What is MDFT

The Proven Family-Centered
Treatment for Youth

MDFT transforms lives through family-centered treatment for youth struggling with mental health and other challenges. It gives parents hope and tangible help and enables youth to create a positive lifestyle.

 

Through MDFT, youth and their family will communicate more effectively, function better day-to-day, and ultimately grow closer and stronger together.

MDFT addresses a range of youth behavior challenges including:

  • Substance Misuse

  • Mental Health

  • Crime & Delinquency

  • Antisocial & Aggressive Behaviors

  • School & Family Problems

  • Emotional Difficulties

Our Therapists Use a Unique Approach to Meet the Multidimensional Problems Youth Face

Learn more about how MDFT works

Who MDFT Serves

MDFT serves youth with a wide array of challenges between the ages of 10-26 and their families. MDFT does not exclude families with domestic violence or parents with substance misuse or mental health disorders. It broadly defines the “parent/caregiver” role to reflect the variety of family situations and dynamics.

See all the various settings MDFT is being implemented here.

A Proven & Practical Science-based Intervention

 

MDFT has more than 30 years of rigorous research that proves its efficacy, and the widespread adoption of MDFT demonstrates its feasibility. Today, clinicians implement and sustain MDFT programs in over 150 public and private settings throughout the U.S. and Europe. In addition to its strong research outcomes, MDFT is embraced by youth, parents, therapists, and community collaborators.

The Objectives of MDFT are to:

Reduce

  • Substance Misuse

  • Mental Health Symptoms

  • Aggressive Behavior

  • Negative Peer Relationships

  • Crime & Delinquency

  • Out of Home Placement

Enhance

  • School Performance

  • Family Functioning & Stability

  • Prosocial Involvement

  • Positive Peer Relationships

MDFT Strives to Achieve These Objectives by Promoting Change:

  • Within the hearts and minds of youth

  • In how parents relate to and influence their children

  • In how the family solves problems and loves one another

  • In the family's interactions with school, juvenile justice, and their community

MDFT interventions are collaborative and treatment emphasizes compassion and respect from highly trained clinicians.