The Stanger Process
AN ELEVEN-STEP PROCESS FOR A TWELVE-STEP SOLUTION
PHASE ONE: INTERVENTION AGREEMENT AND INITIATIVE
Step 1: Establish The Intervention Agreement
Step 2: Determine Key Stakeholders
Step 3: Define Client Guidelines and Confidentiality
It is critical that everyone agrees with the expectations, commitments, timelines, ground rules, goals, and objectives. This requires great clinical skill on Dr. Stanger’s part. Interested persons may have competing wants and needs. Occasionally, team members don’t even like each other. However, they must put aside their own issues and come together seeking the common good and health of their loved one.
All participants sign client information sheets and confidentiality agreements. Dr. Stanger is committed to fostering a trusting, purposeful, and confidential relationship. All participants receive copies of Privacy Practices and HIPPA Information.
PHASE TWO: INFORMATION GATHERING, OBJECTIVES AND ACTION PLAN
Step 4: Identify Background Information
Step 5: Assess the Identified Patient and Key Stakeholders
Step 6: Teach, and Survey Family Members’ Involvement.
Step 7: Develop a Measurable Action Plan
After the above information is gathered and evaluated through careful investigation, the best treatment center is chosen and a date is set for the intervention. Participants anticipate objections to treatment that your loved one may bring up: childcare, employment, school, or other plans that they see as too important to miss. A plan is developed to address, minimize, and eliminate objections. Likewise, participants explore reasons that your loved one might accept and embrace treatment. Participants prepare to share their experiences, their fears and their hopes with their loved one.
The actual place and time of the intervention is set and transportation is arranged. Special consideration is given to the timing of intervention, to avoid intervening when your loved one could possibly be under the influence.
After your loved one agrees to go into a treatment program, in most instances a team member accompanies them and gets them registered and settled in. In certain circumstances, transportation can be arranged when necessary.
PHASE THREE: IMPLEMENTATION, REVIEW AND FOLLOW-UP
Step 8: Pre-Intervention
Step 9: Actual Intervention and Immediate Actions
Dr. Stanger’s role as interventionist varies with each intervention team. Most often, the intervention team is coached along as they address their loved one. When necessary, Dr. Stanger may accompany your loved one to a quiet place to calm him or her down so that he or she is more able to listen to their friends and family. The attention is always on being in the moment – making sure he or she is respected, valued, and cared for.
“I feel fortunate that all of my interventions have had a successful outcome – behaviors have been changed for the better as a result of the intervention,” says Dr. Stanger, “and many times I bring another seasoned professional with me. I have found this to be most helpful for all.”
From a safety standpoint, if an intervention has potential to be volatile or become violent, threatening harm to the loved one or someone on the team, it is critical to have two professionals present. This system also gives the loved one the opportunity to relate to more than one professionally unbiased person. It also allows someone to stay with the intervention team after your loved one is escorted to treatment to process the events of the intervention, providing closure, reassurance and answering questions and concerns that come up.