Shows
The CPS PodcastEmpowering Voices: Previewing The Children's Mental Health Advocacy ConferenceIn this episode of the CPS Podcast, Dr. Ross Greene and Ben Jones discuss the upcoming Children's Mental Health Advocacy Conference, the current issues in children's mental health advocacy, and the opportunities for community involvement. They highlight recent legislative successes and challenges, particularly regarding corporal punishment and restraint in schools, and emphasize the importance of grassroots advocacy efforts. The conversation underscores the need for continued advocacy and legislative change to protect children's rights and well-being. You can register for the CMHAC here and be sure to check out our advocacy Take Action page here.
2025-10-0336 minThe CPS PodcastAre the Kids OK?Check out the May 2025 episode of the CPS Podcast - Are the Kids OK? Dr. Ross Greene and Dr. Narov Shaw explore the question “Are the kids ok?” by unpacking the rising stressors kids face in a rapidly changing world, from social media and school shootings to shifting social roles, while reminding us that many kids are still doing well. They emphasize that mental health struggles are human responses to stress and that it’s hard to pin down single causes, given the layered and nuanced nature of these challenges. They caution that correlation (e.g., social media user with anxiety...
2025-07-011h 27The CPS PodcastPassion, perseverance…and problem solvingDr. Ross Greene and Kim Hopkins explore the definition of grit and the fact that a lot of literature explaining how to teach grit leaves out the important role of problem solving first...
2024-12-1929 minThe CPS PodcastUS Dept of Ed's Words of Wisdom: Do More of the SameThe US Department of Education recently released guidance suggesting that FBAs should be completed on all students. Dr. Ross Greene and our Director of Legal & Policy Initiatives, Ben Jones, J.D., discuss where this idea falls short, what can be done instead, and how the USDOE became so wedded to PBIS. We also have time to address one parent's email regarding a 4-year-old who is having difficulty with the word "stop."
2024-11-2645 minThe CPS PodcastShould FBAs be done on all students?The US Department of Education recently released guidance suggesting that FBAs should be completed on all students. Dr. Ross Greene and our Director of Legal & Policy Initiatives, Ben Jones, J.D., discuss the purpose of this idea, where it falls short, and what can be done instead. We also have time to address one parent's email regarding doing the model with a 4-year-old who is often in their siblings' space.
2024-11-2634 minThe CPS PodcastThe CPS PodcastOn the first Tuesday of every month, at 11 am Eastern time, from September through May, Dr. Ross Greene and Lives in the Balance Director of Outreach Kim Hopkins cover a wide range of topics related to children’s concerning behaviors in general and the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model in particular. You can call in to the program to get your questions answered or submit them via email here. And, if you can't listen live, all the programs are archived on i-Tunes.
Today's program -- Voices of the Neurodivergent Community: What We Need You to Know -- features an interview with J...
2023-11-1445 minThe CPS PodcastDe-escalation is Not Crisis PreventionOn the first Tuesday of every month, at 11 am Eastern time, from September through May, Dr. Ross Greene and Lives in the Balance Director of Outreach Kim Hopkins cover a wide range of topics related to how we understand and treat our kids -- especially those with concerning behavior -- and the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model. Whether you're a parent, a grandparent, an educator, a mental health clinician, or just someone who cares about kids, you can call into the program to get your questions answered or submit them via email here. And, if you can't listen live, all th...
2023-09-0543 minThe CPS PodcastThe CPS Podcast: De-escalation is Not Crisis PreventionOn the first Tuesday of every month, at 11 am Eastern time, from September through May, Dr. Ross Greene and Lives in the Balance Director of Outreach Kim Hopkins cover a wide range of topics related to how we understand and treat our kids -- especially those with concerning behavior -- and the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model. Whether you're a parent, a grandparent, an educator, a mental health clinician, or just someone who cares about kids, you can call into the program to get your questions answered or submit them via email here. And, if you can't listen live, all th...
2023-09-0544 minThe CPS PodcastParenting Your Challenging ChildOn the first Tuesday of every month, at 11 am Eastern time, from September through May, Dr. Ross Greene and Lives in the Balance Director of Outreach Kim Hopkins-Betts – along with parents Stella Hastings and Jennifer Tretheway -- cover a wide range of topics related to behaviorally challenging kids in general and the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model in particular. You can call into the program to get your questions answered or submit them via email here. And, if you can't listen live, all the programs are archived in the Listening Library on the Lives in the Balance website and on i-Tunes.
2021-03-0245 minThe CPS PodcastParenting Your Challenging ChildOn the second Tuesday of every month, at 11 am Eastern time, from September through May, Dr. Ross Greene and Lives in the Balance Director of Outreach Kim Hopkins-Betts – along with parents Stella Hastings and Jennifer Tretheway -- cover a wide range of topics related to behaviorally challenging kids in general and the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model in particular. You can call into the program to get your questions answered or submit them via email here. And, if you can't listen live, all the programs are archived in the Listening Library on the Lives in the Balance website and on i-Tunes.
2020-11-1045 minThe CPS PodcastBack to School Podcast for ParentsWhether the schools in your neck of the woods are opening or not, the pandemic continues to present parents with major challenges. Here's your opportunity to vent, ask questions, and share ideas, and get some guidance from Dr. Greene, Kim Hopkins-Betts, and Deb Hagler, M.D.
2020-08-191h 00The CPS PodcastFireside Chat with Dr. GreeneCOVID-19 is clearly a formidable disease, and many have suffered because of it. And the pandemic has definitely added some new expectations to the mix for kids, parents, and educators: too much togetherness, distance learning, and social distancing among them. Yet the way to approach these expectations -- especially if kids are having diffiuclty meeting them -- has been there all along. So, with apologies for the silver lining, these trying times do present us with an opportunity to model and practice some pretty importand things...
2020-05-221h 29The CPS PodcastDiscussion of The Kids We Lose with Dr. Ross GreeneThanks for participating in the free screening of The Kids We Lose. This one-hour, online discussion with Dr. Ross Greene is your chance to ask questions about or comment on the film. To participate in the discussion directly, call (347) 994-2981.
2020-05-1559 minThe CPS PodcastScreen "addiction," aggression, & kid not talkingDr. Greene discussed the concept of screen "addiction" and whether Plan B can be helpful (it can!). We also answered an email from a mom struggling with an aggressive 5 year old, and a family where the child will not talk to mom.
2019-03-0544 minThe CPS PodcastSkill building, the dreaded cell phone, kids not listening and refusingOn the first Monday of every month, at 11 am Eastern time, from September through May, Dr. Ross Greene and Lives in the Balance Director of Outreach Kim Hopkins-Betts – along with parents Stella Hastings and Jennifer Tretheway -- cover a wide range of topics related to behaviorally challenging kids in general and the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model in particular. You can call into the program to get your questions answered or submit them via email here. And, if you can't listen live, all the programs are archived in the Listening Library on the Lives in the Balance website or through i-Tunes.
2018-05-0145 minThe CPS PodcastReflections on the Parkland Tragedy & Other Hot TopicsDr. Greene joined in the program today to offer reflections on the Parkland tragedy, and to partake in our continued discussion about what to do when your co-parent is not on board with CPS, as well as can you do CPS with young kids?
2018-03-0645 min
Dr. Ross GreeneHelping Behaviorally Challenging StudentsOn the first Monday of every month at 3:30 pm Eastern time, from September through May, Dr. Ross Greene and four principals from schools in the U.S. and Canada cover a wide range of topics related to behaviorally challenging students and school discipline in general and Dr. Greene's Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model in particular. You can call into the program to get your questions answered or submit them via email here. And, if you can't listen live, all the programs are archived in the Listening Library on the Lives in the Balance website or through i-Tunes.
2017-11-2046 min
Dr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastHelping Behaviorally Challenging StudentsOn the first Monday of every month at 3:30 pm Eastern time, from September through May, Dr. Ross Greene and four principals from schools in the U.S. and Canada cover a wide range of topics related to behaviorally challenging students and school discipline in general and Dr. Greene's Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model in particular. You can call into the program to get your questions answered or submit them via email here. And, if you can't listen live, all the programs are archived in the Listening Library on the Lives in the Balance website or through i-Tunes.
2017-11-2045 minThe CPS PodcastBringing the Joy Back to ParentingOn our first program of the new broadcast year, Dr. Greene welcomed his new co-hosts, Kim Hopkins-Betts (Director of Outreach at Lives in the Balance) and Jennifer, a B Team leader and parent. They were able to respond to several emails, including one from a mom who's been struggling with her behaviorally challenging 14-year old daughter for a very long time and who hasn't experienced much joy as a parent in recent memory.
2017-09-0546 minThe CPS PodcastAll Siblings Fight...Right?On this, our first program of fall, 2016, Dr. Greene and Susy responded to lots of questions, including several about how to use Plan B on problems causing conflict between siblings.
2016-09-1245 minThe CPS PodcastGive Your Kid the FingersYes, the title of this program might have thrown you off, but if kids are having difficulty expressing their concerns in the Empathy step of Plan B, Dr. Greene's five finger method is worth knowing about. And you can learn about it in his responses to today's callers...
2016-03-1445 minThe CPS PodcastPathological Demand AvoidanceAs usual, lots of territory covered on today's program, including a discussion about an increasingly known psychiatric diagnosis, Pathological Demand Avoidance. And, as usual, Dr. Greene wasn't shy in pointing out the limitis of psychiatric disorder, PDA included.
2016-03-0745 minThe CPS Podcast"I'm Afraid I'm Losing My Kids"Among the parents Dr. Greene and Susy responded to on today's program was a mom who's been struggling with her children's behavioral challenges for a long time and feels they're slipping away.
2015-12-0744 min
Dr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastSeismic Shift: Focusing on Problems Rather Than BehaviorsDr. Greene and the principals focused on a variety of topics, but probably the biggest: the importance of shifting away from focusing on behaviors (and modifying them) and toward the problems giving rise to those behaviors (and solving them).
2014-10-2046 min
The CPS PodcastWhat's More Informative? The Diagnoses or Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problems?Susy and Dr. Greene covered a lot of ground on today's program, including helping a mom whose daughter has been diagnosed with generalized and social anxiety get more focused on her daughter's specific lagging skills and unsolved problems.
2014-10-2045 minThe CPS PodcastWhat Is Challenging Behavior Communicating?Well, Parenting Your Challenging Child is back on the air for another nine months, and Dr. Greene and his new co-host, Susy, kicked things off by responding to emails from several parents and a parent who called in...all seeking guidance on how to apply the CPS model to their challenging kids. Key theme of the day: though challenging behavior is very concerning and stressful, it's really just a very unpleasant way for a child to communicate that he or she is lacking the skills to handle certain demands and expectations.
2014-09-0845 minThe CPS PodcastHow Do the Skills Get Taught?As always, lots of territory was covered on today's program, including a call from an overwhelmed mom who wanted to know how to get started on helping her behaviorally challenging child. But, early on, Dr. Greene explained how skills are taught when you're solving problems collaboratively. And at the end of the program, he reminded us that adults learn skills through the same process.
2014-04-1445 minThe CPS PodcastParenting Your Challenging ChildParenting is really hard, but it's especially hard if you're the parent of a child with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. There's so much advice being thrown your way, a lot of it telling you to be more firm, more consistent, and more diligent with the rewards and punishments. If all those sticker charts, time-outs, screaming matches, arguments have you feeling like a lot of parents do -- isolated, frustrated, and desperate -- well, you've found a program that can help. On this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (C...
2014-03-3143 minThe CPS PodcastCaught Up in the DiagnosesDr. Greene made his way through lots of email today, and there was a key them that cut across many of them: while psychiatric diagnoses can be useful in some ways, identifying your child's lagging skills and unsolved problems is almost always more informative and productive.
2014-03-2445 minThe CPS PodcastWhy Won't He Talk To Us?Lots of good info on today's program. We heard back from last week's mom, who was starting to organize the effort in working on her son's behavioral challenges. Dr. Greene also answered a bunch of questions he received via email, including one from a mom who's wondering why her son won't talk to her when she's trying to gather information in the Empathy step of Plan B.
2014-03-1044 minThe CPS PodcastCan I Still Do the Old Stuff?Many parents wonder if they need to completely drop their old ways of doing things when they're implementing Dr. Greene's CPS model, and the Educators Panel had some ideas about that...and then responded to a very distressed mom looking for some guidance.
2014-03-0345 minThe CPS PodcastRaised on Plan A, Trying to Roll with Plan BDr. Greene answered lots of emailed questions on today's program, including one from two parents who were themselves raised on Plan A, recognize that Plan A isn't working for their behaviorally challenging child, are doing their best to roll with Plan B, and finding the road to be rocky.
2014-01-2745 minThe CPS PodcastAt the Fork in the RoadWhat do you do when Plan A keeps backfiring but you want to feel like you still have some control as a parent? That's the gist of what today's first caller was asking...and Dr. Greene's answer was "Plan B". That mom has her work cut out for her...but at least she's starting to become clear on the fact that Plan A isn't getting the job done.
2014-01-1344 minThe CPS PodcastPrioritizing Unsolved ProblemsOn the last show before the New Year, Dr. Greene answers some parent email questions. Topics discussed include redefining descriptions of behaviorally challenging kids in a more helpful way, initiating conversations about very specific topics, and prioritizing problems that may be best solved after more information is gathered.
2013-12-1645 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastBuilding MomentumDr. Greene and Educators Panel answered some email questions from listeners this week who are in the beginning stages of implemention. Topics included the patchwork of behavioral techniques, how to convince colleagues to change their lenses and the pros and cons of having a principal involved in the core group (which both panelists are heavily in favor of).
2013-12-0942 minThe CPS PodcastPlan B with TeensPlan B with a teenager may require some special considerations, like how to deal with skepticism (and eye-rolling) from your teen as you start out with the model. Dr. Greene offers a caller some advice on how to implement the model with her teenage daughter, stressing the importance of drilling, the usefulness of theories, and how to introduce the model after years of Plan A.
2013-11-2545 minThe CPS PodcastExploring Other Forms of CommunicationDr. Greene catches up on some email questions sent in by Parents. Topics discussed include using resources to encourage educators to change the lenses with which they view behaviorally challenging children, using Plan B with nonverbal children, and recognizing that not all kids (even in the same family) respond to the same parenting style. Dr. Greene also shares his thoughts on violent video games.
2013-11-1844 minThe CPS PodcastBuilding TrustDr. Greene is joined by our Parents Panel today, who help field concerns from live callers. The first caller reports her success in having Plan B conversations with her son, which have increased the level of trust in their relationship and taught her about her own lagging skills. Anna echoes this phenomenon, that Plan B allows both child and caregiver to examine and improve on their own lagging skills, including the importance of flexibility for both parties. Our parents panel offers the practical suggestion of implementing Plan B for low priority unsolved problem in order to practice the model as...
2013-11-0445 minThe CPS PodcastBack to BasicsOn this episode, we hear from two live callers who are trying the model, as well as a parent who is at the end of her rope with daughter’s challenging behavior. Dr. Greene troubleshoots, reminding us of the importance of the Empathy Step. Skepticism (i.e., I think my kid is lying about his concern) can cause a kid to become defensive and stymie the collaborative process. So skepticism means more drilling is necessary. The callers highlight the importance of being patient in learning how to implement Plan B. Dr. Greene reassures them that while the learning model may ta...
2013-10-2844 minThe CPS PodcastChanging LensesThe difficulties of behaviorally challenging kids tend to be complex, which can be further complicated when caregivers or educators are not viewing the kid through a prism of lagging skills and unsolved problems. On this program, we hear a parent's sincere concerns regarding the challenge of getting educators and other caregivers to change their lenses. Dr. Greene also dishes advice for a caller who is attempting Plan B with his 3.5 year old son on how to adapt the model to a child's developmental communication skills.
2013-10-2145 min
Dr. Ross GreeneHelping Behaviorally Challenging Students How do we do a better job of understanding and helping students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in our schools...while simultaneously feeling like we're "holding kids accountable"...while attending to the diverse needs of other students...while trying to make sure they all do well on high-stakes testing? Not by simply increasing detentions, suspensions, and expulsions or referring behaviorally challenging kids into the judicial system! In this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School, and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach -- helps you view challenging behavior in a mo...
2013-10-0727 min
Dr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastHelping Behaviorally Challenging StudentsHow do we do a better job of understanding and helping students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in our schools...while simultaneously feeling like we're "holding kids accountable"...while attending to the diverse needs of other students...while trying to make sure they all do well on high-stakes testing? Not by simply increasing detentions, suspensions, and expulsions or referring behaviorally challenging kids into the judicial system! In this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School, and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach -- helps you view challenging behavior in a mo...
2013-10-0726 minThe CPS PodcastCommunication is KeyIn this episode, our newest parents panel member, Anna, shares how Plan B has given her family hope. One caller asks for advice on how to navigate divorce with a behaviorally challenging child. Anna and Suzy advise that keeping the lines of communication open is just as important between parents as between parent and child. Panel members stress the importance of not focusing on the behavior but the precursor, and Dr. Greene weighs in on what we can learn from each challenging episode.
2013-10-0745 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastGetting StartedOn today's program, Dr. Greene was joined by Lisa, a high school special education teacher who's been leading the charge for Collaborative & Proactive Solutions in her school. Lisa told us about how she got the ball rolling in her building, how the core group was formed, and the challenges that lie ahead.
2013-09-3044 minThe CPS PodcastJust Keep DrillingDr. Greene answered more emails from the summer on this program. Among the questions answered: What to do when kids don't talk in the Empathy step of Plan B, whether Plan B can be applied to toilet training, and how to help kids who are holding it together during the school day but are challenging at home.
2013-09-3045 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastSome Help With the Wording of Unsolved ProblemsOn today's program, Dr. Greene provided feedback to a caller on the wording of the unsolved problems she'd written for a student on the Assessment of Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problems. That feedback might be helpful to you too!
2013-09-1644 minThe CPS PodcastThe Invitation Step of Plan BDr. Greene tried to catch up on summer emails during this program, and started with one asking for more information about the Invitation step of Plan B. Of course, you'll have to listen to the program to hear that and everything else!
2013-09-1645 minDr. Ross GreeneThe Challenges of Implementing CPSThe students are back, and so is the Educators Panel! Our principals shared what they're doing at the beginning of this school year to further implementation of Dr. Greene's model (now called Collaborative & Proactive Solutions), with some exciting developments at Nina's school and some strategizing at Carol's new school. Tom had some difficulty avoiding the term "collaborative problem solving" (Dr. Greene is now legally prohibited from using that name to refer to his model), but made excellent progress on that during the program.
2013-09-0946 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastThe Challenges of Implementing CPSThe students are back, and so is the Educators Panel! Our principals shared what they're doing at the beginning of this school year to further implementation of Dr. Greene's model (now called Collaborative & Proactive Solutions), with some exciting developments at Nina's school and some strategizing at Carol's new school. Tom had some difficulty avoiding the term "collaborative problem solving" (Dr. Greene is now legally prohibited from using that name to refer to his model), but made excellent progress on that during the program.
2013-09-0945 minThe CPS PodcastBabysitting and Baby StepsLots of ground covered on today's program...among the questions Dr. Greene answered: What to do if the folks at school are looking to parents for help with unsolved problems that are occurring at school? And, what are some baby steps for parents who are brand new to the model?
2013-04-2245 minDr. Ross GreeneGetting There in Georgetown, Maine On today's program, Dr. Greene interviewed Matt Carlson, Principal at Georgetown Central School, one of many schools in Maine learning how to implement Dr. Greene's model of solving problems collaboratively through project funded by the Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. Mr. Carlson's has some very useful insights for anyone determined to transform discipline practices in a school.
2013-03-1846 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastGetting There in Georgetown, MaineOn today's program, Dr. Greene interviewed Matt Carlson, Principal at Georgetown Central School, one of many schools in Maine learning how to implement Dr. Greene's model of solving problems collaboratively through project funded by the Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. Mr. Carlson's has some very useful insights for anyone determined to transform discipline practices in a school.
2013-03-1845 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastGuidelines for Writing Unsolved ProblemsDr. Greene responded to a variety of emailed questions on today's program, including several related to difficulties wording unsolved problems on the Assessment of Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problems. Relevant (and hopefully helpful) guidance was provided!
2013-03-1145 minThe CPS PodcastParenting Your Challenging ChildParenting is really hard, but it's especially hard if you're the parent of a child with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. There's so much advice being thrown your way, a lot of it telling you to be more firm, more consistent, and more diligent with the rewards and punishments. If all those sticker charts, time-outs, screaming matches, arguments have you feeling like a lot of parents do -- isolated, frustrated, and desperate -- well, you've found a program that can help. On this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (C...
2013-03-0445 minThe CPS PodcastDon't Take Your Hands Off The Wheel!A lot of territory was covered on this program, as several parents called in with questions and Dr. Greene responded to questions sent by email as well. But the key theme was established by the first caller: if solving problems collaboratively is working for your child, there's no reason to stop doing it.
2013-02-2545 minDr. Ross GreeneHello Anytown Elementary! Today we began a new feature on this program: Dr. Greene is going to begin working with an elementary school in western North America to help them solve problems collaboratively...and the best part is that they'll be recording their use of Plan B and Dr. Greene will be playing the recordings and providing feedback live on the program! Today we got to know them a little...they've been working very hard with their behaviorally challenging students already and trying to overcome many of the hurdles (time, doubts) that go along with transforming school disciplinary practices. Welcome aboard, Anytown Elementary!
2013-01-2846 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastHello Anytown Elementary!Today we began a new feature on this program: Dr. Greene is going to begin working with an elementary school in western North America to help them solve problems collaboratively...and the best part is that they'll be recording their use of Plan B and Dr. Greene will be playing the recordings and providing feedback live on the program! Today we got to know them a little...they've been working very hard with their behaviorally challenging students already and trying to overcome many of the hurdles (time, doubts) that go along with transforming school disciplinary practices. Welcome aboard, Anytown Elementary!
2013-01-2845 minThe CPS PodcastGet Busy, The Meds Are Working!On today's program, Dr. Greene spent some time talking with the dad of a child whose aggressive, violent behavior has been reduced dramatically by various medications. The take-home message: take advantage of the lull so as to get good at Plan B...because, if the goal is for the child to be medication-free someday, something is going to have to replace the meds.
2013-01-2845 minDr. Ross GreeneHelping Behaviorally Challenging Students How do we do a better job of understanding and helping students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in our schools...while simultaneously feeling like we're "holding kids accountable"...while attending to the diverse needs of other students...while trying to make sure they all do well on high-stakes testing? Not by simply increasing detentions, suspensions, and expulsions or referring behaviorally challenging kids into the judicial system! In this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School, and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach -- helps you view challenging behavior in a mo...
2013-01-0746 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastHelping Behaviorally Challenging StudentsHow do we do a better job of understanding and helping students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in our schools...while simultaneously feeling like we're "holding kids accountable"...while attending to the diverse needs of other students...while trying to make sure they all do well on high-stakes testing? Not by simply increasing detentions, suspensions, and expulsions or referring behaviorally challenging kids into the judicial system! In this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School, and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach -- helps you view challenging behavior in a mo...
2013-01-0745 minThe CPS PodcastParenting Your Challenging ChildParenting is really hard, but it's especially hard if you're the parent of a child with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. There's so much advice being thrown your way, a lot of it telling you to be more firm, more consistent, and more diligent with the rewards and punishments. If all those sticker charts, time-outs, screaming matches, arguments have you feeling like a lot of parents do -- isolated, frustrated, and desperate -- well, you've found a program that can help. On this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (C...
2013-01-0745 minThe CPS PodcastReflections on a TragedyOn today's program, Dr. Greene offered his thoughts on the tragedy that took place three days earlier in Newtown, Connecticut, and on the role that collaboration and empathy can play in reducing the likelihood of such tragedies.
2012-12-1745 minThe CPS PodcastMy Child Has Been Suspended Again!Several different topics were discussed on today's program...among them, Dr. Greene received a call from a dad whose fourth grade child has been suspended from school...yet again. What should he do? That's what they talked about.
2012-11-1945 minThe CPS PodcastPrecision on Unsolved ProblemsUnsolved problems can be hard to word...but if you want your child to respond to your efforts to gather information in the Empathy step of Plan B, some precision on the wording can be helpful. And that's not all Dr. Greene covered on today's program!
2012-10-1545 minThe CPS PodcastWhich Behaviors Can My Child Control?On this program, Dr. Greene spent some time talking with a mom whose son is diagnosed with ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Tourette's disorder...a very tough combination. How can she (and her son's teacher) figure out which challenging behaviors her son can control?
2012-09-2445 minThe CPS PodcastHow Do You Know You're Doing Plan B?After a summer hiatus, Dr. Greene responded to questions today, and there were some good ones! How do you know you're using Plan B? What if your co-parent isn't on board with CPS? What do you do once your child is already in the midst of an explosion? Answers, of course, were provided!
2012-09-1745 minThe CPS PodcastTriaging Plan B TroublesOn this last radio program until the fall, Dr. Greene answered some email and focused in particular on what might be going awry in a mom's attempt to use Plan B with her son. Back in the fall!
2012-05-2935 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastAnytown High School #19: Did I Drill Far Enough?In this, our final Anytown High School program for this school year, one of our core group members asked about whether she drilled far enough on the unsolved problem (skipping class) of one of her students. Both Dr. Greene and the other core group members were happy to pitch in on that. (By the way, Dr. Greene unknowingly had himself muted at the beginning of the program, so you'll need to wait a minute after the introduction before the program begins.)
2012-05-1445 minDr. Ross GreeneAnytown High School #19: Did I Drill Far Enough?In this, our final Anytown High School program for this school year, one of our core group members asked about whether she drilled far enough on the unsolved problem (skipping class) of one of her students. Both Dr. Greene and the other core group members were happy to pitch in on that. (By the way, Dr. Greene unknowingly had himself muted at the beginning of the program, so you'll need to wait a minute after the introduction before the program begins.)
2012-05-1446 minThe CPS PodcastSpanking Solves No ProblemsDr. Greene's guest on today's program was Robbyn Peters Bennett from the US Alliance to End the Hitting of Children (www.endhittingusa.org)...and this is one you'll want to listen to.
2012-05-0845 minThe CPS PodcastIs My Child Playing Me For a Fool?On today's program, Dr. Greene heard about the efforts of a mom who was struggling to do Plan B with her son...and gave some (hopefully) helpful tips on how to fine-tune the effort (including some of the things mom was thinking that were getting in the way).
2011-10-1145 minThe CPS PodcastThe Value(s) of Plan BOn this program, Dr. Greene answered questions from emailers and covered a wide range of topics...including what to do when religious values and Plan B seem inconsistent with each other.
2011-09-2745 minThe CPS PodcastEnergy BackIn this first program of the new school year, Dr. Greene responded to some of the email he received over the summer. Some familiar themes: the necessity of creating a (very specific) list of unsolved problems, prioritizing (so you know what problems you're working on right now and the ones you're not), and, most importantly, solving problems collaboratively and proactively. It's very hard...but when parents do those things, over time, they get their energy back.
2011-09-1344 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastUnderstanding and Helping Behaviorally Challenging StudentsIf things aren't going so well with the students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in your school, you're not alone! Helping challenging kids in a classroom...while attending to the diverse needs of the other students...and trying to make sure they all do well on high-stakes testing...can be a daunting challenge. In this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School, and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach -- helps you view challenging behavior in a more compassionate, accurate, productive manner and intervene more effectively. Want to learn more...
2011-03-2839 minDr. Ross GreeneUnderstanding and Helping Behaviorally Challenging StudentsIf things aren't going so well with the students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in your school, you're not alone! Helping challenging kids in a classroom...while attending to the diverse needs of the other students...and trying to make sure they all do well on high-stakes testing...can be a daunting challenge. In this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School, and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach -- helps you view challenging behavior in a more compassionate, accurate, productive manner and intervene more effectively. Want to learn more...
2011-03-2840 minThe CPS PodcastPlaying Catch-upOn today's program, Dr. Greene responded to the email that has gathered over the past month or so. A variety of topics were discussed, including the need to identify specific unsolved problems, whether the CPS model is applicable to "imploders" as well as "exploders," how to word a neutral observation in the Empathy step, and the fact that vague concerns tend to lead to vague solutions. Very informative!
2011-02-2244 minThe CPS PodcastWhy Would a Kid Participate in Treatment? February Parents Panel"Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays the Parents Panel from completing its appointed rounds." Dr. Greene got stuck away from his office in a snowstorm when the program began, so he conducted this program from his car in a parking lot. Which isn't actually the most interesting part of the February Parents Panel, but does explain the long delay at the beginning of the program. We heard from a father who was having difficulty getting his daughter to participate in therapy sessions, and that was the most interesting part of the program.
2011-02-0141 minThe CPS PodcastRefreshmentFor lots of folks, one of the great things about this program is that it provides a weekly reminder of the mentality, language, and strategies of the CPS model. This program provides a nice "refresher" on those key themes, accomplished through answering questions Dr. Greene received by email during the past week, including one from a mom whose child had a tough episode at school during the prior week.
2010-11-2344 minThe CPS PodcastDo Kids Really Do Well If They Can?Dr. Greene answered the following questions in this program: Aren't humans (and therefore kids) really selfish beings who only look out for their own interests? What should I do in the middle of an explosion? What should I do if, even after using Proactive Plan B, my child won't follow through on a solution he's agreed to?
2010-10-1244 minThe CPS PodcastA Sign of Progress: He Talked a LittleIn today's program, we heard back from the mom who was trying to figure out why her son wasn't receptive to participating in Plan B. The mom followed some of Dr. Greene's recommendations from last week's program, and reported on some small signs of progress. We also heard from a mom who was having trouble understanding why her daughter was well-behaved outside the home but exploding inside the home. Another very informative program!
2010-09-2845 minThe CPS PodcastHe Won't Talk to MeThis was the first program since summer vacation, but we just picked up from where we left off. A mom who was having trouble getting her son to participate in Plan B phoned in, and Dr. Greene helped her think about the different factors that might be getting in the way...and what to do next.
2010-09-2144 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastUnderstanding and Helping Behaviorally Challenging StudentsIf things aren't going so well with the students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in your school, you're not alone! Helping challenging kids in a classroom...while attending to the diverse needs of the other students...and trying to make sure they all do well on high-stakes testing...can be a daunting challenge. In this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School, and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach -- helps you view challenging behavior in a more compassionate, accurate, productive manner and intervene more effectively. Want to learn more...
2010-05-2427 minDr. Ross GreeneUnderstanding and Helping Behaviorally Challenging StudentsIf things aren't going so well with the students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in your school, you're not alone! Helping challenging kids in a classroom...while attending to the diverse needs of the other students...and trying to make sure they all do well on high-stakes testing...can be a daunting challenge. In this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School, and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach -- helps you view challenging behavior in a more compassionate, accurate, productive manner and intervene more effectively. Want to learn more...
2010-05-2445 minThe CPS PodcastIs it a Plan A World? (And Other Important Topics)In this program, Dr. Greene answered emails he's received over the past few weeks covering a wide range of topics, including: the advantages of using Plan B proactively rather than emergently; whether the world mostly demands the skills trained with Plan B or those trained with Plan A; how Plan A tends to cause and perpetuate misery; some tips for making sure solutions are as viable as possible; and whether "willful" is the best way to describe kids with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Another very informative program.
2010-05-1845 minThe CPS PodcastRandom Topics of Great InterestDr. Greene answered some interesting questions today (don't forget, you can ask questions between programs by emailing Dr. Greene through the contact form at www.livesinthebalance.org). The first email was from a mom trying to have some input into her daughter's IEP (Individualized Education Plan) at school...she was wondering if she had the "right" to have input and, if so, how to do it in a way that didn't alienate the folks at school. The second question was from a mom who'd seen Dr. Greene speak recently and was trying Plan B at home. This mom was already...
2010-04-2044 minThe CPS PodcastMore Random Topics of Great InterestIn today's program, Dr. Greene responded to emails he's received from parents trying hard to understand their challenging kids, intervene in a more compassionate, effective manner, and -- in some cases -- help the folks at school do the same thing. A very informative program. And you can listen to it anytime!
2010-04-1344 minDr. Ross GreeneUnderstanding and Helping Behaviorally Challenging StudentsIf things aren't going so well with the students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in your school, you're not alone! Helping challenging kids in a classroom...while attending to the diverse needs of the other students...and trying to make sure they all do well on high-stakes testing...can be a daunting challenge. In this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School, and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach -- helps you view challenging behavior in a more compassionate, accurate, productive manner and intervene more effectively. Want to learn more...
2010-03-0845 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastUnderstanding and Helping Behaviorally Challenging StudentsIf things aren't going so well with the students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in your school, you're not alone! Helping challenging kids in a classroom...while attending to the diverse needs of the other students...and trying to make sure they all do well on high-stakes testing...can be a daunting challenge. In this program, Dr. Ross Greene -- author of The Explosive Child and Lost at School, and originator of the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach -- helps you view challenging behavior in a more compassionate, accurate, productive manner and intervene more effectively. Want to learn more...
2010-03-0845 minDr. Ross Greenethe Empathy Step: Why Didn't The Student Talk?Dr. Greene thought he was going to focus on the seldom-talked-about Invitation step of Plan B in this program. But -- and this is always a welcome development -- a caller shifted the agenda. So instead Dr. Greene helped a teacher who is very devoted to using Plan B -- but is just beginning to learn how -- sort through the possibilities for why a student didn't provide much information in the Empathy step of Plan B. So maybe we'll focus on the Invitation step in the next program. In the meantime, this one is definitely worth a listen!
2010-02-2245 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' Podcastthe Empathy Step: Why Didn't The Student Talk?Dr. Greene thought he was going to focus on the seldom-talked-about Invitation step of Plan B in this program. But -- and this is always a welcome development -- a caller shifted the agenda. So instead Dr. Greene helped a teacher who is very devoted to using Plan B -- but is just beginning to learn how -- sort through the possibilities for why a student didn't provide much information in the Empathy step of Plan B. So maybe we'll focus on the Invitation step in the next program. In the meantime, this one is definitely worth a listen!
2010-02-2245 minThe CPS PodcastLots of Questions, Some Answers, and an UpdateIn this program, Dr. Greene responded to a variety of different questions parents have submitted through the Contact form on the Lives in the Balance website (www.livesinthebalance.org). And then a dad who had called in for some help a month ago phoned in to provide an update on the progress he's making with his two kids, and described some of the difficulties he's having getting his significant other (and co-parent) to use Plan B as well. Listen to the archive!
2010-02-1645 minThe CPS PodcastTrouble in Paradise: Dealing With Some Plan B HurdlesIn this program, Dr. Greene spoke with a mom who called in to get some help in using Plan B with her challenging 5-year old son. The mom was struggling with some of the key aspects of using Plan B, especially identifying the specific unsolved problems that were reliably and predictably setting the stage for challenging episodes. But it turned out that the boy's challenging behavior (hitting, throwing) was indeed highly predictable, and very specific unsolved problems were identified: being interrupted when speaking, having things not go the way he anticipated, morning routine, being picked up at daycare in the...
2010-02-0945 minThe CPS PodcastAre Psychiatric Diagnoses Necessary and Helpful?In this program, Dr. Greene discusses whether diagnoses are useful in understanding and helping kids with behavioral challenges. He then talked about some of the characteristic ways in which the Empathy step of Plan B can go awry, and discussed how Plan is not only applicable to adult-child problem-solving but also to problem-solving interactions between adults, including parents and teachers.
2010-01-2641 minThe CPS PodcastCommon Difficulties in Using Plan B...and How to Overcome ThemDuring this program, Dr. Greene discussed a variety of issues, including the difficulties people encounter when trying to "drill" in the Empathy step (and how to overcome those difficulties); whether one should let a kid know that you're trying to do things differently when you're starting to use Plan B (you can, but the proof is in the pudding); whether a kid's lagging skills are taught through mere use of Plan B or whether some skills need to be taught more directly; and whether Plan B is helpful for kids who are very "black-and-white thinkers".
2010-01-1945 minThe CPS PodcastThree Options for Solving Problems and the Ingredients of Plan BIn this program, Dr. Greene provided an overview of the three ways in which adults solve problems with kids -- Plans A, B, and C -- and a general description of the steps or "ingredients" of Plan B. More time will be spent on each of these ingredients in coming weeks. The discussion of Plan B was helped along by a father who called in to describe some of the difficulties he was having in using Plan B with his two young sons, and potential "fixes" for those difficulties were discussed.
2010-01-1245 minThe CPS PodcastSolving Problems Collaboratively: An OverviewIn this inaugural edition of Collaborative Problem Solving at Home, Dr. Greene describes how challenging kids come to be challenging: they're lacking the skills not to be challenging. This perspective represents a dramatic departure from viewing challenging kids as manipulative, attention-seeking, unmotivated, coercive, and limit-testing. Dr. Greene also describes how to go about figuring out what skills your kid is lacking, through use of the Assessment of Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problems (ALSUP). He discusses the fact that challenging behavior occurs under highly predictable conditions, called "unsolved problems," and describes how to go about identifying these unsolved problems in your...
2010-01-0544 minDr. Ross GreeneGetting Buy-InIn this program, Dr. Greene discusses how to help school staff who are having trouble "buying into" Collaborative Problem Solving. He describes some of the misconceptions and concerns people may have about both the conceptualization of challenging behavior as a developmental delay and the idea of solving problems collaboratively with students. Dr. Greene notes that concerns about CPS are actually a good thing: they show that people are thinking about and digesting the different facets of CPS and imagining what it would look like to implement the model.
2010-01-0445 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastGetting Buy-InIn this program, Dr. Greene discusses how to help school staff who are having trouble "buying into" Collaborative Problem Solving. He describes some of the misconceptions and concerns people may have about both the conceptualization of challenging behavior as a developmental delay and the idea of solving problems collaboratively with students. Dr. Greene notes that concerns about CPS are actually a good thing: they show that people are thinking about and digesting the different facets of CPS and imagining what it would look like to implement the model.
2010-01-0445 minDr. Ross Greene Educators' PodcastAll Beginnings are HardThis is Dr. Greene's first program, so be prepared for some pauses as he adjusts to new technology! But this program provides a nice overview of the Collaborative Problem Solving approach -- first articulated in Dr. Greene's book The Explosive Child and more recently in his book Lost at School -- and what it takes to implement Collaborative Problem Solving in a school.
2009-11-0945 minDr. Ross GreeneAll Beginnings are HardThis is Dr. Greene's first program, so be prepared for some pauses as he adjusts to new technology! But this program provides a nice overview of the Collaborative Problem Solving approach -- first articulated in Dr. Greene's book The Explosive Child and more recently in his book Lost at School -- and what it takes to implement Collaborative Problem Solving in a school.
2009-11-0945 min