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Open toolAlcohol resources · Plan builder
Family conversation planner
Prepare a calm conversation about alcohol, with room to listen and a clear offer of support.
No account or email required. Your entries stay in this browser tab.
Quick Summary
- Choose a suitable moment and describe what you have noticed.
- Express care, ask open questions and name a practical offer of support.
- Keep your own boundaries clear. You do not have to solve everything in one conversation.
THE BALANCE · Family conversation planner
Your plan builder
Prepare what you want to say
The result gathers your own words into a conversation outline. Read it through, adjust it to sound natural and leave room to listen. The tool does not send the outline or contact anyone.
Prepare your result without an email address. Download a copy before leaving the page.
Choose a time when everyone can speak safely. Avoid trying to resolve the issue while someone is intoxicated. If a conversation could put you at risk, seek individual professional support first.
Method & interpretation
Understand
your result.
The builder turns your notes into a conversation outline: an opening, a specific observation, a question, an offer of support and a boundary. The prompts are original and draw on SAMHSA guidance about listening and offering help.
Care → observation → listening → an offer of support → your boundary.
A worked example
You might begin with a specific recent concern, ask how the person sees it and offer to help arrange a confidential conversation with a professional.
A useful next step
Use the result to organise a question or observation you want to discuss. You can explore alcohol resources, visit the related self-assessment or read about individual care and support at THE BALANCE.
Questions & answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What if they do not want to talk?
You can respect that moment, offer another time and keep your own boundaries. A first conversation does not need to resolve everything.
Should I use the wording exactly?
Use the outline as a starting point. Adjust it so it sounds natural and reflects what you actually observed.
Can I get support for myself?
Yes. Family members can seek guidance and support for their own wellbeing, whether or not the person is ready to enter treatment.
Are my entries saved or shared?
Your entries stay in memory in this browser tab. They are not sent to THE BALANCE, saved in the URL or included in marketing analytics. Download or print a copy if you want to keep it. Resetting, reloading or leaving the page clears the tool entries. Files you download remain under your control.
Sources & review
Transparent
methods.
Sources checked 8 September 2026. Clinical review pending for this draft.
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Open toolClinical context
Clear information is framed around complex and co-occurring presentations.
Individual factors
Assessment remains essential because needs and risks differ from person to person.
Next steps
A confidential conversation can help clarify the most appropriate route forward.
Not sure where the situation fits?
A confidential first conversation can help clarify the presentation and whether our setting is appropriate.
Private admissions
Begin with a confidential conversation.
If you are considering treatment for yourself, a family member or someone you advise, our team can help clarify the most appropriate next step.
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