advocate can help the family take a step back, understand their options, and move forward with clarity. That might mean exploring transport, preparing for treatment, or simply finding a way to stay connected in the midst of resistance.
When Transport Is the Right Fit (And When It Isn’t)
Often, families come to me asking about transport first.
They’re overwhelmed and trying to get their child to a program safely. They’ve heard that therapeutic transport services exist and want to know if that’s enough.
Here’s what transport is:
A therapeutic transport service is a team of trained professionals who help safely escort a young person from home to a treatment program, school, or other care setting. It’s often used when a child or young adult is unwilling to travel on their own, or when the situation feels too fragile or unsafe for a parent to manage alone.
In some cases, transport is exactly what’s needed.
If the young person is under 18, and the family has already chosen a placement, transport can be a respectful and effective way to support the transition.
But not every situation is that simple.
And not every transport team is the same.
The transport professionals I recommend are trained in trauma-informed care. They know how to talk to resistant kids, how to de-escalate, how to navigate emotions during what might be the hardest day of that young person’s life.
As I’ve said to parents many times,
“It’s not about grabbing someone and dragging them out the door. It’s about building a human connection, even if it starts at four in the morning. It’s about earning just enough trust to walk out together.”
That said, transport has a legal limit.
If your child is 18 or older, they have the right to say no.
And no transport team can legally override that.
Why Age Matters So Much
The question of age comes up in nearly every call I take.
If your child is under 18, you have more decision-making power. You can make the choice to place them in a therapeutic program, and you can work with a trusted transport team to help them get there safely.
In those situations, you may not need a formal intervention. Especially if your child is already open to talking, or if the family is aligned.
But once your child turns 18, everything shifts.
Now you’re navigating consent. Legal rights. Financial boundaries. Adult dynamics with someone who may still be functioning like a teenager.
I’ve worked with young adults who say, “I’m not going.” And they mean it. That’s not a conversation a parent can win on their own. That’s when an interventionist becomes necessary.
The interventionist doesn’t just try to talk someone into treatment. They build a bridge. They help that young adult feel respected and heard, while also holding a mirror to the reality of the situation.
And sometimes, even if the young adult says no, the process still matters.
I once worked with a family whose 18-year-old son refused treatment after a full intervention. He moved out. He couch surfed. His parents were devastated. But we stayed connected. The interventionist stayed in touch. And months later, the young man called and said, “I’m ready.”
The seed had been planted. And when it grew, he walked through the door himself.
When to Call an Interventionist
Every case is different. But there are some clear signs that it’s time to bring in professional help.
You should consider calling an interventionist if:
Your child is 18 or older and refusing help
The family is divided or emotionally exhausted
You’ve tried talking and nothing changes
There’s a history of trauma, enabling, or co-dependence in the family dynamic
You’ve had previous placements or therapeutic attempts that didn’t stick
Safety is a concern: whether emotional, physical, or substance-related
Sometimes parents ask me if it’s “too soon” to intervene.
And I tell them the same thing every time:
If you’re asking that question, it’s already time to bring in support.
As I often explain to families:
“I have to have an understanding of how resistant the client is. If I say, ‘Can I talk to them?’ and the family says, ‘That will never happen,’ then I know, it’s time to bring in someone trained to guide this process.”
It’s not about forcing change. It’s about giving the family the best possible chance to work toward it, together.
Why Families Wait Too Long
This is one of the hardest parts of my job. So many families wait until things are at a breaking point. They want to believe things will turn around. That it’s a phase. That next week will be better. I understand that. It’s love. It’s hope.
It’s also a risk.
The longer you wait, the fewer options you have. You lose time. You lose momentum. Sometimes you lose trust. And you carry that weight with you through every interaction. What I’ve learned over the years is that the earlier you ask for help, the more thoughtful and effective that help can be.
You don’t have to wait for rock bottom. You just have to recognize that something’s not working.
And that’s enough to begin.
How I Support Families and Collaborate with Interventionists
Though I’m not the interventionist or the transporter, I’m still with families from the first moment they reach out through every step of the process.
As a therapeutic consultant, my role is to:
Help families understand what’s happening beneath the surface
Guide them through options and decision points
Recommend trusted professionals: interventionists, transporters, programs
Support emotional and logistical preparation
Stay in communication through the intervention or transport
Check in during transition and help plan what comes next
I’ve supported hundreds of families through complex transitions. My role is to walk alongside you, not to tell you what to do. I listen, I advocate, I collaborate. I speak regularly with each family, therapist, and program throughout someone’s stay, and continue supporting them as they transition into the next phase of treatment, or the next chapter of life. I don’t disappear once someone is admitted.
I work closely with a small group of interventionists who are deeply experienced, trauma-informed, and trusted. It’s a collaborative process. If one of them feels they’re not the right fit for your family, they’ll say so. If things need to slow down, we’ll adjust together. We stay in close communication to make sure the approach stays aligned with what’s best for you and your loved one.
We work as a team, with you at the center.
A Few Questions Parents Ask Me
What if my child says no?
Sometimes they do. But that’s not the end of the road. An intervention can still plant the seed for future change. And many young adults circle back weeks or months later.
What if we can’t afford a full intervention right now?
There are different levels of support. We can talk through what’s realistic, what your priorities are, and how to make the most effective plan for your family.
Will my child hate me for doing this?
In the moment, maybe. Later? Most young people understand that this was done out of love. And many end up thanking their parents for stepping in when they couldn’t do it themselves.
If you’re reading this and wondering whether it’s time to make a change, know there’s a good chance it is.
Maybe you’re not sure what that change should be.
Maybe you’re afraid of making the wrong move.
Or maybe you’re just hoping someone will finally say, “Here’s what to do next.”
Let this be that moment.
Whether you need an interventionist, a transport team, a new placement, or simply a clearer perspective, there are people who can help. We will meet you where you are, without judgment, and listen to what’s actually happening. We’ll walk with you through whatever comes next.
Sometimes the scariest part is making the first call.
But once you do, you won’t be in it alone.