The Cotter Model

The Cotter Model

The Cotter Model blends the intervention into the entire treatment process. It is not treated as an isolated event. As a recovering alcoholic, Cotter is able to conduct his private, one-on-one intervention meeting with the identified person (IP) with an open dialogue between two people discussing a problem and how to solve it together, as a team.

This is in stark contrast to the group, surprise party intervention. Group interventions can deteriorate into a threat and demand filled confrontation sermon, by a group of people who are determined to bully the IP into surrendering to their perception of “help.”

When a person has reached the point where an intervention is necessary, they are a veritable buffet of negative emotions. They are already embarrassed, guilt-ridden, paranoid, confused, and angry. In addition, they are usually suffering from low self-esteem, if not self-loathing. To have a group of their best friends and close relatives, often accompanied by their cleric, surprise them and detail their dreadful behavior, is less than conducive to a positive result. The IP may very well accept this onslaught and go passively into a treatment center. But their road to recovery begins with negative motivations. This positions treatment and recovery as penance, when in fact, it should be a positive journey.

Specifically, patients entering treatment following such a confrontation may be so angry, it might be several days or weeks before the counselors “break through” the anger and begin the education necessary to address recovery. In some cases the anger lasts for years. Too often, the IP will leave treatment before completion and once home, will continue to drink as before. Now, the people who tried to help by investing considerable emotion, time, and money, are angry and disappointed. This makes the next offer of help, if there is one, even less likely to succeed.

The Cotter Model is designed to offer an adult, with alcohol, medication, or other drug issues a comfortable and secure environment in which to discuss their problem. They are encouraged to talk openly and honestly about their feelings. In this setting, they reveal their fears and concerns as well as their hopes and dreams. This presents the opportunity to explain the valuable benefits of addressing their problem. Once the process of treatment is explained and any reluctance it dealt with, they will begin to see to expediency of living their life free of alcohol or (prescription) drug dependency. This positive, compassionate method greatly enhances the prognosis for long term recovery. In a sense, the idea of getting help for their problem becomes their idea and one to embrace.

When combined with the Cotter Model’s year-long program of Continuing Care, the stage is set for adults to learn to appreciate a life free from alcohol or other drug addiction.

The goal of an alcohol intervention or a drug intervention must be to motivate the impaired person to WANT help for their addiction problem. Simply accepting help, by acquiescing to threats and demands, may interrupt their drinking or drug use, but it probably will not get them well.

Over time you have, no doubt, yelled, cried, warned and commanded, to no avail. Unfortunately, today most "interventionists" initiate more failed efforts by perpetuating similar confrontational dynamics. The Cotter Model, unlike the group confrontation, is implemented with dignity and respect, focused on the specific needs and qualities of the individual. This private, confidential, one-on-one approach succeeds where other attempts have failed.
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