Kids lack skill not will
The Collaborative Problem Solving® approach is a strength-based, neurobiologically-grounded model that starts with the philosophy that all kids want to do well and will do well if they can—that kids lack skill, not will.
Challenging behavior is linked with deficits in areas of neurocognitive skill such as social cognition, attention and working memory, emotion and self-regulation, cognitive flexibility, and executive functioning. To help students manage their behavior, interventions should focus less on rewards and consequences and more on building skills. CPS helps adults shift their mindset from the view that kids do well if they want to and instead the view that kids do well if they can.
The CPS® approach is designed to support children and adolescents (as well as adults) at home, in schools, foster care and therapeutic/residential settings.
What does CPS look like?
These results have been reported for children who have completed The Collaborative Problem Solving® Program
%
reduction in school office referrals
%
average reduction in use of seclusions
%
reduction in oppositional behaviors during school
%
fewer self-inflicted injuries
%
of teachers reported less stress
%
increase in student attendance
%
of children exhibited improved behavior
%
of pediatricians noted much/very much improvement at 6 month follow up
Significant reduction in parents’ stress
Significant improvement in children’s executive functioning skills
ADHD and ODD symptoms decreased significantly post-treatment
Significant improvement in parent-child interactions