An interventionToday was interesting. It started out normal enough... but then when I got to work.. the entire parking lot (at least 50 spaces) was empty. I was surprised, I didn't know what to do. It looked as though it was open, it isn't supposed to close... my mind was really racing. Luckily one of the supervisors in the dual-diagnosis unit came by and told me that they were cleaning out the parking lot with some heavy machinery and everyone was in the muddy hole back parking lot. Well, I left it my car sitting there even though somehow no one ever told me that they were cleaning it out and planning on returning. Screw that! No one told ME!! Plus, I got the best parking spot... HAH!Come 1 O'Clock I was in the Family Therapy Training. Oddly enough they focused on intervention skills. They didn't tell me anything I didn't know already- except that the Recovery Center offers them for free. My supervisor thinks I remind her of her daughter, and since she played the client/alcoholic/addict, of course, I had to play her daughter. It was difficult for me because I know nothing about this girl, age, personality, nothing. I was told she was the "hero" in the family (theres a theory that says that the alcoholic family has the 1) alcoholic, 2) enabler/co-dependent, 3) scapegoat, and if there are more kids, the 4) hero, the 5) mascot, and 6) the lost child. Actually, this model applies to all dysfunctional families. I used to be the lost child, now I am the mascot. Anyone who knows anything about this theory now knows a lot about me, maybe YOU should look it up!) Anywho.. I'm the mascot trying to play the hero, it didn't work. Well, my supervisor had some major counter-transferance going on because she ended up crying she was moved so greatly. Now, if all of that is garbledegook, know this: I was in a mock intervention, and it was an experience. It was difficult with just me and the other actors/collegues. If done right, that could win over the most angry, defensive person. The trick is the concern, the love. Of course, sometimes it will never go right... but damn, there was a lot of power in that. I felt like we were ganging up on the alcoholic in that scenerio- but thats basically what WAS occuring, all of that pressure is needed so that the person gets some help, if not for them, then for the kids.. or whatever the reason. So whats the moral of the story? If you know someone that is an addict or alcoholic, seriously think about an intervention. It may be the best thing you've ever done, and probably the hardest.