Surprise! You need help

In S2 of Arrested Development, the family plans an intervention but end up drunk themselves. Ideally, seek advice from a counsellor before attempting to sit down with someone.

It's not an ambush. It's not an ultimatum. An intervention, for those who've never had one (or watched the TV show of the same name, airing since 2005), is typically a planned meeting to address one person's problem. Families do it if a member shows signs of substance abuse or an eating disorder.

Schools call in parents to intervene in cases of a student's problematic behaviour. Colleagues get together to overthrow capitalism (Just kidding; it's usually to bitch about the boss).

IRL interventions needn't be as dramatic as the ones on TV. No suspenseful music or montage of concerned folks. But for a loved one in need of a wake-up call, it's a useful tool, says clinical psychologist Poojashivam Jaitly. Here's how to stage one with all the love and none of the drama.