Imagine: A Promise Scholars and McNair Scholars Journal

Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) is an intervention that supports adolescents struggling with substance abuse, emphasizing improved family communication and restructuring of behavior problems. It provides a family-based approach to treating adolescent substance abuse and addressing mental/behavioral health problems. While most MDFT literature focuses on English- speaking populations, evaluating the therapy's effectiveness in Spanish-only, bilingual (Spanish and English), and trilingual (Mixtec, Spanish, and English) households is crucial. This study involves qualitative interviews with three (N=3) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists that reveal key themes surrounding the practice of MDFT, including cultural competence, family dynamics, language in therapy, and interventions for parental reconnection. The prevalence of these themes became more apparent as data was collected, highlighting how often other therapists might come across such themes through their practicum and practice. Data collection included interviews that were qualitatively coded and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Clinicians highlighted disparities between their formal training and the policies at their practicum sites, specifically regarding cultural awareness, power shifts in families, resource translation, lack of support for Spanish-speaking populations, and lack of trust towards Spanish-speaking clinicians. These findings call for further investigation to enhance treatment outcomes for bilingual and trilingual families.