Collaborative Problem Solving

Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) is an approach to understanding and helping children with behavioral challenges that was first articulated by Dr. Ross Greene in his book, The Explosive Child (1998; 2001; 2005; 2010), then described in a book for mental health clinicians by Dr. Ross Greene and Dr. Stuart Ablon (Treating Explosive Kids, 2006), and then for educators in Dr. Greene's book Lost at School (2008, 2010). The CPS model views behavioral challenges as a form of learning disability or developmental delay -- in other words, behaviorally challenging kids are lacking crucial cognitive skills, especially in the domains of flexibility, frustration tolerance, and problem-solving -- and seeks to create fundamental changes in interactions between kids with behavioral challenges and their adult caregivers by having caregivers engage kids in solving problems collaboratively rather than by using motivational procedures. While studied primarily in children with oppositional defiant disorder, it has been suggested for behavior management in youth with a variety of behavioral challenges, including youth with bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Asperger's disorder, and conduct disorder, and has been implemented and studied in many settings including families, schools, inpatient psychiatry units, and residential and juvenile detention facilities.