Family-Based Drug Services for Young Disaster Victims

MDFT assesses and intervenes in four domains to address comorbid substance abuse and trauma symptoms: 1) adolescent, 2) parent, 3) family, and 4) external systems. MDFT therapists will address trauma symptoms among both teens and parents, aiming to improve coping and reduce the impact of stress on the family. Consistent with a multidimensional approach, MDFT trauma-focused interventions address the needs of both youth and their parents, and MDFT therapists seek collaboration and advocacy from school and court personnel.

Trauma symptoms will be addressed using techniques designed to reduce cognitions that maintain anxiety and depressive symptoms and improve coping, such as cognitive restructuring, gradual exposure, and helping teens to understand and accept reminders of the event and ongoing stressors (Pynoos et al, 1998).