Before you hire an interventionist, ask about credentials and who will actually be in the room, which method they use and why, whether they travel to you, how fees are quoted, whether they take payment from treatment programs, and what support continues after the intervention. A good interventionist answers each question plainly and in writing.
Talk with our intervention team
Ask us any of these questions on a free first call.
Why do the questions you ask matter?
Families usually hire an interventionist during one of the hardest weeks of their lives, often after a frightening event. That is exactly when it is easiest to choose the first name that answers the phone. A short list of questions helps you compare professionals on what matters: safety, honesty, the right method for your loved one, and independence from the programs they recommend.
We have answered every question ourselves in the table below, so you can see what a direct answer looks like.
What should you ask an interventionist? 15 questions and our answers
| Question to ask | Why it matters | Our answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What credentials does your team hold, and who will be in the room? | Credentials vary widely. You want to know the training of the actual people who show up. | Our intervention team includes a Certified Intervention Professional (CIP), certified addiction counselors (CADC), and members trained in the ARISE and CRAFT approaches. |
| 2. How long have you been doing interventions? | Experience matters most in hard cases: resistance, mental health symptoms, teens, families in conflict. | Blackburn has helped families through interventions since 2012. |
| 3. Which method do you use, and why for our family? | A one-size method is a warning sign. The approach should fit your loved one and your family. | Tailored to each family. We may use an invitational, family systems, CRAFT-informed or more structured approach, and we explain why. |
| 4. Do you travel to us, and how soon? | The intervention should happen where your loved one is, not where the interventionist is. | Yes, anywhere in the United States. In urgent situations the team can often travel the same day; that is a possibility, not a promise. |
| 5. What does the first conversation cost? | You should be able to explain your situation before committing to anything. | Your first call is free. |
| 6. Will we get a written quote? | Fees should be clear before work begins, with no surprises after. | Yes. You receive a written quote before any work begins. |
| 7. Do you accept payment from treatment programs for referrals? | Payments from programs can steer families toward a program for the wrong reasons. Federal law (18 U.S.C. 220) prohibits many kickbacks for referrals to recovery homes and treatment facilities. | No. We do not accept payment from treatment programs for referrals, and we do not pay for referrals. |
| 8. How do you choose a treatment program? | The recommendation should come from your loved one’s needs, insurance and history, not a list of partners. | We help families choose and secure a program anywhere in the US based on clinical fit, level of care and practical needs. |
| 9. Can you handle mental health symptoms such as psychosis or mania? | Some interventionists work only with substance use. Mental health cases need specific experience. | Yes. Our team plans interventions for mental health concerns with or without substance use, including psychosis or mania. Immediate danger still means 911 or 988. |
| 10. Do you work with teenagers, or with behaviors such as gambling? | Teens and behavioral addictions need a different plan than adult alcohol or drug use. | Yes. We work with teens 13 and older, and with gambling, gaming, spending, screen use, eating disorders and sex or pornography. |
| 11. How much preparation do you do with the family? | Most of the work happens before the day: letters, roles, boundaries, a treatment plan. | Planning and family coaching can happen by video before we travel. The intervention itself takes place in person. |
| 12. What happens if our loved one says no? | A good plan includes the family’s next steps, not only the best case. | We plan for both answers in advance: boundaries, staying connected without enabling, and when to try again. See what if they say no. |
| 13. Can you escort our loved one to treatment? | The trip from the living room to the program is a high-risk moment. | When needed, yes. Sober escort is available nationwide, including flights. See sober transport. |
| 14. What support continues after the intervention? | Families need support during and after treatment, not only on the day. | It is tailored and can include ongoing family coaching, and in Los Angeles, case management, monitoring and sober living for men. See after the intervention. |
| 15. Can you work with our attorney if we need a court petition? | Some states allow court-ordered treatment. An interventionist should know when that is an option and when it is not. | Yes. We coordinate with families’ attorneys on petitions for involuntary treatment where state law allows. We do not give legal advice. See involuntary treatment laws by state. |
What are the red flags when hiring an interventionist?
- A guaranteed outcome or a success rate that sounds perfect. No honest professional can promise that someone will accept help.
- No written quote, or pressure to pay in full before you understand what you are paying for.
- A program already picked before they know your loved one, or reluctance to say whether they receive referral payments.
- One method for everyone, especially a confrontational approach for someone with trauma, psychosis or a history of violence.
- Little or no family preparation, with the first real conversation happening on the day.
- Vague credentials, or no clear answer about who will actually be in the room.
- No plan for the family after the day, whatever the answer is.
How can you check an interventionist’s credentials?
Ask which organization issued each credential and the name it is held under, then check with that organization. Credentials such as CIP and CADC are issued by certification boards that can confirm whether a credential is current. You can also ask for a sample of the written quote and agreement before you commit.
What should you have ready for the first call?
- Who you are worried about, their age, and where they live
- What they are using or doing, and what has changed recently
- Any safety concerns: suicide, violence, overdose, psychosis or mania
- Past treatment, and how earlier conversations went
- Who in the family is likely to take part
- Insurance information, if you have it
You do not need all of this to call. If you want to see how prepared your family is, use our intervention readiness checklist.
Questions about hiring an interventionist
What is the most important question to ask an interventionist?
Ask whether they accept payment from treatment programs for referrals. The answer tells you whether their program recommendation is independent. We do not accept payment from treatment programs for referrals, and we do not pay for referrals.
What credentials should an interventionist have?
Look for a recognized intervention or addiction credential, such as a Certified Intervention Professional (CIP) or a certified addiction counselor (CADC), and ask who on the team holds it. Our intervention team includes a CIP, CADC counselors, and members trained in the ARISE and CRAFT approaches.
Should an interventionist guarantee results?
No. No one can guarantee that a person will accept help. A professional can improve the plan and the conversation, prepare the family for either answer, and stay with the family afterward.
Will an interventionist come to another state?
Many do. Our intervention team is based in Los Angeles and travels to families anywhere in the United States, and planning can start by video before the team travels.
How do I compare intervention costs if prices are not published?
Ask each interventionist for a written quote that lists what is included: preparation sessions, travel, the intervention day, escort to treatment, and support afterward. Compare what is included, not only the total. Read more in intervention cost and insurance.
Sources
- 18 U.S. Code 220: Illegal remunerations for referrals to recovery homes, clinical treatment facilities, and laboratories
- Mayo Clinic: Intervention, help a loved one overcome addiction
Comparing interventionists? Ask us anything on a free first call.