How to Become a Certified Intervention Professional

Intervention Professionals – All You Need to Know!

Interventions have become a staple of addiction recovery, especially in film and television. A character having a problem then being met with an intervention teeters on the edge of being a cliché, but it’s not a negative correlation to have. Being as prevalent in media as it is, it gives exposure to a possible option many addicts may have not known was available, and gives a pretty good idea of what they could expect.

However, interventions are more than just what you see on TV. Often they aren’t only run by family and friends – in fact it most often goes as smooth as possible when utilized alongside a trained intervention professional. What is an intervention professional? What do they do? How can I become one if I want to help others? These questions and more will be answered in the following!

First things first, an intervention professional is basically what it says on the box – a professional interventionist. An individual trained to conduct interventions with proven techniques, medicines, strategies, and plans shared among those involved. As a top interventionist, you will assist the family and the client in finding the most appropriate setting for the client to get help for their substance use disorder, providing transport to the facility, and ensuring a smooth transition.

How to Become a Certified Intervention Professional

To become a certified intervention professional, there aren’t a lot of hoops to jump through. You don’t need a psychology degree or schooling like that, in fact, there are technically no prerequisites. However, as with any business, if you don’t have credentials, it’s hard to gain trust from just about anyone.

So – how do you get those credentials? The Addictions Academy! A global leader in certifications in all things addiction treatment, the Addictions Academy is the best way to get your certification and make sure you’re one hundred percent prepared for the job. Their model of Certified Intervention Professional Training is very unique! They designed the training to offer the smoothest, quickest intervention from when you arrive, so that means all the handwork is done before you get to the site ( they usually spend 1 to 2 weeks preparing for the intervention and less than 5 hours actually onsite). This model is designed to maximize your time, increase your business, and help the client enter addiction treatment quicker.  They will teach you tips, tricks, and the art of the close to make your intervention happen quicker. From Pre-Intervention to Intervention to Post Intervention, Addictions Academy training has it all.

They use the  RAAAD model, and it’s utilized for both invitational and surprise instances, business interventions, family interventions, and more! In other words, it makes you the most qualified intervention professional anyone could hire. That includes covering bottom lines, love letters, seating,  flow, aggressive clients, clients in the criminal justice system – all to round out one’s capability and preparedness. The course is approximately 36 hours with an ethics course and mentorship, and networking groups to help build a business!

Why You Should Be a Certified Intervention Professional

So, why would someone want to become an intervention professional? Well, for one, addiction can often be an “ugly secret” in a family’s life. The fewer people know, the better. That secrecy can only naturally lead to hesitation in spreading the word, even if to people who wouldn’t necessarily be personally involved with the family.

If you were to be in the family and coincidentally in the middle of that ugly secret, you could save the risk and hesitation and lead the intervention yourself. The amount of comfort and trust that a family or friends could feel in the process if led by an expert they know personally is impossible to overstate. You could also bring a fresh perspective and put things into view for those you love.

Not only that, but if you were to be late into recovery, fully sober, and wanted to help others get on that path, this would be the perfect way to do so. Being the voice of reason among a group that may be susceptible to emotional instability would be a lifesaver in an intervention. It’s easy to get swept away by expressing one’s inner desires and thoughts and having the ability to help everyone get through that process can be considered a blessing to so many families. Heck, it could even help you, offering an opportunity for you to put your own biases and emotions aside and know how to address a loved one’s addiction in a healthy way!

Finally, there’s the aspect of availability. Intervention professionals are hard to come by and granting further opportunities to areas that may not have one on stand-by is certainly commendable. This could be especially helpful in less fortunate communities or just those that aren’t in densely populated locations. As a cherry on top, The Addictions Academy does hire from inside, so completing their course could be a potentially huge step in making it a career.

How much does an Intervention Professional make?

An intervention professional’s wage can vary depending on a whole host of factors. Clientele, location, whether they’re independent or part of a larger organization – but there are estimates out there. According to Zippia, salary can range from $35,000 yearly to approximately $50,000 yearly. The lower estimates would be in locations like Montana or Louisiana, while Alaska and Hawaii teeter near the higher end. However, on average the wage is approximately $39,259, or around $19 dollars an hour! Which in and of itself is a pretty healthy wage!

However, the numbers do vary depending on the sources. According to indeed, the highest wage would actually be in Philadelphia PA, around $51,716, compared to Alaska which would be around $1,000 either less or more, depending on the city. Around 40% of intervention specialists believe that this job alone – without further income – is enough for the cost of living in their area, and depending on one’s capability to pursue other money-making opportunities this may be either a turn-off or an encouraging factor.