Collaborative Problem Solving® (CPS): How to Recognize and Solve Problems That Cause Challenging Behavior

SPED*NET in partnership with Wilton Public Schools, Wilton Library and Newtown Sped PTA presents a discussion to inform parents of children with challenging behaviors.

Kids with challenging behaviors are often misunderstood and mistreated. Rewards and punishments sometimes make things worse. Helping these kids requires understanding why and when they struggle in the first place.

The Collaborative Problem Solving® (CPS) approach is based on the understanding that kids do well if they can. Unlike traditional models of discipline, CPS avoids the use of power, control, and motivational procedures. It targets reducing challenging behavior by teaching at-risk kids, from toddlers through young adults, the skills they lack and building relationships with the adults in their lives.

CPS was developed by Think:Kids, an internationally recognized program led by Dr. Stuart Ablon (Mass General Hospital Dept. of Psychiatry). The CPS model, originally described by Dr. Ross Greene in his book The Explosive Child, has been further developed and described for clinical populations in several books, including Treating Explosive Kids, by Greene and Ablon, and Changeable, by Ablon.

Divinna Schmitt, MEd, was trained in CPS with Greene and received her CPS Certification with Ablon. Since then, she has taught parents and caregivers how to apply this life-changing approach at home.

In this presentation, Schmitt will guide parents through the principles and skills-building of CPS, including:
1. Understanding why a child sometimes struggles to meet day-to-day expectations;
2. Identifying triggers to a child’s challenging behaviors as well as identifying skills that a child needs help developing;
3. Addressing conflicts in a way that reduces challenging behaviors, improves relationships, and teaches critical skills;
4. Dealing with problems before a behavior situation becomes escalated; and
5. Building skills such as flexibility, frustration tolerance, and problem-solving.

Register online.