Bruce Cotter

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 dialog 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 when 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 an penance, when in fact, it should be a positive journey. Specifically, patients entering treatment following such a confrontation may be so angry, it might take 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 be investing considerable emotion, time and money are angry and disappointed.  This makes the next offer fo 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 is dealt with, they will begin to see the expediency of living their life free or alcohol or (prescription) drug dependency.  This positive, compassionate method greatly enhances th 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 apprecfiate a life free from alcohol or other drug addiction.         "The Hotel Room" (When They Won't Quit, page 74) One intervention was to take place in a luxury New York hotel room.  The father, a small, quiet man, was to take me up to the room and introduce me to his son, who was addicted to heroin, and leave us.  When he opened the door, the father exploded.  He saw his son using and "involved" with two prostitutes, who were also using.  The old man exploded, shrieked and lunged for his son's throat.  It was a terrible fight.  I finally got them apart. The hotel security came.  I dismissed the cast of characters and finally had the young man alone in the room where I did the intervention.  It took two more months to get him into treatment.  He did go to treatment and remains clean and sober.

Education University of Pennsylvania Johnson Institute Loyola College (Baltimore)   Hobbies Golf Fishing Coaching. Email bsqh197@cs.com