Professional Expertise & Intervention Approach

Terri O’Connor has been working in the behavioral health field since 1991, with a primary focus on guiding families through crisis and into recovery through professionally structured interventions. As a Certified Intervention Professional (CIP), Love First Certified Clinical Interventionist, and practitioner of the Breakfree Invitational Intervention model, Terri brings diverse, evidence-informed training to her work with families. She specializes in family-centered, systems-based interventions addressing substance use disorders, eating disorders, and co-occurring mental health conditions, blending structure, compassion, and clinical precision to increase treatment acceptance and long-term stability.

Clinical Roots Shaped by Frontline Behavioral Health Experience

Her clinical foundation was shaped in Chicago-area hospitals, emergency rooms, and courtrooms, where she conducted evaluations, provided advocacy, and witnessed firsthand the consequences of untreated addiction and mental illness. This early experience solidified her commitment to early, compassionate, and strategic intervention.

Strategic Intervention Planning Across the Continuum of Treatment

As the founder of Empowerment Alliance Behavioral Health Consulting, Terri works independently with families across the country, coordinating comprehensive intervention plans, facilitating treatment placement, and ensuring seamless transitions into appropriate levels of care. Her extensive national network allows her to tailor recommendations based on clinical complexity, medical necessity, and family dynamics.

Philosophy, Impact & Professional Mission

Terri brings decades of clinical insight, lived understanding, and strategic experience to every engagement. Her work is grounded in compassion, clarity, and accountability—helping families move from fear and paralysis to decisive, loving action that restores hope and protects long-term wellbeing.

Types of Interventions you are Trained to Perform:
Substance Use Disorders, Mental Health, Eating Disorders

When did you become a member of AIS?:
2021