Our evidence-based approach, developed at Massachusetts General Hospital, is a big mind-shift when it comes to understanding your child’s behavior and what to do about it. Collaborative Problem Solving^® (CPS) is an evidence-based, trauma-informed practice that helps kids meet expectations, reduces concerning behavior, builds children’s skills, and improves family relationships.

You’ll learn how to partner with the children in your life to identify the triggers for their challenging behavior, and work together to produce a game plan for how to handle problems before they happen. Collaborative Problem Solving avoids using power, control, and motivational procedures. Instead, it focuses on collaborating with children to solve the problems leading to them not meeting expectations and displaying problematic behavior.

Collaborative Problem Solving is designed to meet the needs of all children at all ages, including those with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. It promotes the understanding that kids who have trouble meeting expectations or managing their behavior lack the skill—not the will—to do so. These children struggle with skills related to problem-solving, flexibility, and frustration tolerance and Collaborative Problem Solving builds these skills.

Are you tired of the meltdowns, nagging, yelling, and constant power struggles between you and your child? If behavior charts, rewards, and punishments aren't working, we know why! Research shows kids with challenging behavior lack the skill, not the will, to behave.

Traditional discipline is broken, it doesn’t result in improved behavior or improved relationships between adults and children. The Collaborative Problem Solving approach is an effective form of relational discipline that reduces concerning behavior and parent stress while building skills and relationships between adults and children.

Join one of our courses to learn more about Collaborative Problem Solving.

Our research has shown that the Collaborative Problem Solving approach helps kids and adults build crucial social-emotional skills and leads to dramatic decreases in behavior problems across various settings including schools, residential, in and outpatient treatment, and homes. Results reported by parents, pediatricians, and outpatient therapists include improved behavior and reductions in caregiver stress.

Watch these examples of Collaborative Problem Solving conversations to get an idea of what it is all about.