Alcohol and drug abuse intervention program

A typical alcohol or drug intervention at Hader Clinic is a carefully structured process designed to give families the best possible chance of helping a loved one get help. It begins with preparation and education, followed by the intervention itself, and ideally, immediate transition into treatment. An effective intervention may lead to a powerful shift in perspective for the person struggling with addiction. We emphasise creating a compassionate, evidence-based treatment plan that aligns with the family's goals and the individual's unique circumstances.

• Step 1: Pre-intervention consultation with the family to assess the situation and educate them on addiction and mental health
• Step 2: Collaborative planning session to facilitate a tailored strategy with input from an experienced clinician
• Step 3: The formal intervention is held at a neutral, home, or workplace location where the individual is invited to participate in the intervention
• Step 4: If the individual agrees to enter care, our team coordinates immediate transfer to one of our treatment centres, where services may include alcohol and drug help or dual diagnosis treatment
• Step 5: The family receives post-intervention guidance, including access to our family program and ongoing support designed to help your family rebuild healthy dynamics

Not every person agrees to treatment during the intervention — but that doesn’t mean it has failed. The process often plants a seed; many people reach out for support days or weeks later. We empower families with the tools and language they need to continue encouraging their loved ones while protecting their own well-being. In some cases, repeat attempts or legal support may be appropriate. Addiction and mental health challenges are complex, and our role is to continue to guide families even when the first attempt doesn’t go to plan.

Our team also helps you create boundaries and follow-up strategies to continue supporting change. We’ll do this during our 4-week family support program.

Yes, we offer flexible options to meet your family’s needs. Interventions can be held in the home, workplace, or neutral setting — wherever feels safest and most appropriate. For long-distance or travel-restricted situations, we also offer remote video-based options. This level of flexibility allows us to accommodate situations where traditional rehabs or treatment centres may be out of reach.

What matters most is creating a calm, private space that supports honest conversation and clarity.

A qualified specialist leads every intervention with lived experience and professional training in substance use, addiction, and family dynamics. These clinicians are skilled in guiding families through complex emotional conversations while keeping the focus on safety, understanding, and a clear path to care. Our team is registered with leading addiction networks and trained to support both substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. All Hader interventionists are AHPRA-registered clinicians or senior addiction support specialists with 5+ years of frontline experience.

We work with you to build trust, ease defensiveness, and help your family move forward together.

Preparation is one of the most critical parts of a successful intervention. We start with education — explaining the nature of addiction and the cycle of addictive behaviour — and then help families plan and rehearse what they say. We also address family dynamics that may have become dysfunctional due to substance use. Through this preparation, we strengthen the family’s voice and help empower them to hold space for change.

Preparation often includes:

• Family consultation and goal-setting
• Education on addiction and enabling behaviours
• Scripting supportive and honest communication
• Identifying consequences and boundaries
• Coordinating treatment logistics and timing

Yes, we regularly support families with loved ones living in different states. We offer remote pre-intervention planning and can conduct the intervention via videoconferencing if in-person travel is not possible. We also assist with transportation and treatment admissions across Australia. Many families are surprised at how effective these options can be with the right planning.

Intervention can work even from a distance when it's carefully planned and professionally facilitated.

Yes. We can support legal and workplace interventions when addiction is contributing to legal, employment, or custody issues. Our team works with solicitors, case workers, and employers to design a structured and legally appropriate plan that may support court outcomes or help avoid escalation. These interventions often serve as a bridge to sober living or other structured programs.

We help navigate court documentation and connect clients to addiction treatment and sober living options as part of the solution.

Absolutely. The family’s journey doesn’t end when a loved one enters rehab — which is why we offer ongoing support tailored to your needs. This includes counselling, coaching, and education to help families heal, create healthy boundaries, and remain resilient throughout their loved one’s treatment. These services often continue well into the recovery phase, helping prevent relapse and build lasting change.

Support options may include:

• Continued coaching with your intervention specialist
• Access to family therapy and educational sessions
• Guidance on navigating rehab milestones and relapse prevention
• Resources to help families feel less isolated and more empowered
• Support from our family intervention and aftercare team
• 4-week family support program