What is MDFT?
Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) is a comprehensive, family-centered treatment program for teenagers and young adults who are struggling with addiction, are at risk for addiction, or are having behavioral issues.
Oftentimes, when a teenager is battling addiction, only the teen receives treatment or counseling—even though the entire family is impacted. MDFT works to support your teenager by healing your whole family.
How Is It Different?
MDFT is different because it is structured therapy that focuses on all of the relationships that may influence your teen—from pediatricians and peers to teachers and neighbors.
Multidimensional Family Therapy reconnects your family, uncovers issues that may impact your teen's ability to recover and helps you work together to create trusting, supportive relationships. And, as outpatient therapy, MDFT won't disrupt your family as it heals.
Why Does It Work?
MDFT is not traditional family counseling-it's a structured, goal-oriented program that gives each member of your family the tools you need to better communicate, which leads to more trusting, respectful relationships. The supportive program provides holistic healing through:
- Frequent family and individual therapy
- Incorporation of additional influential family members
- Consistent contact by therapist via phone, email and more
- Incentives and rewards for meeting goals
- Management of activities with schools, courts and social services
- Ongoing support via transportation, urinalysis, mentoring and more
- Coordinated psychiatric support and medication management
SUCCESS STAT:
One MDFT agency reported seeing a 77% reduction in family violence among MDFT families in their first year of operation
SUCCESS STAT:
In a recent study, MDFT youth showed a 50% improvement in school grades in the semester following completion of the program.
SUCCESS STAT:
95% of youth in MDFT completed at least three months of treatment. Only 59% of those in a residential program did the same.
SUCCESS STAT:
More than 90% of youth referred to MDFT complete treatment.
SUCCESS STAT:
A study of youth ages 12-15 revealed that one year after treatment 93% of those in MDFT were still abstaining from using. Only 55% who received standard substance abuse treatment could say the same.
Is It Right For You?
Is your teenager difficult to talk to? Is she lying about her friends? Is he in danger of being expelled? Has she tried to run away from home?
- Understand your teenager's challenges and uncover issues that may cause them
- Feel empowered to meet the emotional needs of your child by learning new parenting techniques
- Feel motivated to truly understand one another
- Learn to create positive peer relationships and improved involvement at school
- Promote long-term change that positively transforms relationships
- Understand your teenager's challenges and uncover issues that may cause them
- Feel empowered to meet the emotional needs of your child by learning new parenting techniques
- Feel motivated to truly understand one another
- Learn to create positive peer relationships and improved involvement at school
- Promote long-term change that positively transforms relationships
Healthcare Providers: Patients may need more than medical treatment to make a full recovery.
When children struggle with substance use or mental health issues, their physical symptoms may be only part of the problem. Adolescent depression and anxiety may stem from family dysfunction.
Here are some helpful questions you may ask the patient’s parent about the child’s behavior to determine if your patient may need behavioral treatment in addition to medical treatment.
- Is your teenager behaving differently?
- Are his grades slipping?
- Has she run away from home?
- Is he lying about his friends?
- Is she regularly skipping school?
- Do you feel out of control?
Want more proof?
Read an in-depth study on the proven effectiveness of MDFT over other forms of traditional or residential treatment from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices.
To refer a family to treatment, find the nearest accredited MDFT provider.
To refer a family to treatment, find the nearest accredited MDFT provider.
To refer a family to treatment, find the nearest accredited MDFT provider.
Legislators: Supporting MDFT can positively impact your budget.
Multidimensional Family Therapy has been shown to reduce costs for states and municipalities by successfully treating teens who are struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. In fact, in places where MDFT is supported by lawmakers:
- Instances of costly residential treatment are reduced
- Few ER visits have been reported
- Less prison time is served by teens who abuse drugs and alcohol
If you determine that a family may benefit from MDFT, remind them that they are not alone and that help is available so that they can heal together.
See how implementing MDFT has helped the state of Connecticut provide more successful care at a lower cost.
To receive more information about how MDFT can positively impact your municipality or your state, email us.
To receive more information about how MDFT positively impacts your healthcare organization or municipality, email us.
To receive more information about how MDFT positively impacts your healthcare organization or municipality, email us.
