Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT)

BSFT is an effective, family-focused, and evidence-based approach to the elimination of substance abuse risk factors in children and adolescents, six to 17 years old. BSFT helps the families of rebellious, truant, delinquent or substance-using youth identify the conduct that has supported the adolescent's anti-social behavior and develop new, more functional patterns.

BSFT recognizes that the family itself is part of a larger social system (as a child is influenced by her or his family) and the family is influenced by the larger social system in which it exists. Sensitivity to contextual factors begins with an understanding of the influence of peers, schools, and neighborhoods on the development of children's behavior problems.

• BSFT evolved from more than 25 years of research and practice at the University of Miami in Florida, and has proven particularly successful with Latino and African-American families.
• The goal of BSFT is to improve youth behavior by improving family relationships that are presumed to be directly related to youth behavior problems and improving relationships between the family and other important systems that influence the youth (e.g., school, peers).
• Case managers provide comprehensive assessment services. They establish pro-social opportunities for youth in the community and help youth identify appropriate employment resources.
• Therapists use reframing techniques based upon their own strengths, and assign parents as well as youth. Sessions association with antisocial peers, problematic family relations.
• Interventions are practical. That tailored to the unique characteristics implemented to achieve attainable earn privileges by contracting to are set cooperatively by the family, and juvenile probation staff.
• BSFT is a short-term, problem- average treatment includes approximately and lasts about three months.