Our Approach
A clearer way to think about the Johnson Model
Done well, the Johnson Model is far more thoughtful than the confrontations dramatized on television. It is a structured, family-led conversation that pairs honest reflection with care. This page walks through how it works, who it suits, and the honest tradeoffs every family should understand before choosing it.
You’re not alone
When you are weighing how to approach an intervention
If you are reading this, you may be sitting with the hardest question a family faces, and looking for a clear way forward. Gentler approaches may not have worked. Time may feel short. And you may not be sure whether your family can hold a unified message under the pressure of a real meeting.
At Lifestyle Interventions in Los Angeles, we talk with families in exactly this position regularly. The good news is that there is a structured way to think about whether the Johnson Model fits your situation, or whether a different approach might serve you better.
This page walks through the model in plain language, with no obligation.
Inside the Model
Seven steps of a Johnson Model intervention
In the Johnson Model, the family prepares together before presenting concerns to a loved one in one meeting. A Johnson intervention is carefully planned. The meeting itself is brief, but the preparation behind it is what makes it work. Below is the structure most families follow.
Build the Team
A professional interventionist helps identify trusted family members and close friends who can speak with credibility and care.
Plan and Prepare
The team meets with the interventionist beforehand to learn about addiction, rehearse the meeting, and prepare emotionally.
Write Impact Statements
Each participant prepares a statement describing specific ways the person’s substance use has affected them, framed around concern rather than anger.
Arrange Treatment
Treatment options are secured before the meeting so the person can enter care immediately if they agree.
Hold the Meeting
The team gathers and, guided by the interventionist, shares their statements with the person. The tone stays firm but caring.
Present Consequences
The family clearly states the boundaries if the person declines treatment, then offers the prepared treatment path as the way forward.
Follow Through
If the person agrees, they move into the arranged treatment without delay. The family continues to provide support through recovery.
Who it’s for
Is this approach right for your situation?
This may be a good fit if you…
- ✓Have tried gentler approaches, and denial has not moved the person.
- ✓Are facing a situation that calls for a clear, immediate decision point.
- ✓Can keep the family caring and consistent under pressure.
- ✓Plan to work with a trained interventionist to lead the planning and the meeting.
Not the right step right now if…
- !Someone is in immediate danger.
- !Relationships are fragile and a surprise could cause lasting harm.
- !The family is divided and mixed messages would undermine the meeting.
- !You prefer a transparent, invitational approach instead.
Why us
About Lifestyle Interventions
Lifestyle Interventions is a Los Angeles-based team that supports families navigating mental health and substance use crises. Family involvement is at the center of how we work, because the family is often the leverage that makes an intervention move.
Our services include Crisis Interventions, Family Support Services, and Mentoring & Recovery Support. Founded by Chris Howard, our team helps families understand their options and decide on a next step together.
We created this page because families deserve to make this decision with clarity, not pressure.
Talk through your situation
Every family is different. A short, confidential consultation will help you decide whether the Johnson Model fits, or whether another approach might serve you better.
Common Questions