Addiction intervention is a technique that was originated by Vernon Johnson of the Johnson Institute in Minnesota. Addiction intervention, when conducted by a trained professional is 96% successful in convincing a reluctant person to enter into the treatment for drug addiction, alcoholism, sex addiction, gambling and eating disorders.

Currently, The Institute for Essential Change has professional interventionists that focus on breaking through the client's denial by approaching several of their defense mechanisms all at once. Removing our short-circuiting the person's defense mechanisms allows the family to present the truth about the problem in a calm, rational and loving manner.