Intervention: Codependent - General Discussion

[Primetimer]

Editor's Note:

Discuss Intervention: Codependent Here!

Or is it just going to drag you down?

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[Schlinkaboo]

I needed a lot more backstory - what about the brother, did he survive? Where were the fathers? What happened "last night"? Who was the suit? The therapists lower jaw speech pattern thing was distracting, too.

[stacyasp]

This is why a rehab center far from the addicts home should be utilized, i think thats why Intervention usually takes them to another state when goin to detox/rehab....makes it harder to leave and hook up with enablers/codependents<br />

[Nikkimerc]

@Schlinkaboo I agree. I kept telling my boyfriend that I wanted to know more about how they met, who was more addicted, like was it Paige since she said she met him at a party and asked him to help her find a vain? And then he started doing it with her recreationally and became her supplier. It drives me crazy that they gave such little detail. In the parent show, Intervention, I feel they spend the first full 10 minutes giving us the background/history of the addict and exactly how they got involved in drugs. Like how did Alex go from owning a thriving pet store to a full blown addict? What made straight laced honor student Paige start shooting heroin?? Then at the end they left me hanging. I taped the show and it cut off the last 2-3 minutes. The last thing I saw was that Alex went to a new rehab facility and his family is running his pet store while he is gone. Which makes me think of another point, how is his family so wealthy? What did the mom do for a living? Was Denise born into money or marry money? Where are both of their fathers? And what happened to Paige? I was so pist when my DVR cut off and I missed those last two minutes. I have no clue if she reunited with him, did she end up going to another rehab, or did she start hooking for her drugs? Ugh I love this idea of Codependent shows because it is a huge problem and couples need help (I was in a codependent relationship, we survived and are doing amazing) so I am in support of this show but for god sakes do not spare us any of the details people!

[Onadee]

I feel that this show needs a different interventionalist. Kristina had no empathy or sympathy for the couple in episode 1. Obviously the female pay was extremely sick and then she shows up at his court date. He leaves to make a phone call and Kristina just KICKS HIM TO THE CURB! Why couldn't she work with the dude? He wanted to stay! I know that I would like to see her show an ounce of compassion. She even rambled how wrong it was for the female to show up at the courthouse, how it could affect him and then when it DIES... she's like "see you later!"

[Primetimer]

How toxic is Caitlyn and Gianluca's heroin addiction? The Int-R-Ven-Tron breaks it down.

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[Meredith Quill]

Episode Synopsis:

 

A couple's addiction to heroin, meth, and each other causes them to lose their homes, careers and families

[mythoughtis]

This format is interesting.  I liked Kristina much better this episode - maybe because she wasn't required to be a B*tch to the addict to get them to understand what NO means.  I was interested to see the progress  in the various days in treatment  and what was concerning the addict.  I thought Caitlyn was very immature during her treatment meltdown with Kristina, but Kristina took it all in stride - which tells me this must be quite common interaction.

 

I am glad that they broke up because Caitlyn needs some alone time to GROW UP.  Her parents must have babied her from day 1, because  she seemed quite clueless about how adulthood worked.  I understand she has a pacemaker but she still should have not been babied and taken care of the way she was.  He was much more realistic and willing to accept his responsibility for his own actions.  

 

I wonder if Kristina has addicts which refuse the intervention?

[Primetimer]

Can Eric and Amy's 'great love' survive sobriety?

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[stacyasp]

I missed the beginning ...did they give their ages? Amy looked a lot older than Eric!<br />

[Norasuke]

I believe Amy was 37 and Eric 38.

[candall]

Watching now.  Eric is repulsive.  It's fine to go online for paid sex--and then live off her earnings--but, ee-ew, he never pictured himself involved with a whore.

 

And of course he's going to be the one who survives.

Edited March 23, 2016 by candall

[Dina Grerogy]

Ugh right with you. Kristina seems to still be working thru some issues of her own-namely power issues. She seems desperate to be taken seriously as a 'professional' and so forth yet comes off looking almost as sad as the folks she 'treats'. I feel like other people react to her the same way I do and that just furthers the childish cycle. You notice the first thing she does is elbow her way into the middle of everyone asserting her tallness I guess. After that comes the classic interrogation technique of the pensive stare with a slight brow furrow to denote skeptical displeasure. It is kind of like she never made it past chapter 1 of some 'empowering' take your child to work book and has no other game plan than 'look serious and use generality-laden newsspeak'. She just comes off as trying way too hard and then staying in business mode to the point of not connecting with her patients or their families (notice the lack of thanks from everyone involved), much in the way that Taco Bell treats my burrito vs Chipotle. I think I will have to skip this series. Kristina plus another year of middle class and rich kids getting help is just tired. How about Intervention: Crenshaw where they actually try to help someone from the ghetto?

[candall]

I'm not particularly crazy about the interventionist either.  I guess someone up at Intervention Headquarters noticed because she cries us a river from her own personal sad history in the later "Eric" episode.

[grisgris]

When Caitlyn was first introduced, I thought she said she was 22. That was a more accurate description of her behavior and level of maturity. I was truly (but pleasantly) surprised to learn that she not only completed her first segment of treatment, but continued on.

 

Gianluca's father was rather harsh. I completely understand his level of frustration, anger and disappointment, but wow ... I think that even Kristina was shocked by the way he treated his son. Of course, without knowing much more extensive detail about Gianluca's addiction and history, maybe his behavior was justified. I guess I would be devastated and have my trust broken, too, if I had a kid who was shoplifting on a regular basis to support his addition as well as getting evicted.

 

I think the tough love needs to fall somewhere on the continuum between Gianluca's father and the mother of that entitled kid from last week's show.  The bottom line is I am very grateful that both of them recovered and seem to be thriving.

[Scorpiosunshine]

This is Kristina's second series; the first was called "Addicted" and was pretty much exactly like this. It last aired in 2012, I think, so I was surprised to see this...( I'll call it a) reboot.

When I first started watching Addicted, I didn't care for her much. Part of it was because I didn't know how to take her, but also I love Intervention so much and was so used to how they loved people like crazy.

Since it's been a while since I've seen her AND since Intervention is back, I'm having a bit of deja vu. That being said, I really did come to appreciate and like Kristina, and I'm glad to see her back. Her style is different because she practices a different method of intervention, but she does truly care, and she really did help a lot of people in Addicted, and in her practice.

[Scorpiosunshine]

Gianluca seemed like a truly caring person. I hope he is successful. I have a feeling he will make a great interventionist/counselor/addiction specialist. I can't pinpoint it, but I saw something in him, heard something in the way he spoke. I guess I just got a sense of a good heart.

Caitlyn definitely needs to grow up and learn how to take care of herself. She might have a good shot at it if her family sticks to their bottom lines, AND as long as she finishes school and works rather than let someone else take care of her.

I got a super spoiled vibe from her, but she didn't seem to be a nasty person, other than her laughing spell... at which moment I strongly, viscerally disliked her.

I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to addict behavior, but I don't know. It was hard to read her, and at times she had this mildly snotty air and look about her, even after she was clean. I do hope she's successful.

Shallow moment : Physically, they were a beautiful couple.

[JenMcSnark]

@Scorpiosunshine I totally agree with your post.  

 

I found myself loving Gianluca.  My heart broke when he said the bit out his dad not ever just hugging him or saying I love you.  He even said he understood why right now, but you could tell how much he was hurt by that.  I think that's probably how dad has been most of Gianluca's life. And I thought the interventionist handled it well.

 

Caitlyn was another matter. I get it.  She is a product of her parents' fear that she would die at any moment, but she is the very definition of spoiled, entitled brat. I hope her parents can hold their bottom line.  She needs to grow up for sure. 

 

I was glad to see they had broken up because I was afraid she would drag Gianluca back down.  I wish them both the best though.  

[Calamity Jane]

I appreciate that Kristina never, ever takes anyone's BS at face value, that she always calls them out on their rationalizations and dodges.  But I wonder if she ever, ever smiles a joyous smile.  You can see her life has been tough.  

[Enero]

I watched this last night. I don't really like how they had them in treatment for 30 days then released them to face the person who they've been so co-dependent on in their addiction. It seems like a recipe for disaster.

Anyway, I was kind of surprised to see that Amy relapsed and is continuing to use. She seemed fed up with her addiction and wanted to get clean. I wonder what the story was behind her relaspe? Did the the break up with Eric play a part in it?

Speaking of which, he seemed like an asshole. He didn't seem genuine at all and I question whether he's truly clean.

Edited March 28, 2016 by Enero

[Tara Ariano]

Alcoholism impacts a same sex couple and both men get help to cope with traumatic pasts.

[Pdxblonde]

Eric seemed like a total ass that didn't give a shi* about anything but his drugs, but that's an addict for you. I, too, thought Amy looked much older than Eric, but that's what drug use does to you. Also, Eric dressed like he was about 23, with the baseball hat on backwards, etc. so that didn't help either. It broke my heart when they revealed that Eric and Amy met because she was a prostitute, her family's reaction.

[Toaster Strudel]

Eric spoke very fast and had tics.  Something odd!

[stephinmn]

Eric was scum and I can't even imagine how his ex wife feels. I mean...he left her for a prostitute. Ouch.

I get the feeling that Amy has burned out most of her family and she has already burned bridges. It does hurt when they look so good and then they go back to using.

[ChristmasJones]

Their family members looked disgusted as they watched them sitting on the couch cuddling after treatment.

[Primetimer]

And it may take more than 30 days to fix what's broken.

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[pasdetrois]

I'm still trying to figure this show out.

 

I think I smell a "Dr. Drew" flavor to this series, in that Kristina is trying to balance treatment protocols with her desire to be a TV star. I watched her earlier series several years ago, so she's been at this TV business for a while. (Plus, I'm pretty sure she's done the Hollywood breast implant thing since then.)

 

I'm puzzled at the "keep co-dependents together" spin. From what I know of codependency, it's not resolved neatly within the space of 30 days or even a year. It seems as if forcing the codependent addicts together early in their treatment, on camera, is not in their best interest. * Major Side Eye at Kristina*

 

This latest episode made it seem way too easy. And, if Dan is "using what he learned in treatment to help Louis into recovery," how is that different than a parent trying to be responsible for a child's addiction and behaviors? I wonder what Ken, Jeff and Candy think of this approach.

 

Meanwhile, Louis' vocal gymnastics nearly drove me away. Combined with the whining and drama, he was insufferable.

Edited March 30, 2016 by pasdetrois

[farmgal4]

All I got out of this episode is that Louis is a spoiled little prick. Dan deserves better.

[Scorpiosunshine]

Louis' entitlement rant/whine in the restaurant with Dan's father was something to behold. I don't know how much of that was addict behavior vs spoiled brattiness, but watching him throw a tantrum with no sense of shame or self-awareness was... something.

It takes a lot of gall to sit there and expectantly chow down on your free steak dinner, nastily accuse your benefactor of avoiding the topic of financing your free ride, then get angry and blow up because he nicely declines.

Blaming him because you now have to.. not pay your own way, but.. borrow from someone else, namely your own parent...WOW.... that's chutzpah! Louis wins the "got big balls" award, lol.

On the other hand, Dan's father had a lot of nerve with that hair-don't he had going on. Yikes!

[jacksgirl]

I liked these two men. Louis was a bit stunted in his growth, but they seemed to genuinely care for each other. I wish them well I'm recovery. Please attend 12 step meetings often.

I liked these two men. Louis was a bit stunted in his growth, but they seemed to genuinely care for each other. I wish them well I'm recovery. Please attend 12 step meetings often.

[Tara Ariano]

A couple plagued by addictions to heroin and meth get help while Kristina challenges their families for enabling them.

[StatisticalOutlier]

I'm sad that Louis was such an asshole because for some reason I liked him.  Or wanted to like him, I guess.

 

This is the first episode I've actually watched.  What kind of treatment centers are these people going to?  The one Dan was in--a random two-bedroom house with a chain link fence?  And they have their family meetings IN THE FRONT YARD?  I hope the people on this one never watch Intervention and find out there are places in Malibu and Palm Beach, or even Dr. Drew's digs in Pasadena.

[Primetimer]

Can a semi-homeless couple pull it together...together?

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[farmgal4]

I'm convinced this show is scripted as hell.

[Terrie]

I was really hoping that I'd appreciate this show as much as Addiction, but I just don't. It comes across as overly scripted, like the interventionist is reading a TelePrompTer. The participants " know they will face an intervention" which makes it not one. It just doesn't leave me with the same feelings as Intervention does.

[candall]

Agree with farmgal that much of the dialogue was . . . stilted, at best.  No Golden Globe for Granny, except when she was whipping up a tasty meal while the kids neck shot a quick appie.  (And how squick was the thumb sucking?)

 

But I'm sad about a little boy who gets no comfort when his mother dies and is then trotted out to a cemetery as an adult and told to let it all out, while the cameras roll and the host pats his shoulder.

Light's good, film's not free--go!

 

Like the recapper, I was curious about the end of their small business owner life in suburbia and where Krysten spent that missing month, but I can't really think of any "filler" segments to eliminate except the awkward cemetery scene--which they presented as pivotal--so I guess it's a pretty good show when my main complaint is wanting to know more.

[raiderred1]

I called fake antics on the same things last night while watching this show.  I thought granny's house was adorable and when they went walking down the street, I thought, "Hey not a bad area to be homeless for at least a few nights." Also, they looked too clean to be addicts living in a car.  Spencer was also a bit too plump to be a meth addict.  I did feel sorry for Spencer though and his granny was so sweet.

[IvySpice]

I couldn't handle Caitlyn. So spoiled and immature. Welcome to the real world.

[pasdetrois]

 

But I'm sad about a little boy who gets no comfort when his mother dies and is then trotted out to a cemetery as an adult and told to let it all out, while the cameras roll and the host pats his shoulder.

It wasn't even his mother's cemetery, right?

 

Not only was this episode very clumsily scripted, but it was like White Bread Intervention. Tepid as all get out as everyone slumbered through their scenes. Or faked emotion, at least until the end when Krysten looked beat. Affirms for me that before the intervention she and Spencer were living a pretty cushy life.

[grumpypanda]

I want to like this show but something is missing. I feel like so much back story was left out, like how did they meet? Did Krysten get Spencer into heroin? How long have they been together? How did they get clean before and why did they relapse? I also wanted to know where the hell she was for that month after she left rehab and how was she getting money for drugs. These seem like basic questions that should have been addressed.

Anyway, I've seen some truly gross things on Intervention before but for some reason Krysten sucking her thumb while being shot up really turned my stomach.

Edited April 8, 2016 by grumpypanda

[raiderred1]

Anyway, I've seen some truly gross things on Intervention before but for some reason Krysten sucking her thumb while being shot up really turned my stomach.

I didn't realize she was sucking her thumb.  I thought she was blowing air into her mouth and just had her thumb there as a plug so she could get her carotid vein to stick out.  

[mythoughtis]

This episode was odd.  The other addicts have gone to actual treatment centers.  Not sure why Louis/Dan weren't.  The entire show seems pretty low budget. 

 

I didn't care for Louis or Dan prior to intervention.  They both cleaned up nice during the intervention.   I was not surprised that Louis relapsed.  He's too spoiled and weak at this point.  Mama will take care of him.  Once she quits and Dan quits taking care of him, too, then he  will hit rock-bottom. Dan,  once he got clean and sober , actually seemed like a nice guy. 

 

I didn't know what to make of Dan's Dad.  he took the easy way out after the divorce, but he was here now.   

[BloggerAloud]

I thought there was some shoddy editing because they used a talking head of Krysten's mom that was clearly filmed when Krysten went to rehab the second time as a talking head for the first time she went because the outfit the mom was wearing from the after-vention.

[gardendiva]

I felt a lot of compassion for Amy but after seeing her relapse a few times since the intervention and then go back to using, I am wondering whether that death wish that she had expressed earlier had come roaring back when the breakup with Eric happened.

As for Eric, I thought he was a complete douche nozzle for blaming Amy for "wrecking his family". Oh really? I am pretty sure he made contact with Amy first, not the other way around. I know he was high when he was saying that stuff, but the way he always seemed to blame her or refuse to take any responsibility for his situation irritated me. His Aftervention comments and actions seemed disingenuous. He seems like a narcissist or something similar.

Edited April 12, 2016 by gardendiva

[Sukie31]

I like Kristina. I watched Addicted and was sad to see it end and happy to see that she has a new show. To me, she's tough because she has to be. Unfortunately, addiction is a complicated disease. As you can see on the show, the addicts and family members that she is dealing with are in serious denial. Somebody has to snap them out of it, and I think she does a good job at that. I ended up reading the book that she and her mother wrote and I thought that it was well-written. The approach that she uses with people on the show is an approach that worked for her.

[AlexStarr]

Reading some of the criticism of Kristina, it's clear that there are far too many sensitive souls here. I thought her show, Addicted, was a pretty good show, and was handled a lot better than many of the Intervention episodes.

Now that that's out of the way...let's get to the complaints about her being heavy-handed. Addicts, for the most part, can be terrible, selfish, hateful, vindictive individuals. By the time an intervention has occurred, they have stolen thousands from their families, neglected and hurt their children, caused physical harm to others, and have been outright bastards. Only other addicts want their addiction cured with "love" and kindness, and want the world to continue treating them that way while they use the kindness of others as a weakness. As a recovering addict myself, I can say with all honesty that until I was called on my BS and someone had a heavy handed approach to me, I had basically conned my way through tons of rehab facilities. It took a kick in the butt and losing everything and having people leave me to my substances ALONE without a warm bed, financial support, or a working shower, before I finally decided that I was tired of living the life of an addict. Kristina has either been trained by some of the best, or in time she realized that all of the addict-coddling only gives the addict another avenue to manipulate. Having a "disease" doesn't give one the right to be an a**hole to others and still get your addiction handled with tenderness. During my journey, I did some horrible things to people. There was no reason for me to believe or expect that my family, loved ones, or even addiction counselors would not make me own up to my garbage. Not all addicts respond positively to the gentle. loving approach. In fact, the majority of addicts have had already gone through that approach, and is one of the reasons why many con their ways out of rehab. Outside of the entitled points of view of many addicts, and the fancy resort rehabs, the gritty side of addiction usually requires a tougher approach.

[Dina Grerogy]

Wow lost another couple.  She is batting around .300 with home field advantage (her treatment facilities) so maybe pay more attention to the 'customers' she already has.  If I were to stand there all tall and judgmental, assessing her life choices I would say that she is addicted to addiction and should probably work on centering and focus and perhaps sell socks on Etsy.

@Alex I can tell you were an abusive a**hole.  Stick with it and maybe chill with telling people they are too sensitive, especially if it is a majority.  Perhaps they are right...  Best of luck in your continuing recovery.  

[ShaNaeNae]

Is it cancelled?  It hasn't been on Sunday nights.

[azshadowwalker]

I find all of these shows exploitative and crass. The very concept of interventions are bullshit to me. I have spent the past 23+ years clean after a spiral that included booze, coke, meth and heroin. If any of this intervention crap had been pulled on me, especially by someone who acts like this woman, I would have told them to get fucked.

I don't believe that threats or impatience works. What works is that a person legitimately wants to stop using. Until our unless they do, you can either accept them as-is, or you can move on and leave them to it. The threats are useless. Even if the person goes to treatment under such circumstances, it's not going to work. There's a reason relapse is so high. Far too many people get support only because the courts force them or the families plead and threaten.

I quit when I wanted to, and never looked back. For me, it was because I was pregnant and wanted to be a decent parent. For others, it may be something else. Whatever it is, it has to come from the person, not from a bunch of threats and glaring stares. My counselors were always kind and supportive. If they had been otherwise, I would have walked out. Most addicts I know would have done the same.

[RCharter]

^^congratulations.  I think it must take incredible strength.  I haven't been through it from either side (thank goodness).  But in a way I understand worried family and friends who don't want to get the death call....but I also know how hard its been for me to give up diet soda....and that isn't meth, coke, heroin and booze.

I think the reason I never tried anything is because I'm certain I would become an addict.