theeffect

I feel honored that my family had the privilege to meet Jeff Jones. In my initial searching for someone to do an intervention on my son I had no idea where to go. I spent six weeks researching what this was all about realizing I had little time as my son was not doing well. His drug was meth and I have learned it is one of the worst. I had seen him once in 4 years, and his life had spiraled down to jail, knifings, and things you could not imagine. It was something none of us had any control over--he was now 29 years old.

I called many different people and Jeff kept checking back with me to see how my son was doing. I felt there was a friendship culminating, and now I can say it is one for life.

The intervention was in our local town and 14 family members had arrived from all over the country. Times and dates and everything was in place. As I nervously drove with my son to the location, it dawned on me, I had not even met this person that was going to attempt to make this change in my son and all of our lives. What did he look like ? Was he really qualified to do this? He seemed nice on the phone, but have I picked the right person? Many more thought flooded my mind.

My worst fears occurred, but not with Jeff Jones. My son decided to bolt and run before we could even get him in the door. Jeff immediately followed my son on foot and coxed him back just to "check it out." No commitments he told him, just say hi to the family since they all came so far to see him. Thank God for that moment.

My son now decided he wanted nothing to do with this person and demanded he not sit in on the intervention. How would this work--he was the interventionist. Jeff had fortunately briefed many of the family members before we arrived so we were able to get started as Jeff sat outside. There was a small slit in the door, and I could see him through that slit and motioned silently for strength. Time went very slowly at first, and it was difficult to hear any words through the tears. Since we had such a large group, the letters we had all written to my son were long and the tears were overwhelming. As we came to the last 3 or 4 letters I waved Jeff in and by this time my son was so focused on the love in the room, and he did not even notice.

The intervention was to save his life and bring my son back to his family. Jeff came to our home and sat patiently with several words of encouragement to my son. Finally we left the home and Jeff and my husband said it is now or never! Michael went with Jeff for the long 3.5 hour drive. We were all so elated he had gone but worried that he would not stay once there in the sober living home. He has not looked back since. I asked him weeks later what he thought of this strange person whom we had called to help us save him from his drug demons. He said this person "Jeff" was awesome.

As a mother, wife sister, daughter, and friend I have come to realize the real meaning of family and love. Whether it is one person or many we must embrace them all and nurture all their needs. In this busy world we live in we forget that there is life and there is death. There joy and there is sadness. There is a wonderful God that has brought this man Jeff Jones to our family and through his tireless guidance and support he has in my eyes saved my son. For that we will be eternally grateful.

I encourage anyone who needs help in this crazy powerful world of drugs and alcohol to talk with Jeff. His knowledge and real life experience can bring hope and to what you might think is hopeless.

Linda N, Visalia, California

Jeff Jones deserves the highest possible recommendation I can give. He is not only professional but kind and caring to all concerned as well.

My daughter had a drug abuse problem for many years. Added to that she had been misdiagnosed and prescribed a dangerous drug to treat ADHD. She had a psychotic breakdown and desperately needed treatment. For 2 weeks, social workers, case managers, mental health professionals, her AA sponsor, as well as myself could not talk her into getting help. Jeff talked to her firmly yet caringly and got her to go to the hospital. He realized she had crossed that line from AA to needing medical and psychiatric help.

He continues to stay in touch with my daughter and me at meetings and with phone calls. If it hadn’t been for him I wonder if my daughter would be around today to share her story. He has a true gift and it is my hope that others would be able to benefit as much as we did.

Linda A, Orange, California

I just wanted to say thank you for taking my son under your care. I was talking to a friend at church who has been in recovery for about 10 years, and was telling him about you, theeffect, and my visit to San Clemente. I told him that I could not have picked a better sponsor for my son, if I had gone out to California myself. His answer was "God picked him." I do believe God picked you, Jeff, and I believe that God is working all around you.

I have never been to a service that was more moving than theeffect was. I think I cried most of the night (happy tears). The place was just filled with the Holy Spirit. I know that my son looks forward to your Tuesday night meeting each week. I also enjoyed attending theeffect on Sunday morning. You are all doing a great thing there and God is present. I was just amazed. I'm just sorry that I am 3,000 miles away. I do hope to come back and visit again over Christmas.

When I left my son to come home, my parting words were "keep one hand on Jeff and the other on God, because Jeff is holding onto God also." You have been a real blessing for my son, and I just thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are a living testimony of what God can do and how he can change people.

Vicky H, Voorhees, New Jersey

I was scared, confused and clueless as to what to do, when I learned about my sister’s addiction (alcohol and prescription drugs) and that she was in life threatening trouble. A family member had a client who had just completed an intervention and highly recommended Jeff Jones at theeffect. I was in denial and extremely skeptical figuring a professional interventionist had only one thing in mind….money. But, since I had no other options, I gave Jeff a call. It was a call I thought would validate my suspicions, but instead it was the call that changed my sister’s life as well as our family's.

Jeff has an incredible way about him. At a time when I felt like I was going crazy and the stress was overwhelming, Jeff made me feel calm and assured. He was there (it seemed like) day and night to answer all my questions. Jeff was there for me and my family every step of the way, the intervention preparation, the intervention itself, and then he even went with us and drove my sister to the rehabilitation facility. Jeff even nursed us through the registration process, visited my sister during her (90) day recovery at New Directions, and followed-up on how the extended family was doing in their recovery.

Throughout those 90 days I watched my sister transform into a new person. She was taught many things including coping skills she never learned due to being an alcoholic for over 30 years. It’s been 5 months since the day of my sister’s intervention, she is doing GREAT and my family and I owe it all to Jeff Jones and theeffect. We love you Jeff!
Vicki C, San Clemente, CA.