Intervention Is an Art: Breaking Family Cycles & Redefining Recovery with Tara Cannon

In this episode of Finding New Waters, host B. Reeves and CEO Justin McClendon sit down with seasoned interventionist and recovery consultant Tara Cannon. Celebrating over 15 years of continuous sobriety, Tara shares her raw personal story—from growing up in New Jersey, getting sent to South Florida at 15, and managing her own apartment at 16, to facing jail stints and finally committing to a full continuum of care in 2009. Tara breaks down her decade-plus journey in the treatment field, starting as an overnight tech, working in corporate compliance, and running her own sober living program, A Design for Living Recovery. She dives deep into the ARISE intervention model—a strength-based, invitational, family-centered approach—and explains why treating the entire family system is critical for long-term success. Plus, Tara, B. Reeves, and Justin discuss the shifting landscape of addiction over the last 10 years, including high-potency cannabis psychosis, fentanyl contamination in stimulants, and the impact of young adults living at home longer.TIMESTAMPS[00:00] Episode Intro & Relocating from South Florida to Colorado[02:53] "This field picked me": Watching her father's arrest on TV at age 7[04:00] Moving to South Florida at 15 and living solo at 16[05:00] The turning point: 2009 treatment commitment and full continuum of care[06:00] Starting at the bottom: Working overnight tech shifts in residential treatment[08:30] "In detox, you're in the business of the problem": Managing burnout in direct care[12:15] Corporate treatment dynamics vs. mission-driven, heart-centered care[16:30] Opening A Design for Living Recovery: Choosing principle over profit[18:00] Discovering intervention work and training in the ARISE model with Jack Bloomfield[20:15] What makes ARISE different? Invitational, non-confrontational family healing[22:00] Redefining intervention success beyond just getting a person to treatment[25:08] How addiction has evolved over 10 years: Complex mental health, fentanyl, and high-potency cannabis[30:55] Case Study breakdown: Intervening on enmeshed parent-child dynamics and setting firm boundaries[37:00] The "Spaghetti on the wall" approach to behavioral and mental health careLINKS & RESOURCES* Primary Website: newwatersrecovery.com* A Design for Living Recovery: https://www.adesignforlivingrecovery.com/* Contact Info: 561-262-8219CALL TO ACTIONIf Tara's insights on family systems and recovery hit home for you, please like this video, drop a comment below, and subscribe to the channel. Share this episode with a family or professional who needs guidance today!#FindingNewWaters #TaraCannon #Interventionist #ARISEIntervention #AddictionRecovery #FamilyHealing #SoberLife #NewWatersRecovery #RecoveryJourneyWatch & ListenWebsite: www.findingnewwaters.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5GjwApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXwYouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn