Love First Intervention

A Love First intervention defines who we are,

and where this journey will take our family.

Intervention opens the door to treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction, and paves the way for long-term recovery. You can support your loved one by creating a Recovery Team.

Jeff and Debra Jay have been helping families for more than 30 years. Their best-selling book, Love First, provides real solutions. Whether you work with a clinical interventionists or not, you’ll find resources on our site to move forward with confidence.

Learn how to create a pathway to Yes. The Love First model of intervention has been guiding families and professionals for decades. Whether you work through the process on your own or with one of our professional interventionists, we can give you the best chance for success.

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Love First

The most widely read book on intervention, now in its third edition. Love First has guided thousands of families through the intervention process, using the power of love to bring healing and recovery. The companion book to “It Takes a Family.”

Debra Jay reads the Introduction & Chapter 1
of Love First.

learn more about LOVE FIRST

Structured Family Recovery®

By creating a Recovery Team, we can leverage the power of family to avoid relapse and achieve long-term success. Structured Family Recovery® changes outcomes. Based on the book, It Takes a Family, by Debra Jay, the SFR program heals, strengthens and transforms families.

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It Takes a Family

This revolutionary book shows families how to support their loved one’s new sobriety and bring the family back together again. Structured Family Recovery® is the key. This book is an essential guide and it is the companion to “Love First.” Now in its 2nd edition.

Debra Jay reads the Introduction & Chapter 1
of It Takes a Family.

learn more about IT TAKES A FAMILY

1. Why Intervention?

Is an intervention right for you? What are the alternatives? What are the next right steps? (1 min, 2 sec)

2. A Love First Intervention

An overview of the Love First intervention process, and working with one of our clinical interventionists. (3 min, 19 sec)

3. Structured Family Recovery

The key to avoiding relapse and bringing families back together again. SFR is all about the power of family. (1 min, 38 sec)

4. Strategy & Consultation Session

What’s the next right step for your family? An in-depth consultation with a clinical interventionist will help you develop the best strategy. (54 sec)

5. My Passion for Intervention

Jeff Jay has been helping families and people suffering from addiction for more than 30 years. (1 min, 47 sec)

6. Website Overview

With over 120 pages and posts, along with many hours of podcasts, we thought a tour of the website might be helpful. (6 min, 53 sec)

it’s confidential

Meet our

Professional

Interventionists

Meet Our Team

Books by Jeff & Debra Jay

Therapists, social workers, counselors, EAPs, clergy,
psychologists, physicians, and other helping professionals…

Train with Jeff and Debra Jay

Hands down, the most professional, content rich training I have ever attended. -Helen Parker, PhD

Experienced clinicians and clergy can train personally with Jeff and Debra Jay. The Jay’s legendary, multi-day trainings are rigorous and enlightening.

2 trainings to choose from:

Love First Certified Clinical Interventionist

Structured Family Recovery® Counselor

These trainings redefine excellence and raise the bar for clinical training. Lodging and meals are included with tuition, along with custom workbooks and field materials.

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Questions & Consultations

Let’s begin with a confidential conversation. Whether you are dealing with alcoholism, drug addiction, co-occuring disorders, or other issues, we can help.

12Care™ Recovery Support

We help rebuild trust and confidence with our mentoring and testing services. We help the newly-recovering person beat the odds and avoid relapse.

Podcasts, Articles, Blog & More

• The Best Minds Podcast

• Love First Blog

• Snap Trainings for Families

• 6 Articles on Intervention
(plus Jeff Jay’s story)

Podcasts, Articles & More

Dr. Joseph Nowinski, Ph.D., a remembrance. Project MATCH.

Dr Joe Nowinski

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Joe Nowinski, Ph.D., on March 24, 2026. Dr. Joe was one of the truly good men in our field: modest, generous, and wise. He carried his accomplishments lightly, but the impact of his work has been profound.

Why we keep enabling and four ways to stop

Enabling, Family Recovery

Why You’re Enabling and 4 Ways to Quit

When family members are worried about a loved one’s substance use, they often do the wrong things. They enable the problem without realizing it, thinking they’re being loyal and supportive. They’re making things worse, but they don’t realize it, because it feels like they’re doing the right thing. It feels good.

licensed from iStock

Alcoholism, Enabling

Alcoholism and Gaslighting

Are you struggling to make sense of the lies, excuses, and rationalizations your addicted loved one keeps repeating? You don't have to accept their false narrative. There is a better solution.

Licensed from iStock.com

AA, Alcoholism, Recovery

Why Should I Quit?

I feel like people are ganging up on me--even my family and friends. Everybody tells me I need to go to treatment. They tell me I’m out of control. But I still have a good job, and my kids still love me (even though they live with my ex). I’m not lying in the gutter. The truth is, vodka is my best friend. It’s not judgy, it’s reliable, and it’s legal. I just wish everybody would get off my back.

Twelve Steps

A Science and Faith Connection?

Dear Jeff and Debra: I’ve been told to go to AA, but I’m turned off by the use of “God” in the 12 Steps. I can’t believe in something that can’t be proven. I believe in science.-Factual Frank Dear Factual: Prove it! If…

Licensed from iStock

Addiction recovery, Intervention

Intervention Step by Step

How to use love to break denial and get your beloved alcoholic into treatment. Fr. Bill W interviews Jeff Jay on the Love First intervention process.

Love First, 3rd edition by Jeff Jay and Debra Jay

Clinical Interventionist Training & Certification

Interventionist Training details

“The intervention training was the best I have attended in twenty-five years as a counselor and supervisor. It was engaging, relevant, and imminently useful. I would not hesitate to recommend the Love First Clinical Intervention training to anyone.”

Jeff Henrich, MA, LAADC
President & CEO
Guest House, Lake Orion, MI

Structured Family Recovery® Training & Cert.

SFR Counselor Training details

“Structured Family Recovery is the most important work to come along in the field of recovery in my 25 years as a licensed therapist and clinical supervisor. This training gave us a complete framework and practical skills ready to put into practice.”

Shannon Petrovich, LCSW, LISAC, BCD

It Takes a Family, second edition by Debra Jay