# Torchlight Recovery Group — full content > Torchlight Recovery Group is a nationwide provider of intervention, addiction recovery support, and case management services for individuals and families navigating mental and behavioral health challenges. --- # How Torchlight works Torchlight is a full-service recovery firm. We help people get into recovery and stay there. Families get a plan for the immediate problem and the year that follows. ## How the process works 1. **Call Torchlight.** Your first call is a 30-minute conversation with John Furtmeier, Torchlight's CEO. John listens to what is happening and decides whether Torchlight should lead the work. When another provider should lead it, John makes the referral. 2. **Complete the assessment.** The assessment takes one hour and costs $150. John invites family members to join the call. He asks each person what is happening and identifies what the family needs next. When Torchlight carries out the one-year plan, Torchlight credits the $150 assessment fee to that plan. 3. **Review the recommendations.** John explains each recommendation and the reason for it. The $150 fee creates an ethical boundary: you pay for his judgment, whether he recommends Torchlight or another provider. He names who should do the work: Torchlight, another provider, or Torchlight and outside providers working from the same plan. 4. **Put the plan to work.** The plan names the next action: an intervention, residential treatment, recovery coaching, case management, a psychiatric referral, or a referral to another provider. The $150 covers the assessment alone. Each service in the plan is scoped and priced on its own, and you approve it before it begins. When Torchlight leads the plan, Torchlight coordinates the family and every provider named in it. 5. **Stay with recovery.** A 30-day residential stay starts recovery. It does not solve a long-term problem by itself. Torchlight's long-term engagement covers one year. The assessment determines which services belong in that year and what they cost. ## What the assessment recommends - Professional intervention - Residential treatment - Recovery coaching - Case management and continuing care - Psychiatric referral - Referral to another provider ## What an intervention means at Torchlight An intervention uses respectful engagement and persuasion. Torchlight and the family help your loved one understand the options in front of them and accept the gift of recovery. It is not an ambush, a coercive confrontation, or an awkward surprise party. ## The long view Recovery takes time. A 30-day stay is the first leg of a marathon, not the finish line. The person still needs a plan for daily life, family relationships, accountability, health, work, and the setbacks that follow treatment. Torchlight holds that plan together. Families and their loved ones deserve dignity, respect, and honesty at every step. URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/how-it-works/ --- # Interventions URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/intervention/ An interventionist's job is to help your family see clearly where things stand, and to build a plan for getting your loved one into treatment and your family into recovery. He is not there to give a motivational speech, to act as a therapist, or to dig through the past for causes. He is there to help you act. ## What a professional interventionist does for you 1. **The first conversation** — It starts with a call about how we can help your loved one, whether the problem is drugs, alcohol, or a mental health crisis. We ask about each person in the family: what role they play, how they have been coping, and how ready they are to go through with an intervention. This is where we explain what an intervention is and give everyone room to say what they think and feel about moving forward. 2. **Scheduling and assessment** — Once your family decides to go ahead, we set the dates. We send you an assessment and an information packet, and we talk through treatment options based on what you tell us. Each family member gets guidance on the letter they will write to your loved one. Last-minute doubts are normal and expected; your interventionist is available to talk them through. 3. **Family education** — In this meeting your interventionist walks through your situation using our addiction intervention manual as a guide. Understanding addiction helps you understand what your loved one is going through. It also helps you see how the ways you have been coping have, without meaning to, made it easier for the drinking or using to continue. Seeing that clearly is what gives families the confidence to hold the boundaries they set. 4. **The intervention itself** — On the day, the interventionist leads. Family members are brought in when it is time to read the letters they wrote and reviewed during family education. By this point you have decided on your boundaries and committed to keeping them whatever your loved one decides. The conversation can be short or take most of the day. If it is moving forward, we keep going until your loved one accepts help. If they dig in, the interventionist steps back and regroups with the family. 5. **Acceptance or refusal** — Your loved one either accepts the help or declines it. Either way, you are prepared. If they accept, they leave for the treatment program that day, usually with the interventionist. If they decline, the family lays out its boundaries and what will change. Holding those boundaries, no matter how hard your loved one pushes against them, is what makes the difference; any further conversation is about what happens if they do not get help. Your interventionist stays with you through this until your loved one agrees to accept the gift of help. 6. **Continued support** — Whatever happens, the days after an intervention are emotional and unpredictable, and your interventionist stays available. If your loved one declined, you need direction on what to do next. If they accepted, you need help with the emotions and the separation. Families want to reach out, react, or step in, and there will be moments when someone has to talk you out of interfering with treatment. Even good change is hard. An intervention that ends in acceptance needs more support afterward, not less. The day itself is the part everyone pictures. The support that follows is the part that takes the most time, and the part that matters most. Your interventionist is your family's temporary treatment team and the bridge to long-term care. --- # Alcohol Intervention Services URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/intervention/alcohol-intervention/ ## When drinking becomes the problem Problem drinking is easy to explain away. Alcohol is everywhere, and a drink at the end of the day looks normal until it isn't. Many people with alcohol use disorder never look impaired in public. The damage shows up at home: more isolation, broken promises, changes in mood, and a growing habit of hiding it. Families often ask whether it is serious enough to act. By the time that question comes up, the pattern is usually well established. ## What alcohol use disorder looks like It is not about how often someone drinks. It is about what drinking does to their judgment, their behavior, and their life. Common signs: - Trying to cut back or stop, and not managing it - Explaining away or playing down the drinking - Hiding alcohol or drinking in secret - Mood swings, irritability, or pulling away - Letting things slide at home or at work Because drinking is so accepted, families tend to wait, even after the signs are clear. Waiting gives the pattern time to dig in. ## When to consider an intervention Families spend a long time hoping things will change. The intentions are real, but the only reliable measure is what actually happens, not what is promised. It may be time when: - Drinking is hurting their health, relationships, or work - They deny there is a problem, or get defensive - Attempts to stop have not lasted - Their behavior has become unpredictable or frightening - The family feels stuck and does not know what to do next An intervention gives your family a clear path: a plan, a date, and a next step into treatment. ## How drinking reshapes a household Alcohol use disorder changes everyone in the house. Spouses and family members adapt, often out of fear or a wish to keep the peace, in ways that quietly keep the drinking going. Some partners end up managing daily life around it instead of facing it. That is understandable, and it is also what makes change hard. A good intervention takes those patterns into account and helps the whole family move at once. ## Our approach Torchlight's alcohol interventions focus on: - Preparing the family together before the day - Clear, respectful communication - Getting past denial and minimizing - Lining up treatment options and the next step - Support that continues after the intervention The goal is to move your family from uncertainty to action while keeping everyone's dignity intact. ## Getting help If someone you love is drinking in a way you can no longer manage, you do not have to work it out alone. Torchlight helps families make a clear plan toward treatment and long-term recovery. ## Questions families ask ### What is an alcohol intervention? A planned, professionally led conversation in which the family asks a loved one to accept treatment for their drinking, prepared so that it stays calm, clear, and supportive. ### How do I know if someone has alcohol use disorder? Repeated failed attempts to stop, secrecy, mood changes, broken promises, and continuing to drink despite what it is costing them. ### Will an intervention make things worse? Done properly and prepared well, it reduces conflict. The point is to give the family a constructive way forward instead of another argument. ### What if they refuse? Some people say no at first. Even then, an intervention changes the situation: the family has said what it needed to say and set its boundaries, and that often opens the door later. ### Can you intervene with someone who is still functioning at work? Yes. Many people keep their job and their responsibilities while drinking heavily in private. Interventions work in those situations too. --- # Drug & Substance Use Intervention URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/intervention/drug-intervention/ ## When drug use is the problem Drug use, whether opioids, stimulants, or prescription medication, can escalate fast and put both the person and the family at real risk. Its consequences tend to be more visible than drinking, but they can still be hidden behind denial, secrecy, and stretches of calm. Most families live through a cycle of crisis, hope, and relapse, and never know when to step in. A professional intervention replaces that cycle with a plan and a path into treatment. ## What substance use disorder looks like The hallmarks are losing control over use, continuing despite consequences, and being unable to make a change stick. Common signs: - Stopping, then relapsing, again and again - Using more, or taking bigger risks - Money, legal, or health problems piling up - Secrecy, lies, or manipulation - Stretches of doing well followed by a fast slide The drug may be opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, or misused prescriptions. The risks differ. The need for a planned, early response does not. ## When to consider an intervention Families wait for the right time. Earlier is usually better. Consider an intervention when: - Use is escalating or getting more dangerous - There has been an overdose or a close call - They cannot stay stable for long - They deny it despite obvious consequences - The family is overwhelmed or in crisis A planned intervention moves the family from reacting to each crisis to following a plan. ## What it does to the family Loved ones end up managing the fallout: covering, heading off consequences, keeping things steady during the using. It leads to stress, confusion, and burnout. An intervention lets the family step out of crisis mode and into a supporting role, focused on long-term recovery instead of day-to-day damage control. ## Our approach Torchlight's drug interventions focus on: - Careful planning and preparation - Clear, direct communication - Facing relapse patterns and resistance head on - Arranging detox, treatment, and the next step - Case management and continuing care afterward The goal is decisive, informed action in situations that feel unpredictable. ## Getting help If someone you love is using, acting early makes a real difference. Torchlight works with families to build a plan that gets a person into treatment and supports recovery long after. Call and we will walk through your situation, your options, and what to do next. ## Questions families ask ### What is a drug intervention? A planned, professionally led conversation in which the family asks a loved one to accept treatment for their drug use. ### Which drugs call for an intervention? Most often opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, and misused prescription drugs. ### When is an intervention necessary? When use is escalating, relapse keeps happening, or there is a real safety risk such as overdose. ### What if my loved one has relapsed several times? Relapse is common. An intervention is a chance to reset the approach and build a plan that works better than the last one. ### Do you arrange detox and treatment? Yes. Finding the right detox and treatment program and getting your loved one there is part of the intervention. --- # Mental Health Crisis Intervention URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/intervention/mental-health-intervention/ ## When someone you love is in crisis A mental health crisis is a moment of severe distress, when a person may be at risk of harming themselves or someone else and the priority is safety. The clearest sign is suicidal thinking. When someone says they want to hurt themselves, take it seriously and respond promptly, calmly, and with professional help. If someone you care about is having suicidal thoughts, the first job is keeping them safe and getting them to crisis support as fast as possible: a licensed mental health provider, a crisis line, or emergency services. ## Signs a crisis needs immediate action - Suicidal thoughts or statements - Sudden changes in mood or behavior - Hopelessness or despair - Agitation, withdrawal, or emotional instability - Risk of harm to themselves or others Noticing these early lets a family act in time. ## Conditions often behind a crisis - Depression - Anxiety disorders - Bipolar disorder - Substance use disorders Knowing what is underneath helps the right kind of help get there. ## How Torchlight helps With the right response, a person can steady, get proper care, and begin to move forward. Torchlight helps families act early and compassionately, arrange care, and stay supported so no one goes through the worst moments alone. ## If it is an emergency Torchlight provides non-clinical support: intervention, case management, and recovery coaching. We are not doctors, therapists, or a medical provider. If you or a loved one is having severe suicidal thoughts, talking about self-harm, or is a danger to themselves or others, that needs immediate medical attention. Call 911, call or text 988, or go to the nearest emergency room or crisis center right away. We work alongside licensed professionals, but emergency and clinical care must come from them. --- # Clinical Guidance URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/intervention/clinical-guidance/ Torchlight is a non-clinical service that works alongside clinicians. This page sets out the evidence our approach rests on, who advises us clinically, and the boundary between what we do and what you do. ## What the evidence says The findings below are drawn from the U.S. Surgeon General's report Facing Addiction in America (2016). - Substance use disorders can be treated effectively, with recurrence rates no higher than those for other chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension. With comprehensive continuing care, recovery is an achievable outcome. - Treatment at every level of care, inpatient, residential, and outpatient, is cost-effective compared with no treatment. - The goals and management of substance use disorder treatment are the same as for other chronic illnesses: reduce key symptoms, improve health and function, and sustain both. This holds for co-occurring psychiatric disorders. The components are medications, behavioral therapies, and recovery support services. - Evidence-based behavioral therapies work, but are often delivered with limited fidelity and are under-used. Treatments that use them show better results than those that do not. - Electronic health records, telehealth, and remote monitoring show promise for improving access, engagement, and continuing supportive care. Source: [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General. Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. Washington, DC: HHS, 2016.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424857/) ## Where Torchlight fits Torchlight delivers the recovery support services and the coordination around them: intervention, placement, transport, monitoring, and a year of continuing care with two Care Coordinators and case manager oversight. Medications and therapy stay with the treating clinicians. We report attendance and monitoring results to the parties named in the client's release. ## Clinical advisors Torchlight's clinical direction comes from Dr. Viktoriya Magid, a licensed clinical psychologist, and Dr. Jeffrey Cluver, a psychiatrist in addiction medicine. Taft Draper, RD, CLT, advises on nutrition in recovery. Their profiles are on the team page. ## Working with us For clinicians and treatment centers, the practical details of a referral are on the Professional Referrals page. John Furtmeier, CIP, CCMI, takes the first call. --- # Safe Passage Transportation URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/intervention/safe-passage-transportation/ ## Getting to treatment, and home again, safely Safe Passage is travel with a trained, sober companion for someone going into treatment or coming home from it. The trip itself is one of the riskiest moments in recovery: a long drive or a layover is a lot of time alone with second thoughts. A companion lowers that risk, handles whatever comes up, and gives the family peace of mind. We look at each situation to decide how much support the trip needs. Often, a companion is the difference between arriving and not. ## How it works We plan the trip with the client, the family, and the treatment program. We match each client with a companion suited to them, including same-gender matching where that matters, and you can review the companion's profile before travel. The aim is a calm, supported trip, whether that is into treatment or back home to start continuing care. ## What Safe Passage includes - A trained, experienced companion who travels with your loved one door to door - Full travel planning: flights, ground transport, and timing - 24/7 support from our transport team while the trip is under way - Real-time updates to the family by call or group text - Help with admission and a direct handoff to the program's staff The companion stays until your loved one is in the hands of treatment staff. ## Why families use it - A calmer, safer start to treatment - A safer return home afterward - Less risk in the hours between leaving and arriving - Knowing where your loved one is, every step of the way ## Getting started If your loved one is about to enter treatment or come home, a supported trip makes a real difference. Call and we will put together a travel plan that fits. ## Questions families ask ### Will they be alone at any point? No. The companion is with your loved one from the door of your home to the moment program staff take over. ### Can we choose the companion? You can review the companion's profile before travel, and we match on gender when that matters. ### What if they change their mind on the way? Companions are trained for exactly that. They keep the trip on course, and you get real-time updates by call or group text so you are never guessing. ### Does Safe Passage work for coming home too? Yes. The return home is often the riskier trip, and a companion makes it a supported start to continuing care rather than a leap. --- # Alcohol and Substance Use Monitoring URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/intervention/alcohol-substance-use-monitoring/ ## An honest answer instead of a guessing game After treatment, one question hangs over everything: are they using? Without a good answer, families end up watching, suspecting, and arguing. Monitoring replaces that with a fact. It tells everyone, including the person in recovery, exactly where things stand. Torchlight offers monitoring on its own or as part of Collaborative Continuing Care. ## Alcohol monitoring Alcohol is monitored with a breathalyzer. Torchlight is a Soberlink provider. Soberlink is a remote breathalyzer that confirms who is using it with facial recognition and sends each result in real time to the people the client has chosen, so nobody has to be in the room. Alcohol monitoring can include: - Scheduled and random tests - Results sent immediately by text and email - Results shared with the family and the Care Coordinator, as agreed - Changes to the recovery plan when the results change ## Drug monitoring Drug use is monitored mainly with saliva tests, which pick up recent use. Drug monitoring can include: - Scheduled and random saliva tests - Screening for opioids, stimulants, benzodiazepines, and other commonly misused drugs - Prompt reporting of results - Coordination with the Care Coordinator and the rest of the support team Catching a slip early means it can be dealt with before it becomes a relapse. ## What monitoring is, and is not Monitoring is not punishment. It is clarity. As part of a recovery plan, it gives families: - A clear, objective picture instead of suspicion - Fewer arguments - A reason to trust progress when it is real - Early warning when it is not ## Part of a bigger plan Results are never read on their own. Torchlight's Care Coordinators help make sense of them, adjust the plan when needed, and keep your loved one, the family, and the providers on the same page. ## Getting started If your family wants a straightforward way to know how recovery is going, monitoring can help. Call and we will work out the right level of testing and support. ## Questions families ask ### What is alcohol and drug monitoring? Regular testing that shows whether someone is drinking or using, so the family has facts instead of guesses. ### How does alcohol monitoring work? With a breathalyzer, scheduled or at random. Results are immediate and go by text and email to the people you have agreed on. ### What kind of drug testing is used? Mostly saliva tests, which detect recent use of opioids, stimulants, benzodiazepines, and other commonly misused drugs. ### Who sees the results? Whoever you agree on at the start: usually the person being tested, the family, and the Care Coordinator. ### Is monitoring part of a bigger program? It can be part of continuing care or used on its own. Either way, someone helps interpret the results and adjust the plan. ### Does monitoring prevent relapse? It catches slips early and keeps people honest, which lowers the chance of a full relapse and lets us step in fast when something is wrong. --- # Our Services URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/our-services/ ## Support for every stage, from crisis to a year after treatment Torchlight helps individuals and families through substance use, mental health crises, and the hard transitions in between. Each service below can stand on its own or be part of one plan built around your family. ## Collaborative Continuing Care Ongoing support for the year after treatment. Continuing care is what happens after treatment ends, which is where most recoveries falter. Two Care Coordinators, one for your loved one and one for the family, stay in weekly contact, keep the treatment team in the loop, and help both of you learn what recovery asks of you. It is a plan that gets kept, not a series of check-ins. **Best for:** - Families who want guidance after treatment - Someone who needs structure week to week - Situations with several providers who need to work together ## Recovery Coaching Practical support for daily life after treatment. A credentialed recovery coach works with your loved one in the real world: building routines, handling triggers, and keeping momentum in the weeks and months after treatment. **Best for:** - Coming home from treatment - Wanting someone to answer to in daily life - Staying on track once the early support falls away ## Companion Services Someone by their side during risky stretches. A companion is a credentialed professional who is physically present when that matters: early recovery, travel, a high-risk event, or the return to daily responsibilities. **Best for:** - Early recovery - Travel and other high-risk moments - When having someone there is what keeps a person steady ## Monitoring An objective answer to "are they using?" Remote breathalyzer and saliva testing, scheduled and random, with results sent to the people you agree on. It replaces suspicion with facts and lets trust be rebuilt on evidence. **Best for:** - Families who want certainty instead of worry - Someone who does better with clear accountability - Rebuilding trust after a relapse ## Safe Passage Transport A trained companion travels with your loved one, door to door. Torchlight plans and staffs the trip to treatment and home again: flights, ground transport, updates to the family, and a handoff to program staff. **Best for:** - Getting to treatment - Moving between programs - Any trip where being alone is the risk ## Why one plan works better than five These services are built to work together. When the intervention, the treatment program, the coaching, and the monitoring all follow one plan, the gaps close and progress holds. We work with families nationwide from our base in Charleston, South Carolina. --- # Collaborative Continuing Care URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/collaborative-continuing-care/ ## Recovery does not end when treatment does Leaving treatment is the moment families expect relief. It is usually the moment things get hard. The routine and support of a program stop, ordinary life starts again, and the person is back in the place where the problem began. That is where most recoveries falter. Collaborative Continuing Care is built for that year. It gives your loved one and your family a plan, people to walk it with, and a way to tell whether it is working. ## How it works Before discharge, we talk to the treatment team about what they recommend. From that we build a plan around your loved one's goals, clinical needs, and the support already in place. The plan can include: - Regular contact with therapists, doctors, and other providers - Connections to support groups and recovery communities - Help choosing sober living when that is the right step - Recovery-based activities that give the week some structure Our job is to make sure the right support is in place and that it is actually being used. ## Two coordinators, not one Every engagement has two Care Coordinators: one for your loved one and one for the family. Each of you has someone whose only job is to support you, and neither is asked to carry the other's process. Both check in weekly, keep track of how things are going, and deal with problems while they are still small. Each coordinator keeps detailed notes from every session. A Case Manager reads them as a second set of eyes, watching for progress, trouble, and anything that needs attention now. ## Learning what recovery asks of the family Addiction and mental illness change a whole family. Roles shift, communication frays, and nobody is sure what to expect. We work with the family, and with the close friends who matter, on how to talk, what to expect, and where to hold the line. Both your loved one and the family work through a structured curriculum along the way, so this is education, not just encouragement. ## Working with the treatment team Continuing care sits alongside clinical care; it does not replace it. We stay in touch with outside providers, keep the plan consistent with the treatment they recommend, and check that appointments and meetings are actually attended. ## Getting started If your family is coming out of treatment, or watching progress slip, continuing care can change the outcome. Call and we will talk through where things stand and what level of support fits. ## Questions families ask ### What is continuing care? Support that continues after treatment ends: a plan, regular contact, and people making sure the plan is followed through the return to everyday life. ### What does a Care Coordinator do? Keeps the plan on track. They talk with your loved one, or with your family, every week, stay in touch with providers, and deal with problems as they come up. ### How is it different from case management? Case management is one part of it: lining up services and resources. Continuing care adds the weekly support, the family work, and the accountability that keeps everyone moving in the same direction. ### How long does it last? Torchlight's long-term engagement covers a year. Some families need shorter support through a transition; others stay longer to keep things steady. ### When should we start? The best time is right after treatment. It also helps whenever progress is slipping, a relapse pattern is showing, or the family needs more structure than it has. ### Does it replace therapy or treatment? No. We work alongside therapists, doctors, and programs, and help everyone follow the same plan. --- # Recovery Coaching URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/recovery-coaching/ Recovery coaching is practical, day-to-day support from a credentialed professional for the months after treatment, when what was learned inside has to hold up outside. We work with individuals and families nationwide from our base in Charleston, South Carolina. ## Treatment is the beginning Finishing treatment matters. It is also only the start. The return to everyday life is where the trouble shows up, and without steady support even strong progress can slip. A recovery coach gives your loved one structure and guidance through that stretch. ## Support in real life Recovery does not happen in a controlled setting. It happens on a Tuesday afternoon. Our coaches work with people to: - Keep what was gained in treatment - Handle triggers and hard moments as they come - Build routines and healthy habits - Get through everyday situations sober - Stay accountable and keep moving forward We meet people where they are and help recovery take hold where they live. ## The family is part of it Coaching centers on the individual, but recovery touches everyone. We help families get clear on expectations, communication, and boundaries so home is a place recovery can hold. ## What coaching is, and is not Coaching is not therapy. It is support after treatment, focused on sobriety and on applying what was learned to build a stable life. Families who need more coordination across several providers should look at Collaborative Continuing Care. ## Getting started If you or someone you love is leaving treatment and needs more support than a phone number, coaching can keep progress moving. ## Questions families ask ### What does a recovery coach do? A credentialed professional who is not a therapist, and who helps someone stay sober and handle real life after treatment: routines, triggers, decisions, and follow-through. ### Is coaching the same as therapy? No. Coaching is practical support in daily life. It often runs alongside therapy and other care, and never replaces it. ### When does someone need a coach? Right after treatment, in early recovery, or any time more structure and support are needed to keep progress going. --- # Companion Services URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/recovery-companion-services/ Companion services put a credentialed professional at your loved one's side, in person, during the moments in recovery when being alone is the risk. We work with individuals and families nationwide from our base in Charleston, South Carolina. ## When presence is what helps There are times when support has to be in the room. A companion is a steady, reliable presence through daily routines, important events, and moves from one setting to another, so each step is supported rather than survived. ## What a companion does - Is present through the day, for as long as needed - Helps keep routine and structure - Goes along to appointments, meetings, and events - Supports safe moves between home, treatment, and travel - Encourages accountability and good decisions Companions can be arranged for a few days or for the longer term. ## Discreet by default Our companions are experienced with people who value privacy. They understand the pressures of demanding lives and work in a way that fits the client's world rather than disrupting it. ## Part of a bigger plan Companion support often runs alongside other help. For guidance and accountability beyond in-person support, see Recovery Coaching. ## Steady through change Coming home from treatment, traveling, and picking up daily responsibilities can be overwhelming. A companion is a constant through those changes, lowering risk and easing the way. ## Getting started If you are looking for discreet, in-person support for yourself or someone you love, call and we will find the right next step. ## Questions families ask ### What is a recovery companion? A credentialed professional who is physically present, not a therapist, and who helps someone keep structure, stay accountable, and stay steady in daily life. ### When does someone need a companion? During transitions: coming home from treatment, traveling, or any stretch when in-person support is what keeps progress going. ### Is a companion the same as a therapist? No. Companions do not provide therapy or clinical care. They provide presence, support, and accountability in everyday situations. --- # Who We Help URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/who-we-serve/ Torchlight works with families and individuals facing substance use or mental health crises, and with the professionals who advise them: clinicians, treatment centers, attorneys, wealth managers, and trustees. Everything we do is confidential, and it is built around one plan that everyone involved can follow. ## For families and individuals ### Families When someone you love is in trouble and nothing you have tried has worked, we help you understand what is happening, decide what to do next, and stay supported while you do it. That can mean an intervention, help finding treatment, and a year of support afterward. ### Executives and professionals When drinking or drug use is starting to affect performance and judgment, we arrange help that fits around a demanding job, without anyone at work needing to know unless you decide they should. ### High-profile individuals and families Some situations need a small circle and a steady hand. We keep the number of people who know short, run communication through one point of contact, and arrange treatment and travel discreetly. ## For the professionals who advise them ### Clinicians, physicians, and treatment centers When a client needs an intervention, a treatment placement, or support between appointments that falls outside your role, Torchlight takes on the non-clinical work. Diagnosis and treatment stay with you. ### Attorneys and legal professionals When substance use or mental illness is affecting a matter, we get a client into treatment, keep them engaged, and document attendance and monitoring results, coordinating with counsel without offering legal advice. ### Wealth managers and family offices When a client's behavior threatens their own well-being and the family's plans, we provide a discreet path to assessment and treatment and keep the office's other advisors informed within agreed limits. ### Trustees and estate professionals When a trust conditions distributions on treatment or sobriety, or a beneficiary's substance use is putting them at risk, we act as a neutral third party with documented monitoring and attendance reporting. ## Every situation is different. Every plan is too. We don't offer one-size-fits-all solutions. Reach out and we'll talk through your specific situation. --- # Support for Families Facing Addiction or Mental Illness URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/who-we-serve/family-support/ When someone you love is in trouble and nothing you have tried has worked, we help you understand what is happening, decide what to do next, and stay supported while you do it. ## When a loved one is struggling It never affects just one person. Conversations get tense. Boundaries blur. Everyone is running on emotion. Families go in circles, trying one approach after another, hoping something sticks, with no real plan. Even the most loving families get overwhelmed. We help you stop reacting and start following a plan built to last. ## Why families call Most families reach us after trying to handle it themselves. Usually one of these is true: - Your loved one refuses help or insists it isn't that bad - There have been several rounds of treatment and none has held - Things are escalating: more risk, less stability - The family is fighting about what to do - Nobody is sure what the right next step is ## How we help Our job is to make sure you are not doing this alone. We help families: - Understand what is happening and what has to happen next - Plan and carry out an intervention when a loved one won't accept help - Set boundaries you can actually keep - Get everyone in the family pulling in the same direction - Stay supported all the way through recovery ## What that looks like in practice Through an intervention and Collaborative Continuing Care, families get: - An intervention planned carefully and led by a professional - Ongoing coaching for the family, not just the person in recovery - A weekly check-in you can count on - Accountability for your loved one, and for the family - A clear way to make decisions when the next hard moment comes ## Working with the treatment team We stay in touch with your loved one's providers so that what happens at home and what happens in treatment line up. ## What changes When a family moves from reacting to following a plan: - Conversations get clearer and calmer - Boundaries get set, and kept - Your loved one is more likely to accept help and stick with it - You feel surer of your decisions - Life gets steadier If you're not sure what to do next, we're here to help you think it through. --- # Support for Executives & Professionals URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/who-we-serve/executives-professionals/ Executives and professionals carry pressures that make getting help harder: a calendar that never clears, a reputation to protect, and people who depend on you. ## High performance, high pressure Getting help should not mean blowing up your work life or letting everyone know. It means a plan that fits around your responsibilities and keeps what is private, private. ## How we help - An intervention when someone won't accept help on their own - Support that flexes around your schedule and travel - Weekly accountability through Collaborative Continuing Care - Care that fits into working life rather than interrupting it Everything is handled with confidentiality and respect for your reputation and privacy. ## Working with your providers Through Collaborative Continuing Care we stay in touch with your therapist, doctor, or treatment program so the plan holds together, without involving anyone at work unless you choose to. ## Our role Discreet, confidential support that fits into real life. We are available to talk through how it could work for you. ## Questions professionals ask ### Will my employer find out? Not from us. Nobody at work is told anything unless you decide they should be, and you decide what. ### Can this work around travel and a full calendar? Yes. Check-ins, coaching, and monitoring are arranged around your schedule, including when you are on the road. ### Do I have to stop working to get help? Not necessarily. The assessment looks at what level of care fits; for many people that is treatment that runs alongside work, with support in the evenings and between commitments. ### Who will know? You, John, your Care Coordinator, and whichever providers you choose to involve. We agree the list at the start and keep to it. --- # Discreet Support for High-Profile Individuals & Families URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/who-we-serve/high-profile-individuals/ Some situations call for more discretion than usual. We work with individuals and families who need help handled privately, by a small circle, without exposure or disruption. ## A private, careful approach Public-facing people and families with complicated lives cannot afford a misstep. We keep the number of people who know short, agree at the start who will be told what, and run communication through one point of contact. ## How we work - A confidential intervention, tailored to the person and the circumstances - Treatment arranged quietly, with travel handled by our own vetted companions - Ongoing support and accountability through Collaborative Continuing Care - One line of communication to everyone who needs to be kept informed ## Built on privacy and trust Everything we do is handled with strict confidentiality, professional discretion, and care about what is said, to whom, and how. ## Working with the treatment team We coordinate with treatment providers and clinical teams so the plan is followed, while protecting privacy at every step. ## Our role Private, well-organized support that makes progress possible without drawing attention. Confidential consultations are available. ## Questions families ask ### How small can the circle be? As small as the situation allows. We agree at the start who is told what, and communication runs through one point of contact. ### Who travels with my loved one? One of our own vetted companions. You can review the companion's profile before travel, and we match on gender when that matters. ### Can treatment be arranged away from home? Yes. Placement can be anywhere in the country, and Safe Passage handles the travel door to door. ### What happens if something goes wrong? You hear it from us first, through the same point of contact, along with what we are doing about it. --- # Support for Trustees & Estate Professionals URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/who-we-serve/trustees-estate-professionals/ A trustee with a struggling beneficiary has to hold two things at once: the duty to the trust and the welfare of a person. Torchlight gives the trustee a neutral, non-clinical party to do the practical work and a documented record to act on. ## When trustees engage Torchlight - Distributions are conditioned on treatment, sobriety, or participation in a recovery plan, and the trustee needs verified information rather than assurances - A beneficiary is refusing help and the family is asking the trustee to act - A beneficiary's spending or conduct is putting them at risk and the trustee needs a way to intervene that is not the trustee - Family members are in conflict over what should happen next ## What Torchlight provides - An intervention led by a professional rather than by the trustee or a relative - Treatment placement and Safe Passage transport - Collaborative Continuing Care with weekly contact and tracked attendance - Alcohol and drug monitoring with results reported to the parties named in the beneficiary's release - Family meetings and a family Care Coordinator, separate from the beneficiary's - Reporting on the cadence the trustee needs, within the release ## Scope and boundaries Torchlight does not interpret trust instruments, advise on distributions, assess capacity, or give clinical opinions. We supply verified, contemporaneous information about treatment engagement and monitoring results; what the trustee does with it is the trustee's decision, with counsel. ## How an engagement starts 1. **Call John** — A 30-minute call to establish what decision the situation needs, who is involved, and what is already in place. 2. **Confirm fit and scope** — John confirms what Torchlight can and cannot report, and what release the beneficiary will need to sign. 3. **Set the next action** — Assessment, intervention, placement, transport, monitoring, or continuing care, in the order the situation requires. If another provider should lead, John says so and makes the referral. 4. **Report as agreed** — Attendance and monitoring results go to the parties named in the release, on the cadence agreed at intake. ## A neutral party in the room Trustees are often the only adult in a family willing to say no. Torchlight takes that role off the trustee and gives it to a professional whose job it is, so the trustee relationship survives the recovery. We are available to consult on situations that need discretion and a record. --- # Support for Wealth Managers & Family Offices URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/who-we-serve/wealth-managers-family-offices/ You are often the first professional to notice: missed meetings, decisions that don't fit, a family that has stopped talking. Torchlight gives the office a discreet route from concern to assessment to treatment, and keeps the other advisors informed within agreed limits. ## When family offices engage Torchlight - A principal's or an heir's behavior is becoming erratic and is starting to affect decisions - The family is worried but nobody is willing to raise it - A treatment episode has ended and nothing is in place for the year after - The office needs one accountable party coordinating the recovery plan alongside counsel and clinicians ## What Torchlight provides - A 30-minute call with John, then a one-hour assessment and a recommendation that names the service, the provider, and the order of work - Intervention when the person will not accept help - Treatment placement across levels of care and Safe Passage transport - Collaborative Continuing Care: two Care Coordinators, one for the individual and one for the family, weekly contact, and tracked attendance - Monitoring with results reported to the parties named in the release - Coordination with the office, counsel, family therapists, and the treatment team, through one point of contact ## Scope and boundaries Torchlight is non-clinical and gives no financial or legal advice. We do not assess capacity. We coordinate the recovery plan and report on it; the office and its advisors decide what follows. ## How an engagement starts 1. **Call John** — A 30-minute call to establish what decision the situation needs, who is involved, and what is already in place. 2. **Confirm fit and scope** — John tells you whether Torchlight should lead the work or refer elsewhere, and what release the client will need to sign. 3. **Set the next action** — Assessment, intervention, placement, transport, monitoring, or continuing care, in the order the situation requires. If another provider should lead, John says so and makes the referral. 4. **Report as agreed** — Attendance and monitoring results go to the parties named in the release, on the cadence agreed at intake. ## A quiet extension of the team We fit around the advisors already in place, respect existing relationships, and keep the circle small. Discretion is part of the service, not an add-on. We are available to consult on situations that need discretion and a plan. --- # Support for Attorneys & Legal Professionals URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/who-we-serve/attorneys-legal-professionals/ When a client's substance use or mental illness is affecting a matter, counsel needs the client in treatment, staying in treatment, and a record of it. Torchlight handles the non-clinical work that makes that happen and reports within the scope the client authorizes. ## When counsel engages Torchlight - A client will not accept treatment voluntarily and an intervention is needed - A client needs placement at an appropriate level of care, and transport to it - Continued engagement in treatment has to be verified and documented - Family dynamics are destabilizing the client or the matter - Custody, employment, licensure, or fitness questions turn on demonstrated recovery ## What Torchlight provides - Intervention planning and facilitation when a client refuses help - Treatment placement across levels of care: detox, residential, PHP, IOP, and sober living - Safe Passage transportation between levels of care, with handoff confirmed to program staff - Collaborative Continuing Care: two Care Coordinators, weekly contact, and attendance at recommended services tracked - Alcohol and drug monitoring (remote breathalyzer through Soberlink; saliva screens) with results reported to the parties named in the client's release - One point of contact for counsel, the family, and the treatment team ## Scope and boundaries Torchlight is non-clinical. We do not diagnose, treat, assess capacity, or give legal advice. Clinical decisions stay with the treatment team; legal strategy stays with counsel. We define our role, the release of information, and the reporting cadence at intake, and we operate inside them. Records and client identifiers should not be sent through the website. John will tell you what Torchlight needs and how to share it. ## How an engagement starts 1. **Call John** — A 30-minute call to establish what decision the situation needs, who is involved, and what is already in place. 2. **Confirm fit and scope** — John tells you whether Torchlight should lead the work or refer elsewhere, and what release the client will need to sign. 3. **Set the next action** — Assessment, intervention, placement, transport, monitoring, or continuing care, in the order the situation requires. If another provider should lead, John says so and makes the referral. 4. **Report as agreed** — Attendance and monitoring results go to the parties named in the release, on the cadence agreed at intake. ## Working with families in a legal matter Families in these situations are often part of the instability. Torchlight's family Care Coordinator works with them separately from the client, so the client's plan is not carried by relatives who are exhausted or divided. We are available to consult on cases where treatment engagement, documentation, and confidentiality all matter. --- # Professional Referrals URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/who-we-serve/professional-referrals/ Clinicians, physicians, attorneys, and treatment centers call Torchlight when a client or family needs intervention, treatment placement, or coordinated support beyond the referring professional's role. ## Clinicians and Physicians Torchlight takes responsibility for family coordination, intervention planning, treatment logistics, and recovery support between appointments. The referring clinician or physician remains responsible for clinical care. John communicates with the treatment team under the permissions established by the client and family, and reports attendance and monitoring results within that release. Torchlight does not diagnose, prescribe, or replace therapy, psychiatry, or medical care. ## Attorneys and Legal Professionals Torchlight helps clients and families act on a recovery plan when substance use or mental health concerns are affecting a legal matter. We define our role at the start, protect confidentiality, and coordinate with counsel without offering legal or clinical advice. ## Treatment Centers Treatment centers involve Torchlight before admission, at a step-down between levels of care, or at discharge. We prepare a family for treatment, arrange Safe Passage transportation, and coordinate continuing care after a client leaves the program, including sober living placement, monitoring, and attendance at aftercare. Torchlight supports the treatment plan and helps the client and family follow it in daily life. Clinical decisions stay with the treatment team. ## What Happens After a Referral 1. **Call John** — The first call is a 30-minute conversation with John Furtmeier, Torchlight's CEO. He asks what decision needs to be made, who is involved, and what support is already in place. 2. **Confirm the right fit** — John tells you whether Torchlight should lead the work. If another provider is better suited to the situation, he makes that referral. 3. **Set the next action** — When Torchlight is the right fit, John defines the next step. That may be an assessment, an intervention, treatment placement, case management, coaching, transportation, monitoring, or continuing care. 4. **Coordinate the plan** — Torchlight establishes the communication plan, releases, responsibilities, and next check-in with the client, family, and professional team. ## What to Have Ready - Your role, organization, and relationship to the client or family - The decision or transition that requires support - Any immediate safety concern - The professionals and family members already involved - The current level of care, if any, and the discharge date if one is set - The outcome you want the first conversation to produce Call without sending records or client identifiers through the website. John will explain what information Torchlight needs and how to share it. --- # Team ## John Furtmeier Chief Executive Officer — CIP, CCMI, RCP, CRS Certified Intervention Professional (CIP), Certified Case Manager Interventionist with the Breining Institute (CCMI), Recovery Coach Professional with CCAR (RCP), and Certified Recovery Specialist with the International Recovery Institute (CRS). He works with families facing substance use disorder and mental health crisis to open a path to professional treatment and a structured program of continuing care. A person in long-term recovery himself. ## Liz Hawkins Director of Care Management — Social Worker A South Carolina native and social worker of ten years, working with individuals and families affected by mental health disorders and substance use. She guides Torchlight's Care Coordinators through Collaborative Continuing Care, the structured post-treatment program. ## Amanda Cook ## Dr. Viktoriya Magid Licensed Clinical Psychologist — PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist A licensed clinical psychologist, life coach, and keynote speaker. Her specialties include substance use and addiction, trauma and childhood trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and personality disorders. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University at Buffalo in 2009 and subsequently worked at the Medical University of South Carolina. ## Dr. Jeffrey Cluver Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine — MD, Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine Dr. Cluver has provided clinical care across the full spectrum of mental illness and treatment settings — inpatient care, outpatient clinics, addiction medicine, and therapeutic interventions. He is especially interested in treating adults with mood and anxiety disorders and substance use disorders. ## Taft Draper Registered Dietitian — RD, CLT Taft focuses on helping individuals in recovery restore physical health, stabilize energy, and reconnect with their bodies through balanced nutrition and supportive daily habits. His approach is compassionate, non-judgmental, and meets each person where they are. --- # Frequently asked questions ## Is an intervention really necessary? That question is best answered by asking yourself three questions: - Is the family in a crisis situation? - Have the family’s efforts to move their loved one towards wellness up to this point, worked? - Is doing nothing an option? The truth is, that while an intervention is a stressful thing to plan, the alternative, if your loved one doesn’t get the help they need, could be much more dire. ## What is an intervention? An intervention is an orchestrated attempt by one or many people – usually family and friends through the guidance of a trained professional interventionist– to motivate a loved one to seek professional help with an addiction or some kind of traumatic event or crisis, or other serious problem. ## Why would we need an interventionist? Can’t we just do the intervention ourselves? The benefit of having a professional lead the intervention is that the interventionist has no emotional attachment to the family or the addicted individual. We are able to see the situation more clearly without the emotions involved. With a professional in charge of the intervention, we neutralize the negative dialogue that usually happens when families attempt to approach the addicted individual alone. Generally what happens when families go at it alone is that it ends in a yelling match or one family member accuses another for saying the wrong thing. This enables resentment to further drive a wedge into the family dynamic and keeps them in the problem instead of moving towards a solution and wellness for the entire family. ## What if they say no to the intervention process? It’s one of the most commonly asked questions. Professionally guided interventions consist of removing all options that enable an addicted loved one to continue destructive behaviors. When the family is confronting their loved one in a loving, non shaming, non blaming manner and all options are removed, 95% of addicted individuals enter treatment on the day of the intervention. The 5% that do not accept help on that day generally don’t believe the family will maintain the boundaries set during the intervention. Once they have an experience that shows them that the family is indeed holding firm on their boundaries, most of the 5% enter treatment within a week. ## Don’t they have to hit bottom before the intervention? I find that the term ‘hitting bottom’ is largely misunderstood and it enables family to continue to operate out of fear and refuse to take action. You can be assured that your loved one has bottomed out emotionally already and about 350 people ‘hit bottom’ every day and don’t bounce. They die. An intervention is a controlled bottom. With the help of an interventionist, a family raises an individual’s bottom and allows them to see it without having to hit it. ## What do the letters CIP and AIS mean? A Certified Intervention Professional (CIP) plans, leads, and follows through on the structured conversation a family has with a loved one about getting help. Most of the work happens before that day: learning the situation, deciding who should take part, preparing each person, and having a treatment plan ready if the loved one says yes. The CIP credential is awarded by the Pennsylvania Certification Board and recognized by the Association of Intervention Specialists (AIS). Holding it takes extensive experience, ongoing education, and adherence to a professional code of ethics. AIS is a network of intervention professionals across the country and abroad. Its members agree to a code of ethics that covers client welfare, confidentiality, competence, and referral fees. John Furtmeier, Torchlight’s CEO, holds the CIP and is an AIS member; his listing is in the AIS member directory. --- # Testimonials We don't ask our clients for testimonials. We work with clients who are sometimes in crisis, and don't want to conflate our marketing with our service to them. But sometimes they volunteer them. > I can’t begin to express my gratitude to John and Torchlight! > > He has completely transformed my life and that of my entire family dynamic as well! > > He not only is brilliant and knows his stuff, but he is caring, compassionate and goes above and beyond to deal with the inner workings of the family dynamics in the face of addiction. He helped me establish a core team of OUTSTANDING professionals and in a short amount of time I went from jobless and hopeless to a full-time career, with management opportunities in the very near future. > > I can’t thank John enough for completely changing my life – I wish I could keep him on forever. My gratitude towards him is endless. > John is a perfect combination of empathy, expertise, and experience. > > We were fortunate enough to benefit from his knowledge during a time of crisis for our family. John helped us navigate the unfamiliar world of alcohol recovery programs, assisting us in choosing a high-quality program that would best meet the needs of our family member. > > John’s rates are more than reasonable, his commitment and follow-through are unparalleled. For anyone who is experiencing the uncertainty and deep concern about a loved one experiencing a substance-related crisis, John is an invaluable resource. We are so grateful that we found him! > John Furtmeier has been invaluable to patient care. > > He plays an essential role as a team collaborator and integrates care, not just from a case management perspective, but from a total whole family, patient, and provider perspective – ensuring that everyone is on the same page and same treatment team model. If you want someone to keep up with your patients – and families – between sessions – John Furtmeier and the team at Torchlight Interventions and Consulting will do that and more. --- # Articles ## How Families Can Prepare for an Intervention Without a Surprise Confrontation URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/blog/prepare-for-an-intervention-without-a-surprise-confrontation/ Published: 2026-08-20T18:00:00.000Z Updated: 2026-08-20T18:00:00.000Z ![Three family members calmly rehearsing a respectful conversation in a living room.](/images/blog/prepare-for-an-intervention-without-a-surprise-confrontation-1200.webp) **Preparation matters more than surprise.** A family can plan a serious conversation without turning it into an ambush. The work is to understand the situation, choose the right participants, identify credible help, practice clear language, and decide what the family will do after each possible response. The purpose is not to produce a dramatic confession or win an argument. It is to help the person see the concern, understand the available choices, and take a useful next step while preserving dignity and safety. ## 1. Resolve immediate safety questions first Do not schedule a family meeting when the person needs emergency care, medical evaluation, or a safe withdrawal plan. If there is immediate danger, a suspected overdose, severe withdrawal, or a threat of harm, call 911. Call or text 988 for suicide or emotional crisis support in the United States. An intervention consultant is not an emergency service. ## 2. Name the decision the conversation must address A family may be worried about many years of behavior, but the conversation needs a present decision. Examples include completing an assessment, speaking with a clinician, entering a selected treatment program, accepting safe transportation, or agreeing to another specific next step. ## 3. Choose participants for steadiness, not numbers Include people who can speak honestly, remain regulated, and support the plan after the meeting. Exclude anyone who intends to shame the person, settle an old grievance, improvise threats, or disclose private information for leverage. A larger group is not automatically more persuasive. ## 4. Separate facts from diagnoses and motives Family members can describe what they directly observed: a missed obligation, an accident, a financial loss, a frightening call, a change in health, or repeated treatment disruption. They should not present themselves as clinicians or claim to know what the person secretly thinks. ## 5. Research the actual options A request to get help is incomplete when no one knows what help is available. Confirm admission requirements, clinical fit, cost, insurance, timing, transportation, medication policies, family involvement, and continuing-care expectations. Keep a second credible option when the assessment supports more than one route. NIAAA recommends comparing provider credentials, assessment practices, individualized planning, evidence-based treatment, and continuing recovery support. The most expensive or distant program is not automatically the right one. ## 6. Practice language that leaves room for an answer Use short statements. Describe the concern, the effect on the relationship, and the next step you are asking the person to consider. Ask open questions and listen to the answer. SAMHSA recommends listening without judgment, speaking with kindness, and recognizing that it may take more than one conversation before a person accepts help. - I am concerned because I saw... - I want our relationship to be... - We have arranged an assessment with... - What concerns you about that option? - What kind of help would you consider? ## 7. Write boundaries the family can keep A boundary states what a family member will do to protect safety, finances, housing, or their own participation. It is not a punishment and should not depend on public humiliation. Before stating a boundary, confirm that the family member has the practical and emotional ability to follow it. ## 8. Plan for yes, no, and not yet - **If the answer is yes:** Know who calls the provider, what must be packed, how transportation works, and who communicates with the family. - **If the answer is no:** End the argument, follow the stated boundaries, preserve a clear route to help, and set the next family consultation. - **If the answer is not yet:** Decide whether a short period for consideration is safe and name the exact time for the next decision. ## 9. Prepare for what follows admission The family needs its own plan while the person is in treatment and after discharge. That includes communication rules, family support, clinical follow-up, practical responsibilities, and the response to setbacks. An admission solves the first decision. It does not organize the following year. Torchlight prepares families for a respectful process of engagement and persuasion. It does not treat an intervention as an awkward surprise party. Read [how Torchlight works](/how-it-works/) or [request a consultation](/contact/). ## Sources and further reading - [Starting the conversation](https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov/support-through-the-process/starting-the-conversation) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. - [How to talk to someone about getting help](https://www.samhsa.gov/find-support/helping-someone/how-to-talk-to-someone-about-help) from SAMHSA. - [Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Family Therapy](https://library.samhsa.gov/product/advisory-importance-family-therapy-substance-use-disorder-based-tip-39/pep20-02-02-016) from SAMHSA. - [988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline](https://988lifeline.org/). ## Why Continuing Support Matters After Residential Treatment URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/blog/continuing-support-after-residential-treatment/ Published: 2026-08-13T18:00:00.000Z Updated: 2026-08-13T18:00:00.000Z ![A man tying his walking shoes while a recovery support person reviews the day's plan.](/images/blog/continuing-support-after-residential-treatment-1200.webp) **Residential treatment can begin recovery, but discharge returns a person to the conditions where recovery must continue.** Ongoing clinical care and non-clinical recovery support help translate the treatment plan into housing, relationships, work, health, routines, and responses to setbacks. The right duration and intensity depend on the person's assessed needs. This does not make residential treatment unimportant. A structured setting can provide safety, assessment, medical care, therapy, medication, education, and time away from immediate pressures. The mistake is treating the discharge date as proof that the long-term work is finished. ## Discharge changes the environment Inside a residential program, the schedule, access to substances, transportation, meals, peer contact, and clinical appointments are structured. At home, those supports must be rebuilt or replaced. Old relationships, unresolved conflicts, work demands, financial pressure, and access to substances return at the same time. The National Institute on Drug Abuse describes recovery as a long-term process and says the appropriate treatment duration depends on the person's problems and needs. Its treatment principles emphasize adequate duration, continuing assessment, and adjustment of the service plan rather than a single fixed episode for everyone. ## What should a continuing-care plan cover? - **Clinical follow-up.** Appointments with the appropriate physician, therapist, psychiatrist, outpatient program, or other licensed provider. - **Medication continuity.** Prescriptions, follow-up, and communication with the qualified prescriber when medication is part of treatment. - **Recovery support.** Coaching, peer support, mutual-help groups, or other resources that fit the person's goals. - **Daily structure.** Sleep, meals, transportation, work, school, exercise, appointments, and time that previously had no plan. - **Family agreements.** Clear expectations for communication, money, housing, privacy, and responses to concern. - **A response to setbacks.** Named actions if the person misses care, returns to use, stops medication, becomes unsafe, or asks for more help. ## Continuing support is not a substitute for treatment SAMHSA distinguishes non-clinical recovery support from formal treatment. Recovery support can operate after treatment or alongside it, helping people remain connected to providers and work on the practical conditions that support health and stability. Clinical symptoms, medication, diagnosis, and treatment decisions stay with qualified clinicians. ## Why coordination matters A plan can fail even when each provider is competent. One person may assume someone else scheduled follow-up. The family may receive instructions that conflict with the clinical plan. The person may return home without transportation, medication, or a clear first appointment. Case management makes ownership visible and follows the handoffs. ## The plan should change when the person changes Continuing care is not surveillance for its own sake. It is a way to notice what is working, reduce support when stability grows, and increase or change care when risk rises. The ASAM Criteria describes regular reassessment as the basis for moving to a less intensive level, remaining at the current level, or moving to more intensive care. ## Torchlight's one-year view Torchlight plans for the year after the immediate crisis, not only the admission. The assessment determines which parts of intervention, case management, coaching, monitoring, referral, and provider coordination belong in that year. Learn more about [Collaborative Continuing Care](/collaborative-continuing-care/) and [Torchlight's full process](/how-it-works/). ## Sources and further reading - [Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment](https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/podat-3rdEd-508.pdf) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. - [Important considerations in recovery](https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/important-considerations-recovery-pep24-02-004.pdf) from SAMHSA. - [The ASAM Criteria continuum of care](https://www.asam.org/asam-criteria) from the American Society of Addiction Medicine. ## How to Choose an Ethical Interventionist URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/blog/how-to-choose-an-ethical-interventionist/ Published: 2026-08-06T18:00:00.000Z Updated: 2026-08-06T18:00:00.000Z ![An advisor and family member carefully reviewing credentials, scope, and an agreement.](/images/blog/how-to-choose-an-ethical-interventionist-1200.webp) **Choose an interventionist who is transparent before the family is under contract.** You should receive clear answers about the person's training, role, fees, referral relationships, privacy practices, intervention method, emergency limits, and responsibility after the intervention. Pressure and guarantees are warning signs, not proof of confidence. ## 1. Ask what the interventionist is qualified to do An interventionist may have certifications in intervention, case management, recovery support, counseling, social work, or another discipline. Those credentials do not all grant the same authority. Ask which services are non-clinical, which require a license, and when the interventionist refers medical or psychiatric questions to a clinician. The Association of Intervention Specialists' ethics code says intervention specialists should recognize the limits of their competence and avoid work outside their training. A provider should be able to describe those limits without defensiveness. ## 2. Verify credentials instead of reading initials Ask for the full name of each credential, the organization that issued it, and a public verification route. Confirm whether the credential is current. If the person also claims a clinical license, verify it through the relevant state board. Certification, professional licensure, and facility accreditation are different forms of oversight. ## 3. Expect an assessment before a prescribed solution A provider should learn what is happening before declaring that a specific treatment center, intervention model, or long engagement is the answer. The assessment should consider safety, prior treatment, medical and psychiatric needs, family participation, practical constraints, and the person's preferences when they can participate. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism identifies comprehensive assessment and a customized plan as two signs of higher-quality treatment. An interventionist is not necessarily the clinician who performs that assessment, but should know when one is required and how to arrange it. ## 4. Ask how referrals affect the provider financially Ask whether the interventionist receives a fee, commission, gift, travel benefit, marketing payment, or another form of compensation from any recommended program. Ask whether the family will see more than one suitable option. The intervention specialist ethics code published by AIS prohibits accepting payment for making or receiving a client referral. ## 5. Get fees and responsibilities in writing - The assessment fee and what the family receives from it. - The intervention fee and the preparation it includes. - Travel, lodging, transportation, and other separate expenses. - Cancellation, rescheduling, and refund terms. - The duration of support and the point when responsibility transfers. At Torchlight, the first call is 30 minutes. The next step is a one-hour, $150 assessment. Charging for the assessment creates an ethical boundary: the family pays for John's judgment, whether he recommends Torchlight or another provider. A family calling during a crisis should not have to separate honest advice from a sales pitch. If the assessment leads to a longer Torchlight plan, the fee is credited to that plan. Read more about [why Torchlight charges an assessment fee](/blog/professional-intervention-cost/). ## 6. Reject guarantees and humiliation No provider controls another person's decision. Ask how the interventionist handles refusal, disagreement among family members, intoxication, withdrawal risk, threats, and changes in the treatment plan. A credible answer should protect dignity and safety without promising a result or describing shame as a strategy. ## 7. Ask what will be recorded and shared The provider should explain what information is collected, where it is kept, who can receive it, and what authorization is required. Confidentiality is not a slogan. It is a set of decisions about access, communication, retention, and exceptions for immediate safety or legal obligations. ## 8. Ask what happens after the intervention Admission is not the end of the family's work. Ask who communicates with the treatment team, plans for discharge, helps the family prepare for the person's return, and responds when the plan needs to change. NIAAA includes continuing recovery support among its signs of higher-quality care. You can review [Torchlight's team and credentials](/team/), read [how the assessment works](/how-it-works/), and ask direct questions before deciding whether Torchlight is the right fit. ## Sources and further reading - [Association of Intervention Specialists Code of Ethics](https://www.associationofinterventionspecialists.org/code-of-ethics/). - [Five signs of higher-quality care](https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov/FAQs-searching-alcohol-treatment) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. - [Finding quality treatment](https://www.samhsa.gov/find-support/learn-about-treatment/finding-quality-treatment) from SAMHSA. ## Intervention, Treatment, Coaching, and Case Management: What Is the Difference? URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/blog/intervention-treatment-coaching-case-management/ Published: 2026-07-30T18:00:00.000Z Updated: 2026-07-30T18:00:00.000Z ![Four people coordinating distinct parts of a shared recovery plan around a table.](/images/blog/intervention-treatment-coaching-case-management-1200.webp) **Intervention, treatment, recovery coaching, and case management solve different problems.** Intervention helps a person and family reach a decision about help. Treatment addresses a diagnosed condition through clinical care. Coaching supports recovery in daily life. Case management keeps the plan, providers, and practical responsibilities connected. These services can work together, but they are not interchangeable. A coach does not replace a physician or therapist. An intervention does not treat a substance use disorder. A treatment discharge does not automatically organize the person's home, work, family, transportation, and follow-up care. ## What is an intervention? An intervention is a planned process of engagement and persuasion. It helps a person understand the concern, the available options, and the next decision. The preparation also helps family members communicate clearly and stop working at cross-purposes. At Torchlight, intervention is non-clinical. It may lead to a clinical assessment or treatment admission, but it is not diagnosis, psychotherapy, detoxification, or medical care. ## What is treatment? Treatment is clinical care delivered by qualified providers. Depending on the person's needs, it may include medical evaluation, withdrawal management, medication, individual or family therapy, outpatient care, residential care, or hospital services. The right level of care should follow a professional clinical assessment rather than a family's guess or a consultant's sales goal. SAMHSA identifies licensing, accreditation, evidence-based practices, family involvement when the person wants it, and support for other parts of life as signs to examine when comparing treatment programs. ## What is recovery coaching? Recovery coaching is practical, non-clinical support. It can help a person establish routines, identify recovery resources, prepare for difficult situations, keep appointments, pursue goals, and stay connected to a support network. Coaching should reinforce the clinical plan without pretending to be therapy. SAMHSA describes peer recovery support as extending help beyond the clinical setting into everyday life. Peer workers may mentor, share resources, help build skills, strengthen community connections, and support goal setting. Not every recovery coach is a peer worker, so ask the provider to explain the role and credentials plainly. ## What is case management? Case management coordinates the plan. It tracks responsibilities, helps information reach the right people with permission, finds resources, organizes transitions, and notices when part of the plan has stopped working. It is especially useful when several providers, family members, legal professionals, employers, or treatment settings are involved. Case management does not give every participant unrestricted access to private information. The scope of communication should be explained and authorized. Clinical decisions remain with qualified clinicians. ## How can the four services work together? 1. **Intervention:** The person agrees to consider help and chooses an immediate next step. 2. **Treatment:** Clinicians assess the condition and provide the appropriate level of care. 3. **Case management:** The family, providers, transportation, discharge plan, and practical responsibilities stay coordinated. 4. **Recovery coaching:** The person receives structured support while applying the recovery plan in daily life. The sequence is not identical for every person. Some people begin with outpatient treatment. Others need emergency care or medically managed withdrawal before any broader plan. The assessment determines which services belong in the plan and who is qualified to deliver each one. ## Torchlight's role Torchlight provides intervention, case management, continuing care, recovery coaching, and referrals. It works alongside licensed medical and behavioral health providers; it does not replace them. Explore [Torchlight's services](/our-services/) or review the [five-step process](/how-it-works/). ## Sources and further reading - [Substance use disorder treatment](https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment) from SAMHSA. - [Peer support workers for those in recovery](https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/recovery/peer-support-workers) from SAMHSA. - [Important considerations in recovery](https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/important-considerations-recovery-pep24-02-004.pdf) from SAMHSA. - [The ASAM Criteria continuum of care](https://www.asam.org/asam-criteria) from the American Society of Addiction Medicine. ## What If Your Loved One Refuses Help? URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/blog/what-if-a-loved-one-refuses-help/ Published: 2026-07-23T18:00:00.000Z Updated: 2026-07-23T18:00:00.000Z ![Two adults having a quiet, respectful conversation on a shaded front porch.](/images/blog/what-if-a-loved-one-refuses-help-1200.webp) **If your loved one refuses help, the next step is not to force a bigger argument.** Protect immediate safety, learn what the refusal means, decide what the family will and will not support, and keep a specific route to help available. A refusal today does not predict every decision the person will make next. No ethical interventionist can guarantee that a person will enter treatment. The work is to make the choice understandable, reduce avoidable conflict, and help the family respond consistently whether the answer is yes, no, or not yet. ## First, separate refusal from immediate danger A family conversation is not emergency care. If the person may harm themselves or someone else, has a suspected overdose, is experiencing severe withdrawal, or cannot remain safe, call 911. For suicide or emotional crisis support in the United States, call or text 988. Torchlight does not replace emergency, medical, or psychiatric care. ## Find out what the person is refusing A flat no can contain several different objections. The person may reject one treatment center, fear withdrawal, worry about work or children, distrust the family, oppose residential care, or deny that any problem exists. Those are different problems and should not receive the same response. - Ask what part of the proposed plan they oppose. - Ask what kind of help they would consider. - Offer more than one credible option when the assessment supports it. - Give the person time to think when there is no immediate safety threat. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends a nonjudgmental tone, several quality options, and a renewed discussion of what help the person might accept when the first choices are rejected. ## Decide what the family can control The family cannot control another adult's decision. It can control its own money, housing arrangements, transportation, communication, and participation in unsafe or dishonest situations. A boundary should describe the family member's own action. It should not be a threat designed only to frighten the person into compliance. - **Specific.** Everyone understands what will change. - **Relevant.** It addresses an actual safety, financial, or household problem. - **Sustainable.** The family can keep it after the emotional conversation ends. - **Respectful.** It does not humiliate, diagnose, or punish the person. ## Get support even if your loved one will not participate Families do not need the person's permission to seek guidance for themselves. Family counseling, support groups, education, and a consultation with an intervention professional can help relatives stop reacting from panic. SAMHSA notes that family support can play a substantial role in connecting a loved one with treatment and helping recovery continue. ## Keep the route to help concrete Do not end with a vague instruction to get help. Name the next available step: a scheduled assessment, a call with a clinician, an admission time, transportation, or a second conversation on a stated date. If circumstances change, reassess the plan rather than repeating the same confrontation. Torchlight uses respectful engagement and persuasion, not an ambush. The process starts with a 30-minute call and a one-hour assessment so the family has a plan before asking a loved one to make a consequential decision. Read [how Torchlight approaches intervention](/how-it-works/). ## Sources and further reading - [Starting the conversation](https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov/support-through-the-process/starting-the-conversation) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. - [Helping families cope with mental health and substance use disorders](https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/children-and-families/coping-resources) from SAMHSA. - [988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline](https://988lifeline.org/). ## What Does a Professional Intervention Cost? URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/blog/professional-intervention-cost/ Published: 2026-07-16T18:00:00.000Z Updated: 2026-07-16T18:00:00.000Z ![A couple reviewing an intervention plan and costs with an advisor at a kitchen table.](/images/blog/professional-intervention-cost-1200.webp) **A professional intervention does not have one standard national price.** The cost depends on the people involved, travel, preparation, the complexity of the situation, and the support required after the initial conversation. Torchlight starts with a one-hour assessment that costs $150. If that assessment leads to a longer-term Torchlight plan, the $150 fee is credited to the cost of the plan. This approach separates the first decision from the larger engagement. A family pays for an informed recommendation before committing to an intervention, treatment placement, coaching, case management, or a year of coordinated recovery support. ## Why does Torchlight charge for the assessment? **The assessment fee creates an ethical boundary.** A family calling during a crisis should not have to separate honest advice from a sales pitch. The $150 fee pays John to evaluate the situation and recommend the right next step, whether that means hiring Torchlight or working with another provider. Because the assessment is a paid engagement, its value does not depend on selling a larger plan. The family receives John's judgment and the reasons behind his recommendation. If Torchlight carries the one-year plan, the $150 assessment fee is credited to that plan. ## What are you paying for before an intervention begins? The first paid step should produce useful judgment, even when the provider recommends that someone else lead the work. At Torchlight, family members may join the assessment. John Furtmeier gathers the facts, identifies the immediate decision, and explains which services fit the situation. - **Assessment.** A structured review of the current situation, prior treatment, family concerns, safety questions, and the decisions that cannot wait. - **Recommendations.** A written or clearly explained path that may include intervention, residential treatment, recovery coaching, case management, psychiatric evaluation, or referral to another provider. - **Preparation.** Work with participating family members before any conversation with the person they are concerned about. - **Coordination.** Communication with treatment programs, clinicians, attorneys, employers, or other professionals when the family has authorized that involvement. - **Continuing support.** A plan for what happens after treatment begins or the person returns home. ## What changes the total cost? The price should follow the scope of work. It should not be based on how frightened a family feels or on a promise that the person will accept help. - The number of family members and professionals who need preparation. - Whether the work can happen by phone or video, or requires travel and in-person support. - Whether treatment research, placement, transportation, or admission coordination is required. - Whether Torchlight remains involved through coaching, case management, monitoring, or continuing care. - The length and intensity of the engagement. ## Does insurance pay for an intervention? Do not assume that a professional intervention or non-clinical recovery service is covered. Insurance benefits vary by plan and by service. Marketplace plans cover substance use disorder treatment as an essential health benefit, but that does not mean every intervention, coaching, transportation, or case-management charge qualifies for reimbursement. Confirm each service with the insurer and the provider before relying on coverage. Ask the treatment provider for its billing information and ask the insurer about deductibles, copayments, prior authorization, in-network rules, and out-of-network benefits. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism also recommends asking a program for a cost estimate and identifying additional charges before committing. ## Questions to ask before you sign an agreement 1. What is included in the quoted fee? 2. Which expenses, including travel, are billed separately? 3. What do we receive from the assessment if we do not hire you for the next step? 4. Do you receive compensation from any treatment center or provider you recommend? 5. What happens if our loved one declines help? 6. Who remains responsible after admission or discharge? Torchlight explains its process before asking a family to make a larger commitment. Read [how Torchlight works](/how-it-works/) or [request the first 30-minute call](/contact/). ## Sources and further reading - [Mental health and substance use coverage](https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/mental-health-substance-abuse-coverage/index.html) from HealthCare.gov. - [Ten questions for alcohol treatment programs](https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov/how-to-find-alcohol-treatment/10-questions-for-alcohol-treatment-programs) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. ## 8 Ideas for a Fun Sober Summer URL: https://torchlightrecoverygroup.com/blog/sober-summer/ Published: 2022-04-06T20:17:33.000Z Updated: 2022-04-06T20:18:13.000Z ![Three friends jumping on a sunny beach.](/images/blog/sober-summer-1200.jpg) Summer is right around the corner and that means that there are lots of fun activities coming to fill our days. Most of the time, in our active addiction, dreams of summer came dressed up with images of booze, drugs, and debauchery. But there are so many more doors that open up for us when we are sober. We have listed a few below for a safe, sober summer. _John Furtmeier has a working understanding of how to help many–who struggle with addiction and mental-health challenges–stay sober and implement healthy habits that will serve their greater well-being. _[_Reach out here_](/contact/)_ to find out more._ ## Schedule a Pool Party with Friends Everyone loves to be out in the sun with friends, laughing and having a good time. If you have a pool at your home or at your apartment complex, invite some friends over to enjoy the day outdoors. You can take up a collection to buy non-alcoholic drinks such as seltzers, bottled water, and sodas, or ask people to bring their own. Invite others to bring games, water toys, floats, and anything else that says summer ## Have a Barbeque Everyone loves a good backyard BBQ! And with hamburgers and hot dogs so easy to prepare for large groups of people, there couldn’t be a more practical way to get a smile on everyone’s face. One great idea is to center it around a late afternoon or early evening AA meeting. You can make flyers to advertise it as a sober event and add there will be an open meeting after for all to attend. ## Have a Lake or Beach Day Summer is a great time to get out and enjoy the water, whether it be at the lake or at the beach. Pick a spot and let all your sober friends know where and when to meet. You can put a social media invite out there, add the event to your local 12-step group's main website or just communicate via text. Make sure to let everyone know they are encouraged to bring water or beach-based game for all to enjoy. ## Movie Nights We all loved having get-togethers at people’s houses, and that shouldn’t stop when we become clean and sober. Decide on a movie to show and invite people over to join. You can rent or borrow a projector from a friend, school, or local AV company. Hang a white sheet for a screen and turn a backyard into an outdoor movie theater. Or if you prefer a more intimate gathering, keep it small and in the living room. Smaller groups offer opportunities to strengthen bonds with existing friends and are also a good atmosphere to create new friendships. ## Music Night One of the best ways to find out who the musically creative people are, in your new sober group of friends, is to host a music night. Invite all who are interested to attend and ask that any musically inclined people please bring their instruments. You can also go to a dollar store or other low-cost retailer and find maracas, small drums, and other noisemakers to round out the impromptu band. One tip: let your neighbors know your plan ahead of time and try to keep the ending time reasonable. ## Try Out a New Hobby Maybe you’ve always wanted to try out your cooking skills but were too distracted by your addiction to make a start. Perhaps painting is the interest that is on your radar or writing poetry. The free time that Summer gives us is the perfect opportunity to tune into your creative and fun side. It will amaze you at how good it feels to create something you had previously thought was out of reach. Remember, with the newfound freedom of sobriety, there are no heights that you can’t reach. ## Take a Hike Getting outside in nature is one of the best free resources we have. Schedule a hike with some friends or just find a good buddy to go with. There are many trails, parks, and open-air spaces to be explored and none of them require much equipment other than a good pair of shoes and a water bottle. If you live near mountains, you can get a bit more technical and even turn it into an overnight camping trip. ## Go Paintballing This one is not for everyone, but if you have a group of somewhat rugged guys (and girls) you can usually find a paintball facility near your hometown. Create a flyer and circulate it through your groups and other friendship circles. You are bound to find some people to take you up on this opportunity. I hope these ideas will help you see that just because the lunacy of the circus left town when we got clean and sober, the crazy fun side of us did not. Happy Summer!! And [contact us](/contact/) for more information on how we can help you.