The Amy Jack Call: How I Outsmarted a Professional Kidnapper
By Michael Kelman Portney
What happens when your family hires someone to plan your involuntary commitment, but that person has no license to practice what they're doing?
In late 2024, my parents retained Amy Jack, an "interventionist," to coordinate what they described as help for substance abuse issues. What they didn't tell Amy—or perhaps didn't care to mention—was that I'm autistic, have documented PTSD from being forcibly transported to a Utah facility as a teenager, and that their claims about drug use were largely exaggerated.
When I finally reached Amy directly, I discovered something alarming: she had been collecting information about me from my friends, family, and associates while representing herself in ways that led people to believe she had clinical credentials she didn't possess. My friends thought they were speaking with a therapist. They weren't.
What follows is the recorded conversation where Amy admits she operates in an unregulated field, acknowledges she's "not a therapist, not a clinician," and reveals that my parents had been building what I can only describe as a case for my involuntary commitment based on incomplete and potentially false information.
The call exposes several disturbing realities about the "intervention" industry: the lack of oversight, the potential for abuse when dealing with disabled individuals, and the dangerous gap between what these services advertise and what they're actually licensed to provide.
The following conversation was recorded on February 7, 2025.
Here’s your transcript formatted cleanly for your site, keeping the dialogue structure intact but with web-ready readability:
The Intervention That Wasn’t
Transcript: Michael Kelman Portney Interviews Amy Jack
Amy: I didn't want to move forward with an intervention. I told your parents, and I told Gary too, that if Mike's ever willing to talk with me — if he's ever wanting help, if he feels like he needs some help — I'd be happy to talk to him. But I just wasn't comfortable moving forward with an intervention. That's how I got brought into the mix.
Amy (continued): And yeah, I mean, treatment center-wise, I told your parents I didn't have enough to even make a recommendation. You know, when it comes to treatment, in order to make an appropriate recommendation, I need a good history and a clear understanding of what substances are being used — if any — and if there are other mental health concerns. They had brought up a place called Cirque Lodge, which is honestly a good treatment center.
Mike: Can you tell me why you decided that the intervention wouldn't be appropriate at that time?
Amy: We didn’t know if it would be a positive experience. Most of the interventions I do are invitational — so the person understands the family wants to talk to them, and that a professional is going to be there. I want it to be a positive experience for everybody. I'm not the kind of interventionist who does sneak attacks. I don't believe that works.
Mike: So everything you do is voluntary? There’s no non-voluntary component?
Amy: Yes, absolutely. There are some horrible places and horrible people that do things involuntarily — that's not me. I don’t do that. It's traumatic.
Mike: What does your transport service look like?
Amy: I get on a plane with them and take them out to California safely so they don’t relapse in between. That’s what my transport service looks like.
Mike: Did you have any suspicions that my parents were maybe building a narrative that wasn’t completely accurate?
Amy: I didn’t have any suspicions like that. But after talking with your parents, I really thought they were genuine in their concern. Like I said, when I do an intervention, I want it to be a positive experience for everyone.
Mike: Did they mention that I had been taken to a treatment center in Utah before?
Amy: Yes, that did come up. They told me they had a lot of regrets. And here’s the thing, Mike — that kind of thing still happens today. I get calls from families all the time where their son or daughter is now 20 or 30, and when they were teens, they were sent to wilderness programs by educational consultants. I don’t agree with those programs. They’re traumatic — especially for the kid.
Mike: I agree. I’m just trying to figure out what my parents were doing. They know that Utah is where all my nightmares come from. I won’t even drive through Utah. So I’m trying to understand — was I going to have an option about going to Utah, or was I being sent there against my will?
Amy: Cirque Lodge was on the table because of its reputation.
Mike: And you're saying it’s not a lockdown facility?
Amy: No, it’s a legit, really good place.
Mike: I wouldn’t go back to Utah for any reason. If they were trying to do what’s best for me, that’s a non-starter.
Amy: That was taken off the table quickly.
Mike: Why?
Amy: They basically said what you just said — that because of the previous experience, it was not going to be on the table. We all agreed.
Amy (continued): I’ll say this — if you feel like there’s any accuracy to your parents’ concerns, and you want to talk to someone, I’m here. It’s always your decision.
Mike: For sure. I’m interested in exploring treatment. I’ve been willing this whole time — just not willing to be coerced into it. That’s where the static is. I’ve asked them to do family therapy, and they said treatment needs to happen first, which I don’t think makes sense. I’m concerned that they were trying to put me in treatment indefinitely and avoid family therapy. Was that your impression? How long was I supposed to be in treatment?
Amy: No, no, no. I get where that fear comes from — especially after what you went through in Utah. But as an adult, there are no involuntary treatment programs. There are involuntary mental health holds, but you have to be truly out of your mind for that.
Mike: I’m concerned my parents were trying to create that “out of my mind” narrative. The other day, while I was out of town, they sent a housekeeper to my house — not just to feed the cats, but to look for evidence that I might have a gun. My mom acknowledged we used to own one together. That feels like a manufactured narrative. I don’t own a firearm now.
Mike (continued): I’d like to request all documentation — any assessment, emails, etc. I need to know what’s been said behind the scenes. I believe there was wrongdoing, and I intend to follow up legally. What exactly is your title?
Amy: I’m not a therapist. I’m not a clinician. I’m an interventionist.
Mike: What credentials do you have to be involved in this type of work?
Amy: Interventions are a different field. I don’t provide therapy. I’ve done trainings, and I’ve been in the field a few years.
Mike: But you can’t provide therapy if you’re not a therapist. That sounds like doublespeak.
Amy: No, interventions aren’t a licensed field. There’s no oversight. I’ve done the Love First training. When families reach out, I talk with them. That’s all it is.
Mike: So there was no paperwork assessment?
Amy: No. It was all phone calls.
Mike: Your website mentioned an assessment. I assumed there was paperwork.
Amy: That’s once I speak to someone and we’re in contract.
Mike: That concerns me. Words like "assessment" and "clinical" imply licensure. I think you're misrepresenting yourself.
Amy: I’ve done the Love First training.
Mike: My friends thought they were speaking to a therapist. They didn’t realize you were someone who arranges transports. They unknowingly helped build a case to have me removed.
Amy: There was no transport situation. You’re an adult.
Mike: Have you ever used handcuffs or contracted anyone to use handcuffs to move someone?
Amy: Absolutely not.
Mike: I was taken to Island View in handcuffs. That was traumatic. I want to see all communications about me. Am I entitled to that?
Amy: There’s nothing. I was never under contract.
Mike: Were you paid?
Amy: There was a retainer, but once I chose not to proceed, that was it.
Mike: Any emails?
Amy: Just phone calls.
Mike: Text messages?
Amy: I believe there were some, but they’re long gone.
Mike: Amy, I believe my parents conspired to unjustly institutionalize me. They likely didn’t mention I’m in a legal battle with them. They had motive to discredit me. I’m pursuing legal action, and I’ll subpoena any communications. I don’t respect your role in this. I don’t think you’re credentialed appropriately. I believe your website misrepresents what you do. If there’s any way to hold you accountable, I will.
Amy: Do what you feel is best.
Mike: I will. And respectfully, you’ve said yourself this is a field without oversight. That’s a problem. Therapists and doctors have oversight. The only time you don’t is when you create your own title.
Amy: That’s not true, but you’ll learn.
Mike: I will indeed. Thank you.
