Integration of Expressive Techniques in Multisystemic Therapy With At-Risk Adolescents: A Retrospective Case Analysis

Abstract

The multisystemic therapy (MST) treatment model is derived from social ecological theory, through which known risk and protective factors of ecological systems are identified by indirect and direct contribution to at-risk behaviors. However, youth with emotional disturbances postdischarge from residential treatment facilities are often referred to MST due to managed care organizations extending beyond the once identified population of juvenile offenders. Consequently, MST works within the ecological system at which an integration of MST and expressive techniques (ETs) can occur in order to simultaneously work within the individual system. In this article, we discuss the foundation of MST and present a retrospective case analysis of the integration of MST and ETs. We discuss limitations and future research considerations.