Khan, N., Fox, S., & Glorney, E. (2020)

Existing research has focused on accounts of ethnic minority young people and caregivers using Multisystemic Therapy (MST), but research examining the perspectives of practitioners is lacking. Further, there has been little to advance understanding of ethnic minority groups that do not engage or complete treatment, or do not speak English. This study aimed to utilise the clinical experience of MST therapists and supervisors in order to better understand the issues facing ethnic minority families using MST, particularly those who are ‘harder to reach’.  A qualitative design using a constructivist version of grounded theory was used.  A purposive, theoretical sampling strategy led to a total of 22 participants. Data was collected from seven focus groups and one interview across three geographical regions of the United Kingdom (UK). Ten theoretical codes emerged in the current analysis, and were used to build a theoretical model to understand factors related to engagement and change for ethnic minority families.  These included: access; the family’s relationship to help; building a therapeutic alliance; family structure and functioning; acculturation and identity; the disempowered family context; working as a cultural broker; empowering families; power and language within the family; and working with interpreters. The analysis highlighted a number of novel findings. Overarchingly, this study draws attention to the systemic factors associated with power, culture and language, influencing the family’s journey through MST.