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Breaking the Ties That Bind: Intervening on a Loved One in the Grips of ED – Part 2
Invitational Intervention Models
ARISE
The ARISE system, as I mentioned, is invitational.
It typically happens in three stages and is based on seven primary assumptions.
Of these, I believe what’s most important is point number four: the practitioners of the ARISE model believe that families are more powerful than treaters in effecting change due to the inherent dynamics within the family system.
Stage One
Stage one is that first call. This is where someone contacts the interventionist and says, “we’ve got a problem, our loved one needs help and is refusing that help. What do we do?” That person is referred to as the CO, or, “Concerned Other.”
The interventionist guides that caller into some processes and steps that they’re about to take and asks them to reach out to the most important people in their loved one’s life to create what is referred to as the “Intervention Network.”
An initial meeting is then scheduled with that intervention network and, very importantly, under this model, the identified patient (the individual caught up in the disease) is invited to attend that very first meeting.
There is no surprise.
Stage Two
Next comes a series of intervention network meetings. Motivational strategies are developed and, each time, the identified patient (IP) is invited to attend.
In these, the team is talking about treatment, that’s the whole purpose of these meetings, and there may be as many as five of them.
Stage Three
If by the end of these meetings, the identified patient has not accepted the offer for help, then a formal Johnson Institute model (see below) is facilitated. The lP has been given a number of opportunities to engage in treatment, and the team then steps in to present their choices regarding this individual’s decision not to seek help.
If you’d like to learn more about the ARISE model, I encourage you to read the book “Invitational Intervention: A Step-by-Step Guide for Clinicians” by Dr. Judith Landau and Dr. James Gareth.
Dr. Lindau is a personal friend, and I think the world of her. You’ll get a lot out of reading her materials.
Family Systems Model
Another intervention model is the Family Systems Model. Again, it’s invitational, IP and the family are invited to be part of this from the very outset. The difference is that this is an educational model often carried out over a two-day period.
The entire family is brought together, including the IP, and a lot of teaching and training about the disease or disorder they’re dealing with, whether it’s eating disorder or a chemical issue or a compulsive gambling or compulsive sexual behavior.
A lot of education is presented, always with the goal towards encouraging that individual to accept some ongoing help. According to the Family Systems Model, there are six steps towards family healing.
One that is important is that the interventionist, or counselor, discusses different types of treatment for the family and the individual. That may be a recommendation for inpatient treatment.
It may be a recommendation for an outpatient setting, or one-on-one therapy with a counselor, a registered dietitian, whoever.
Maybe a 6-month to one-year treatment plan is created during the seminar and then implemented.
Again, the individual is invited to be part of the process, but it’s much more educational in its format.
Non-Invitational Models
Moving onto the two non-invitational models, the first being Nouthetic.
Nouthetic Model
Now, that may be a word you’ve never heard before. It is based on the Greek word “nouthetic,” which is about confronting in love and speaking the truth in love.
In fact, there is actually a model of this that you can find in the New Testament in Matthew: Chapter 18, if you are inclined to read that.
Contemporary proponents of this model would be Jay Adams. You could read his book, “The Christian Counselor’s Manual” or “Competent to Counsel.”
Typically, those using this model are trained, pastoral counselors. It is a moral approach, but it is one that’s based on confronting with love, not judgment.
Johnson Institute Model
Finally, there’s the model that most of us are familiar with, the Johnson Institute Model as developed by Dr. Vernon Johnson in the late 60’s.
His classic book, “Intervention: A Step-by-Step Guide for Families and Friends of Chemically Dependent Persons,” is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand the field of intervention.
Even though the book was primarily written around chemical dependency, the protocol the steps are just as applicable when dealing with an individual caught in the grips of an eating disorder.
As mentioned, it is non-invitational, and it is confrontational. It is process-oriented and designed, by its’ very nature, to break through the denial of that individual.
Again, it touches on that fallacy of hitting bottom. This model is based on five key principles.
The meaningful persons that are brought together write down very specific data about the impact that their loved one’s behavior has had on them.
They tell that person how they’re feeling and it is not about judging them, it is about sharing, “here’s how I feel based on what I’ve seen.”
The addicted or afflicted individual is offered very specific choices: the choice for this treatment center or that hospital.
Not a menu of choices but a very specific choice. When the individual agrees to accept help, it is made viable right now.
In other words, we don’t then say “okay someday we might talk about treatment.” That has been prepared in advance so that the family now says, “in the car, it’s time to go.”
Please See
Breaking the Ties That Bind: Intervening on a Loved One in the Grips of ED – Part 1
Source:
Virtual Presentation by Jerry L. Law, D. Min., MDAAC, CIP in the Dec. 7, 2017 Eating Disorder Hope Inaugural Online Conference & link to the press release at https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eating-disorder-hope-offers-inaugural-online-conference-300550890.html
About the Presenter:
Jerry L. Law, D. Min., MDAAC, CIP is a veteran of 25 years in the corporate world, and his strong leadership and organizational skills lend themselves naturally to the intervention process. Dr. Law is a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor, a Board Certified Intervention Professional and a Master Certified Drug Alcohol and Addictions Counselor. Jerry brings compassion and a first-hand understanding of how critical it is to break the cycle of addiction in the professional world as well as within the family.
About the Transcript Editor: Margot Rittenhouse is a therapist who is passionate about providing mental health support to all in need and has worked with clients with substance abuse issues, eating disorders, domestic violence victims, and offenders, and severely mentally ill youth.
As a freelance writer for Eating Disorder and Addiction Hope and a mentor with MentorConnect, Margot is a passionate eating disorder advocate, committed to de-stigmatizing these illnesses while showing support for those struggling through mentoring, writing, and volunteering. Margot has a Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer a discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Published on June 26, 2018.
Reviewed on June 26, 2018 by Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
