What is Multisystemic Therapy?

MST is a strengths based programme that addresses serious anti-social behaviours in young people by working with their whanau/family, communities, peers and other agencies involved (e.g. School, Youth Aid, Child Youth and Family Services etc). The ultimate goal of Multisystemic Therapy is to enable parents with the skills and resources needed to independently address the difficulties that arise in raising teenagers. Multisystemic Therapy goals are largely accomplished through the mobilisation of informal child, family, and community resources that support the long-term treatment gains

What do we do?

We work intensively for a period of up to 20 weeks to:

• Set realistic and achievable goals
• Created plans that are individually tailored to each family
• Support and empower whanau/families to implement plans
• Ensure that all interventions are sustainable once we have completed the 20 weeks

Staff are committed to working flexible hours which suit the whanau/family and we provide a 24 hour on call service. We currently provide Multisystemic Therapy in Whanganui, Mid Central and Hawkes Bay.

Want to make a referral?

Anyone can refer to our service, however the young person/Rangatahi must

• Be between the ages of 10-17
• Live in a stable placement (home or other) with caregivers who want them to be at home
• Have a current Alcohol or Drug issue (Does not need to be formally diagnosed)

Rangatahi may also have a number of other behaviours such as truancy, offending, verbal or physical aggression etc. All of these behaviours are appropriate for our service.

Exclusion criteria include:

• Any Rangatahi who falls within the Autistic Spectrum
• Any Rangatahi who is actively suicidal, homicidal or psychotic

 If you would like any more information or would like to speak to someone about making a referral please call the Multisystemic Therapy Service Manager, Rhiannon Outen 0800 288 222 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The ultimate goal of Multisystemic Therapy is to enable parents with the skills and resources needed to independently address the difficulties that arise in raising teenagers and to empower youth to cope with family, peer, school, and neighbourhood problems. Multisystemic Therapy goals are largely accomplished through the mobilisation of informal child, family, and community resources that support the long-term treatment gains.