About Collaborative Problem Solving®
The Collaborative Problem Solving® approach (CPS), developed in Think:Kids, a program in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General, Teaching Hospital of Harvard Medical School.
CPS is a strength-based, neurobiologically-grounded, developmentally aware and trauma sensitive model and provides a revolutionary new way of understanding, treating, and parenting kids who have chronic behavioral struggles. The core philosophy is that all kids want to do well and will do well if they can – that kids with chronic behavioral challenges lack skill, not will.
CPS is not a conventional behaviorist parenting strategy, it is a relational discipline. With this model, which is rooted in the latest neuroscience, parents learn how to partner with their children to identify the problems that lead to the undesirable behaviors and together, make a plan for how to solve them proactively. This process helps kids meet parents’ expectations, reduces challenging behaviors such as defiance, hostility, aggression, lying, disrespect, explosive meltdowns and more while builds their skills like frustration tolerance, flexibility, and problem solving. Meanwhile, parents report less stress and improved relationship with their children. CPS empowers both child and parent.
CPS is a flexible model, designed to accommodate the needs of any child, regardless of their diagnosis.
If you have tried everything and nothing seems to work and looking to implement a parenting philosophy and model that is effective and feels good to both you and your child, the Collaborative Problem Solving approach will meet your expectations.
You can learn more about Collaborative Problem Solving here.
Watch this Tedx Talk about CPS by Dr. Ablon, Director of Think:Kids:
CPS is Science-Based
Collaborative Problem Solving has been shown to be an effective model in a variety of settings, including schools, inpatient psychiatry, residential treatment facilities, juvenile detention, and homes. I am sharing research relevant to parenting below. You can find more research about CPS, here.
Wang, L., Stoll, S., Hone, M., Ablon, J. S., & Pollastri, A. R. (2022). Effects of a Collaborative Problem Solving parent group on parent and child outcomes. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, online first
Heath, G. H., Fife‐Schaw, C., Wang, L., Eddy, C. J., Hone, M. J., & Pollastri, A. R. (2020). Collaborative Problem Solving reduces children’s emotional and behavioral difficulties and parenting stress: Two key mechanisms. Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Pollastri, A. R., Epstein, L. D., Heath, G. H., & Ablon, J. S. (2013). The Collaborative Problem Solving approach: Outcomes across settings. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 21(4), 188-199.
Epstein, T., & Saltzman-Benaiah, J. (2010). Parenting children with disruptive behaviors:Evaluation of a Collaborative Problem Solving pilot program. Journal of Clinical Psychology Practice, 1(1), 27-40.
CPS Is For Everyone
Many parents question whether CPS is a helpful parenting approach for them if their children are neurotypical, and don’t have explosive meltdowns, just the typical kid behaviors. This uncertainty comes from the fact that the CPS approach was created for families of kids with the most challenging behaviors back in the 90s because conventional disciplinary strategies did not work for them. But CPS is appropriate for any parent who desires to build a connective and trusting relationship with their children and prefers a collaborative approach to solving everyday challenges instead of using power and control. CPS is a good fit for parents who want to break the cycle of punitive discipline and instead implement a relational discipline that actually helps kids learn the skills they need. CPS is for parents who have their children’s mental health and long term thriving at the forefront of their mind. CPS is a model for families of children 3 years and older regardless of diagnoses.
And last but not least, Collaborative Problem Solving is a good fit for families who value empathy, compassion, equity, and responsibility.
I teach CPS Parent Classes in Minnesota, and offer coaching for parents who are already familiar with CPS, globally.
If you believe that the Collaborative Problem Solving approach to discipline is the right fit for your family, or if you have more questions, please get in touch by clicking the button below.
Coming Up
*Parent Class in Collaborative Problem Solving®; the January 2025 class registration is closed. Next class will probably take place in May. Email Julianna at ContactCrisisMom@gmail.com to be notified of class announcement.
Join a small group of parents for this 6-week interactive, supportive class to learn how to address challenging behaviors, build skills, and strengthen your relationship with your children. Click the button below for more information and to register.
* For parents, guardians, caregivers in Minnesota.
