What is an Intervention in Counseling and Coaching?

An intervention (from Latin: intervenire, to intervene) in counseling is an externally introduced offer for change. A successful intervention leads to the transformation of existing patterns in a person’s life.

What is a Good Intervention?

A good intervention is easy to understand. It works by surprising the individual, creating a shift from an existing pattern. Ideally, a good intervention is an irresistible invitation for the person in counseling to change a small element of their pattern (thought pattern, behavioral pattern) and observe how this change influences their experience and life.

Examples of Interventions from Systemic Counseling

Below are some tried-and-tested interventions from my systemic counseling practice.

Neuroplasticity – or: The Story of the Missing Light Switch in the Apartment

“Imagine you have been coming home to your dark apartment for years. Unfortunately, when building the house, the electrician forgot to install a light switch next to the entrance door. As a result, you grope your way through the hallway every night, with the light switch only at the far end. You often stumble because of this.

Now, my question is: Is this apartment mentally disturbed?

If not, whom would you call (if money were no object) to solve the problem with the light switch?”

Read here to learn about the background of this story and what clients make of it.