CRAFT Therapy vs. Intervention

When a loved one is struggling with substance use, families often feel desperate to do something. 

Many turn to the idea of a traditional intervention: a structured, often urgent effort to push someone into treatment. It’s a standard recommendation from many treatment providers and a model most people have seen on TV. In moments of fear or desperation,  it can seem like the only option.

But there is another evidence-based, compassionate approach that has been proven to be more effective: CRAFT Therapy (Community Reinforcement and Family Training).

Below, we’ll explore the differences between CRAFT Therapy vs. Intervention, why families often find CRAFT more effective over time, and how CRAFT serves as the foundation for CMC’s Invitation to Change (ITC) model, which integrates additional science-based tools and a big dose of self-compassion to support both families and their loved ones.

Understanding CRAFT Therapy

CRAFT, or Community Reinforcement and Family Training, is an evidence-based approach developed by Dr. Robert Meyers and colleagues. It was explicitly designed to help families support loved ones struggling with substance use disorders who were resistant to treatment, without relying on confrontation or ultimatums.

CRAFT teaches family members practical, learnable skills, including:

• How to communicate in ways that reduce conflict and increase connection.

• How to use positive reinforcement to encourage healthier behaviors.

• How to set boundaries that protect their own well-being without cutting ties.

• How to care for themselves while helping a loved one.

Research shows that CRAFT helps engage individuals in treatment at significantly higher rates than traditional interventions. Families who use CRAFT also report reduced stress, improved relationships, and a stronger sense of agency. Interestingly, their loved ones’ substance use also tends to decrease before they even enter treatment. 

At CMC, CRAFT has been the core foundation of our work with families for over 20 years. It is a central component of our CMC’s Invitation to Change® (ITC) model, which incorporates elements of CRAFT along with additional evidence-based strategies. The additional elements we added to CRAFT help family members stay anchored in their personal and family values as they try to support change, while also learning to practice self-compassion, the antidote to shame and pain that often accompanies behavior change. 

What Is a Traditional Intervention?

The term “intervention” is often used broadly, but usually refers to the confrontational or high-pressure model popularized by television shows and treatment marketing. 

In its most traditional form, this model involves an interventionist guiding family members and close friends to prepare statements describing the impact of their loved one’s substance use. The family then comes together, often in a surprise meeting, to share these statements with their loved one along with an ultimatum: go to treatment immediately, or face consequences such as cut-off financial support or loss of contact.

This approach is rooted in the idea of “tough love” and the belief that people must be confronted with the impact of their use to want to change. While interventions can sometimes lead to treatment entry, the research paints a more mixed picture.

In studies comparing intervention approaches to CRAFT, only about 20-40% of individuals entered treatment following a traditional intervention, and ⅔ of family members dropped out of the process before the intervention even occurred. For many families, interventions also create lasting ruptures in relationships, increase shame, and lead to withdrawal rather than engagement.

By contrast, CRAFT has been shown to engage loved ones in treatment nearly 65-75% of the time, while also improving family functioning and reducing distress—regardless of whether treatment entry happens immediately.

That said, it’s essential to acknowledge that families seek interventions during periods of real crisis, when a loved one feels seriously at risk or the family is at a breaking point. And not all interventions are the same; some are conducted thoughtfully, with care, and with genuine concern for preserving relationships.

CRAFT Therapy vs. Intervention: The Key Differences

Compassion vs. Confrontation

• CRAFT Therapy focuses on improving communication and helping family members use the power of positive reinforcement and naturally occurring consequences to support change without escalating conflict.

• Interventions rely on confrontation, ultimatums, and pressure to enter treatment, which can lead to resistance and fractured relationships.

Evidence-Based vs. Traditional Model

• CRAFT is supported by  decades of rigorous research demonstrating its effectiveness

• Intervention models have limited scientific backing and often rely on anecdotal success stories.

Family Empowerment vs. Outsourcing Change

• CRAFT equips families with skills they can use regardless of their loved one’s immediate choices. Progress and change don’t hinge on a single conversation or decision.

• Interventions often place enormous pressure on a single moment, leaving families feeling powerless unless the person agrees to treatment.

Ongoing Process vs. One-Time Event

• CRAFT Therapy is a process; it teaches strategies families can continue to use over time, supporting sustainable change.

• Interventions are typically one-time events, which may not address ongoing challenges.

Why Families Often Prefer CRAFT

Families who turn to CRAFT often describe a sense of relief. Instead of waiting helplessly for a crisis or trying to force change, they can take positive steps now. Rather than detaching from their loved ones, they learn how to stay engaged in healthier, more effective ways.

CRAFT respects the dignity and autonomy of the person struggling. It acknowledges that people use substances for reasons that make sense to them—and that they are more likely to change when they feel understood rather than judged.

At CMC, we have seen families transform their relationships through these methods. Parents, partners, and siblings often discover that small shifts in communication and boundaries can lead to meaningful changes in their loved one’s behavior.

For more on family support, explore our numerous resources developed by CMC clinicians.

The Role of the Invitation to Change® (ITC) Model

While CRAFT is a robust framework, at CMC, we take it a step further with our Invitation to Change (ITC) model. 

Developed by CMC co-founders Drs. Jeffrey Foote and Carrie Wilkens, along with Dr. Ken Carpenter, ITC integrates CRAFT with other evidence-based strategies, including:

• Motivational Interviewing to help families have conversations that build motivation to change and reduce defensiveness.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps family members clarify their personal values, tolerate uncertainty, and make intentional choices.
• Self-compassion practices to reduce guilt, shame, and burnout among family members.

The ITC also emphasizes something family members rarely hear enough: practice, practice, practice. Change happens through repeated, imperfect efforts, not through a single conversation or moment.

This blended approach allows families not only to support their loved one but also to heal and grow themselves. ITC has now spread across the U.S. and internationally, helping families, communities, and professionals change the way they respond to addiction. The skills are so foundational to supporting change that many families are learning them so they can prevent behavioral problems like substance use from taking hold.

When to Seek Professional Guidance

Learning and applying CRAFT strategies can be done through books and workshops, but many families benefit from professional support along the way.

At the Center for Motivation and Change, we offer:

• Outpatient therapy with highly trained clinicians who specialize in CRAFT and ITC.

• Residential treatment at CMC Berkshires, where family therapy is individualized rather than one-size-fits-all.

• Workshops and coaching for families who want to learn these skills in a structured setting.

Unlike many programs that still promote confrontational intervention models, CMC has been grounded in evidence-based, compassionate care since our inception. 

Our clinicians teach families how to apply CRAFT and ITC strategies in real life—supporting both their loved one’s change process and their own well-being. Contact us to learn more about family support options.

Final Thoughts: Choosing Compassion and Evidence

When considering CRAFT Therapy vs. Intervention, many families find that CRAFT and the ITC offer more sustainable, humane, and effective paths forward. While interventions may feel like a powerful option, they often cause deep ruptures in trust and cause people to enter treatment with complex feelings and resistance rather than the motivated state that CRAFT helps develop. 

At CMC, we believe families don’t have to choose between caring for themselves and caring for their loved ones. With science and kindness, it is possible to do both.

Change is not always immediate, but it is always possible. By choosing evidence-based strategies like CRAFT and by embracing compassion over confrontation, families can help their loved ones move toward a healthier, more connected future.