Multisystemic Therapy (MST)

MST is for families with a young person between the ages of 12 to 17 with serious behavioural problems and at risk of going into care. MST therapists provide the young person and their parents with individual and family therapy over a four to six month period with the aim of doing ‘whatever it takes’ to improve the family’s functioning and the young person’s behaviour.

MST has strong evidence of improving family functioning and reducing youth offending and out-of-home placements.

About the ratings

Programmes are rated on meeting certain criteria – 4 stars meet all criteria and 0 none. The criteria for each programme covers target audience, programme content, training and implementation, and evaluation evidence. Parenting programmes need to score at least in all categories, however the most successful inventions score between and .