If you’re new to Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS), this is the ideal place to start. Even if you’re not new to the model, this is a good place to stay fresh on key concepts.

CPS provides a more compassionate and accurate way to understand kids with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges and a more productive way to help them.

The CPS model sets forth two major tenets:

First, social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in kids are best understood as the by‐product of lagging cognitive skills in the domains of flexibility/adaptability, frustration tolerance, and problem‐solving (rather than as attention‐seeking, manipulative, limit‐testing, or a sign of poor motivation). In other words, challenging behavior is a form of developmental delay.

Second, these challenges are best addressed by collaboratively solving the problems that are setting the stage for challenging behavior (rather than through reward and punishment programs and intensive imposition of adult will).

There are lots of ways to learn more about CPS.

✓ If you're new to the model, you'll probably want to start off by listening to some programs in which Dr. Greene describes the CPS model:

CLICK HERE to listen to an interview on Dr. Howie Gurr's program, The Shrink Is In.
CLICK HERE to read an interview on Oprah.com.
CLICK HERE to listen to a podcast interview on Parents' Perspective. 
CLICK HERE to listen to an interview on Dr. Dan Gottlieb's Voices in the Family program on National Public Radio.
CLICK HERE to listen to an interview on Freedomain Radio.

✓ Then, in the What Is Collaborative Problem Solving? section, Dr. Greene describes the basic themes and concepts of CPS in greater detail in streaming video.

✓ Once you're familiar with the basic concepts, and you're clear on the difference between Plans A, B, and C, the Plan B in Action section will help you see what Plan B looks like (and how it can run aground).

✓ There are a variety of practical issues that can pop up when the CPS model is being implemented, and the Hot Topics section should help you navigate these issues.

✓ In many places, challenging kids are still poorly understood and mistreated.  But it doesn't have to be that way, and in his periodic commentaries in The Real World section, Dr. Greene calls attention to the ways in which things can be changed for the better (and the price we all pay when we stick with the status quo).

✓ Still want more?  Dr. Greene conducts trainings for all types of caregivers with all kinds of skill levels and experience in implementing the CPS model, and they're all described on the Workshops/Training page.