The MST and BSFT

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The Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is a home-based treatment program developed by Henggler in 1970 that focuses on the factors of family and community. The program is intended to equip parents of troubled youth with tools to handle the difficulties of their behavior. The MST therapists work with the most difficult juveniles, male and female, between the ages of 12 and 17 who tend to have extensive criminal arrest histories. The MST concentrates on numerous aspects contributing to a delinquent lifestyle, such as juveniles’ homes, families, schools, teachers, neighborhoods, and friends. The psychoanalysts go to a child’s home and work with parents in order to put them in control over their kids.

MST research has recognized particular risk and protective factors for each category that impacts the life of a young person: family, peers, school, and community. After identifying the risk factors in all categories, a treatment plan is established, which concentrates on strengthening the existing protective factors within all categories, and seeking areas of potential for generating new ones (Henggler, 1999).

The criminological theory this program is based on is the social learning theory because the focus of the program is the environment a young individual is exposed to. The surroundings that he/she is in create tendencies to learn and acquire certain behaviors, whether positive or negative.

DESCRIPTION OF BSFT:

The BSFT is a cost-effective, evidence-based, process-oriented, and family-focused intervention program. Developed by researchers led by Szapocznik, the program works with children and adolescents between 6 and 17 years who are susceptible in developing or already display negative behavioral habits. The program was intended ...

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Bibliography

Henggeler, S. W. (1999). Multisystemic Therapy: An overview of clinical procedures. Child

Psychology & Psychiatry Review, vol. 4, p. 2-10.

Henggeler, S. W., Melton, G. B., & Smith, L. A. (1992). Family preservation using

multisystemic therapy: An effective alternative to incarcerating serious juvenile

offenders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, vol. 60(9), p. 953-961.

Szapocznik, J., Perez-Vidal, A., Coatsworth, D. J., Kurtines, W. M., Schwartz, S. J.,

LaParriere, A., & Sansebastian, D. A. (2003). Efficacy of brief strategic family therapy in

modifying Hispanic adolescent behavior problems and substance use. Journal of Family

Psychology, vol. 17, p. 121-133.

U.S. Department of Justice. (2000). Brief strategic family therapy. Washngton D.C.: Juvenile

Justice Bulletin, p. 1-11.

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