Betty Wyman, Interventionist

The Basics

Based in Los Angeles, California, Dr. Betty Wyman is one of the best-respected interventionists in the world. Wyman received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Claremont College, and a doctorate of philosophy in criminal justice from Pacific Western University. Many of her clients are high-profile individuals, including actor Rob Lowe, who listed Wyman as a treasured friend and confidant in the acknowledgments of his book, Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography, actress Drew Barrymore and Grammy Award-winning singer Cee Lo Green. She was also supposedly a sober companion for Britney Spears.

The Background

As the story goes, Wyman began her career in the criminal justice field, serving as a probation officer in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. She became interested in helping addicts and alcoholics and went on to work director of the Exodus Recovery Center and in the Behavioral Health department for the now defunct Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital in Marina del Rey, California. Wyman also learned about addiction and recovery first-hand during her brief marriage to Dallas Taylor, the drummer for Crosby Stills Nash & Young. They supposedly met while he was volunteering at the ASAP Family Treatment Center, where she worked as a counselor. Wyman also worked as a behavioral science consultant for Twin Towers Corrections Facility and as a counselor at Promises Malibu. She later went into private practice, opening Wyman Consulting, a company specializing in professional treatment services, including interventions and recovery coaching.

Wyman is also an outspoken advocate for recovery. In a 1997 Los Angeles Times article, she applauded then-Councilman Mike Hernandez for speaking up about his drug addiction, and expressed her outrage that editorial writers of the LA Times, the Mayor and five of Hernandez’s council colleagues had teamed up, pressuring him to resign from his job. Her belief was that Hernandez had admitted that he was an addict and that was the first step towards his recovery. Additionally, she viewed him as an inspiring figure for other suffering alcoholics and addicts. Her mother is Rosalind Wiener Wyman, a former Los Angeles City Councilwoman.

The Approach

Wyman is said to take a no-nonsense approach when it comes to doing an intervention, or working with clients. She assesses the situation, gathers family members and loved ones, locates an appropriate residential treatment and/or detox facility, and handles the preparation, which includes writing letters to the client. One of the participants is designated to be the client’s escort to the proper treatment facility. Additionally, this participant is a “buffer” should the client become enraged during the intervention.

After that, the intervention meeting is scheduled, and typically takes place at the client’s home. She talks to clients one-on-one, presents them with letters from their loved ones and informs them of the consequences of their drug addiction, should they continue on that path. If the intervention goes according to plan, the client will go to treatment immediately. If the client refuses, Wyman works with the participants on letting go and learning boundary skills. After the intervention, there is a post intervention meeting where participants can share their feelings, and decompress.

Wyman is a strong proponent of the AA fellowship, and believes that 12-step meetings, and working the steps, are an integral part of a client’s recovery protocol. Additionally, Alanon is highly recommended for families.

In Summary

Wyman believes in a long-term recovery protocol including 12-step meetings, sober companionship, relapse prevention planning and outpatient treatment when appropriate. While she works with many high-profile clients, she has been in the business for almost three decades and rigorously enforces each client’s privacy. When it comes to interventions, Wyman is the real deal.

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