Multisystemic Therapy (MST)

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What is Multisystemic Therapy (MST)?
With a target population of adolescents age 12-18 years old, Multisystemic Therapy assists in promoting prosocial behaviors in the most natural setting…the home. Highly trained therapists work with adolescents and their families while including the school, church, probation, peers and any other entity that effects the life and behaviors of the youth (Evidence-based, 2008). Collaborating with all aspects in the youth’s life, rules and expectations are set in an effort to reduce substance abuse and other deviant behaviors as well as decrease involvement with peers that promote such behaviors. Integrated within MST are parent education and training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and various family therapies …show more content…
To be effective in this change the therapist must be highly qualified. These qualifications include a preferable education level of a masters including experience with family therapy and various cognitive and behavioral therapies (Henggeler, 2015). Training in the MST treatment process is also required to ensure the interventions and implementation of the program is done properly (Schoenwald, Brown & Henggeler, 2000). Another requirement of the therapist is availability as staff is on-call 24-7 for each family, but it is not done alone. MST is performed by a team of three to five people including a psychiatrist to address mental health issues and a supervisor (Henggeler, …show more content…
After the referral is reviewed, treatment goals are created utilizing the strengths and weaknesses of the family and reflecting the goals they have presented. These initial goals are defined and adapted to the adolescent’s existing system (i.e. school, church, parent-child) (Schoenwald, Brown, Henggeler, 2000). Appropriate therapies and groups are chosen to meet the needs of the family and the individual such as parenting classes to increase caregiver skills, cognitive therapy to assist with substance abuse and behavioral issues and youth group at church to increase prosocial peer group. The therapy team also acts as liaisons between the family and community organizations to assist in communicating and mending, if necessary, any bridges that were broken. In the initial stages of the program, daily contact is normal and decreasing as treatment advances. With a caseload of three to five families for 3 to 5 months per family, the therapy team is able to apply the intensity and comprehensiveness of MST to guide the changes in all areas of the adolescent’s life (Schoenwald, Brown, Henggeler,
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