--- title: What Would the Judge Do with this Troubled Teen? description: Will this judge place a 14 year-old girl? Her mom is at her wit's end, until her MST therapist helps turn the family around. Read more. --- Search Search [![MST Logo New With Tagline](https://info.mstservices.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MST%20Logo%20New%20With%20Tagline.png?width=1455&height=268&name=MST%20Logo%20New%20With%20Tagline.png "MST Logo New With Tagline")](https://mstservices.com/) # [What Would the Judge Do with this Troubled Teen?](https://info.mstservices.com/blog/judge-decides-teens-fate) Posted by [Nicole Saunders](https://info.mstservices.com/blog/author/nicole-saunders) Jan 15, 2016 10:00:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## Would "K" be better off in placement, or could MST help keep her with her family? It was a case of “what would it take?” What would be the tipping point that would make a judge decide to send an incorrigible young girl to placement or leave her at home? Before the judge stood a 14-year-old K who had exhibited many of the behaviors of an out-of-control youth. She couldn’t control her anger. She went missing for long periods of time and had substance-abuse problems. She was aggressive toward her family and disrespected her mother—to the point her mom had had enough and was throwing in the towel. She *wanted* the judge to remove her daughter from her home. Then, MST entered the picture, and a therapist started working with K and her family. To help K be successful at home, in school, and at work, her therapist guided the family into developing a positive home-school link and a positive connection with K’s employer, a Youth Urban Program. Linking these systems meant that K was held accountable and supported her success. The family instituted a set of consistent rewards and consequences for the girl’s actions and most importantly, found a way to improve communication between mother and daughter. Mom developed skills to deliver feedback to K— learning to exist and wait, using a positive tone of voice, and making her expectations clear. On her part, K learned, through interventions at home and work, to take instructions from adults. She experienced a positive environment and was given a “fresh start.” ## **Was this enough to keep K out of placement?** So what would the judge decide? After all, K had gotten in trouble outside of the home. Was she a threat to the community? Her MST therapist came up with an idea. Get K’s employer to write a letter saying K was becoming a productive and responsible citizen, and with the help and support of her MST therapist, K could remain in the community.  The judge ruled it would be best for everyone if the girl stayed with her family. He told the MST therapist that the letter was a major factor in his decision. Asking for a letter was a smart move by the therapist. She saw how well K was doing at work, and knew if the judge and the family could see K in the same way, there would be hope for the family that things were moving in the right direction. The letter itself demonstrated just how far K had come—and how far she could go.  One of MST’s [Nine Principles](https://mstservices.com/what-is-mst/nine-principles) is increasing responsibility by designing interventions that promote responsible behavior and decrease irresponsible actions. K’s story is a good demonstration of this principle.  *Nicole Saunders is an MST therapist at the [Providence Center ](https://providencecenter.org/)in Rhode Island.*   ## To learn more about MST's impact on siblings, download this white paper. 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