Invitation to Change
Invitation to Change (ITC) is a model for families, parents, partners, and friends who are impacted by their loved one’s addiction and are seeking an effective and loving model to understand, connect and collaborate in a meaningful way to encourage positive change towards recovery.
The Invitation to Change is a holistic framework based on science and kindness, developed by the researchers and Ph.D.’s at the Center For Motivation and Change. Through data collected and results from families they worked with, they developed this model and have proven that families can have a powerful, positive influence on their loved one’s behavior change and recovery from substance use without detaching, and seeing them hit rock bottom.
Learning and implementing ITC skills is for you if disengaging doesn’t sit well with you, you want to help but don’t know where to start, you need support for your own mental wellbeing and you want to be a light of encouragement and positive influence in your loved one’s life.
The ITC Model
Understanding:
How you understand your loved ones’ behavior using substances is the foundation of ITC in that without it there is no ability to connect or collaborate. With understanding you can move towards your loved one in a way that leads to connection, communication and collaboration.
Awareness:
Awareness focuses on the internal work to be done in the life of the concerned family member. When you are worried about the dangers of your loved one’s substance use, you may experience anxiety, depression, anger & fear, because you love and care deeply. This section will guide you to connect with what you’re experiencing and invite you to incorporate self-awareness, self-compassion & self-care, as this journey is so taxing. It is essential for you to invest in your own wellness so you can better help your loved one.
Action:
Action includes two important, effective tools for you to influence positive behavior change. Learning and practicing effective communication will enhance your ability to connect with your loved one and discuss possibilities for change, without the typical conflict, yelling, shutting down that may usually occur. Also gain valuable behavior tools to reward positive change in a way that encourages it to be repeated and allow natural consequences along with setting respectful boundaries to make negative behavior less likely to occur.
At The Center
Practice:
Practice is at the center of this model, because behavior change takes time. With a sincere commitment, (There’s a lot at stake here!) enrolling in group support meetings or one on one coaching, (maybe both) you Will See an improvement in your relationship with your loved one, re establish that connection you desire and become more hopeful, confident and peaceful. With understanding, awareness and positive action steps the impact you will have on your loved one to recover will increase and you will have more peace of mind.