September 20, 2012 Ruston, LA – Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services (LUMCFS) announces a new Multisystemic Therapy (MST) in the southwest Louisiana region. MST is an in-home, family-based approach offering personalized, intense therapy to troubled adolescents ages 11-18. The agency, which also owns and operates Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana, is excited to provide this new treatment service for families in Lake Charles and the surrounding areas.

While a permanent location is being prepared at University United Methodist Church in Lake Charles, the MST offices are located on the grounds of Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana in Sulphur. Troy Luttgeharm, Director of MST Services for LUMCFS, says Rev. Charlie Langford of University UMC has been very welcoming to the MST team slated to move in the coming months. The MST program is available to families within a 45 minute drive from Lake Charles.

MST is a program dedicated to fulfilling the agency’s mission of “Guiding Children and Families Home to Experience God’s Love by Following the Teachings of Christ.” The new MST team, comprised of Team Supervisor/Therapist Anne Fournet, LPC, LMFT; Jennifer Lovvorn, MA, Counselor Intern; and Abigail Tellifero, MSW, is available to provide services immediately.

MST assists families in their own homes in order to stabilize a family, assist parents, and prevent the out-of-home placement of a child or adolescent. MST helps youth by providing counseling they need to continue living at home. Therapy is also focused on helping the parents build on the community resources available to support the family during their period of stress. In addition to providing services to youth and families in their homes, MST is effective in the re-unification process for youth who are returning home from residential treatment facilities.

Luttgeharm says, “Serving the Southwest area of Louisiana is an expansion of our existing program which has been very successful since its beginning in 2006. In 2011 we were able to assist 72 troubled youth and their families across the state. Those 70 children remained with their families. We are looking forward to the opportunity to make a similar positive impact with families in Southwest Louisiana who need our unique services.”

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