Multi Systemic Therapy

Photo of Multi Systemic Therapy

THE MULTI SYSTEMIC THERAPY SERVICE IS A COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMME WHICH:

  • Helps families/whānau manage very challenging behaviour such as truancy, drug use, offending, absconding, anti-social behaviour, criminal offending, self harm, non compliance, school refusal and the impact of a young person’s mental health on family dynamics.
  • Helps young people attend school and/or work regularly and get along with their families/whānau and peers.
  • Provides support in the home, school, neighbourhood or community.
  • Provides a therapist who works with the family/whānau for 5 months (20 weeks), meeting at least 2-3 times per week to ensure rapid progress towards changing behaviours.
  • Focuses on family/whānau goals.
  • Ensures someone from the team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on call.
  • Ensures therapists work in supervised teams and provide coverage for all clients.

 

MULTI SYSTEMIC THERAPY AIMS TO:

  • Improve caregiver parenting practices.
  • Enhance family/whānau relations.
  • Decrease youth alcohol and substance abuse.
  • Improve young persons school, job and training opportunities.
  • Engage youth in positive recreational outlets.
  • Address offending behaviour, reducing the risk of youth entering the justice system, or reducing their risk of further involvement in the justice system.
  • Develop a natural support network to maintain changes.

 

THE SERVICE WILL:

  • Complete a thorough assessment to give a good understanding of why the challenging behaviours are happening and what factors are helping to maintain them.
  • Develop plans in collaboration with family/whānau to address these behaviours and work to help ensure long term change.
  • Use a strengths based approach to empower the family/whānau to manage behaviour more effectively.
  • Support the family/whānau to try different behaviour management strategies.
  • Work to ensure that the family/whānau has good supports within their own communities.
  • Consult with schools, courses, alternative education or work places.
  • Link with any other key agencies involved to ensure all are working towards the same goals.

 

For further information on Multi Systemic Therapy please visit:

www.mstservices.com

 

For assistance please contact your nearest Emerge Aotearoa Office, Auckland (09) 265 0255, Wellington (04) 589 9442, Christchurch (03) 371 5599 or send an email.