Collaborative Problem Solving® (CPS)
Problems addressed
Externalizing behaviors/problems
Internalizing behaviors/problems
Low social–emotional competences
Effectiveness

Promising

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Promising

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Life periods served
Children (4 to 13 years)
Teenagers (14 to 17 years)
Where the program was applied
Education establishment
Country of application
United States
Description

This is a therapy program for children and adolescents with behavioral problems and/or who have been diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. The aim of the approach is to teach neurocognitive skills that encourage problem-solving, flexibility, and tolerance to frustration.
Unlike traditional disciplinary models, this approach avoids the use of power, control, and motivational procedures.
The program has three modalities, depending on the needs of the participants:
1) Family therapy sessions, with or without the children/adolescents, which usually take place weekly for approximately 10-12 weeks;
2) Parent training for four to eight weeks; and
3) Direct work with children/adolescents in treatment or in an educational setting.

Impact evaluations

Impact evaluation studies have shown that participation in the program was associated with a reduction in negative externalizing and internalizing behaviors, and in the need for restrictive interventions (restraint and isolation) among the children and adolescents participating in the program [1]. The results indicate that there were significant reductions in parental stress and significant improvements in children’s executive functioning and parental empathy. These improvements were greater for parents with greater participation in the program [2].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Greene, R. W., Ablon, J. S., & Hassuk, B., Regan, K. M., & Martin, A. (2006). Use of Collaborative Problem Solving to reduce seclusion and restraint in child and adolescent inpatient units. Psychiatric Services, 57(5), 610–612. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.57.5.610

[2] Heath, G. H., Fife–Schaw, C., Wang, L., Eddy, C. J., Hone, M. J., & Pollastri, A. R. (2020). Collaborative Problem Solving reduces children's emotional and behavioral difficulties and parenting stress: Two key mechanisms. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 76(7), 1226–1240. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22946

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