Treating Explosive Kids: The Collaborative Problem-Solving Approach

I purchased 'Treating Explosive Kids' out of frustration of trying to figure out how to work with one of our grandchildren (age 7) who seems unable to control his temper and outbursts. While other family members said it was just 'bad behavior' I felt there was something much deeper to this behavior. I think Dr. Greene has finally provided not only an answer, but some very do-able solutions. I realize this particular book was probably aimed more at professionals, I found it exceptionally helpful. The sample dialogs between doctor and parents, doctor and children provided real-life scenarios that could be used as examples in using the Collaborative Problem Solving Approach. This book, as well as well as the corresponding video I purchased, have finally given hope that explosive children can be helped as long as the adults/caregivers are willing to work at it.

Very helpful for therapists and parents who want to use the Collaborative Problem Approach with explosive kids. Using plenty of examples and scripts, Drs. Green and Ablon help to walk people through the approach, through common pitfalls, and provide guidance and support for therapists working with families. A must-read for every family therapist and teacher who has ever worked with an explosive child.

Ever since my child was about 4 I have been wondering what he "had"....what his behavioral issues were all about. Three therapists later, psychological testing, and countless offerings of advice from friends, parents and teachers I have finally found an explanation that rings true and speaks to my husband and me. My son is now 14. How I wish I had known about this "CPS approach" years ago. The approach is not "Magic 123" (and therefore simplistic) but if it's followed, it works. I first read Dr. Greene's other book aimed at parents called "The Explosive Child" which is also wonderful. "Treating Explosive Kids" is directed at therapists and is therefore more dense and a little more difficult to understand for the lay person but the book is filled with dialogue between professionals, parents, and kids which brilliantly and realistically illustrates how to treat a child who is inflexible, explosive, and therefore incredibly frustrating. Guess what: these kids are not simply being manipulative or looking for attention.

Deftly co-authored by Ross W. Greene (Director of the Collaborative Problem Solving Institute in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School) and J. Stuart Ablon Associate Director of the Collaborative Problem Solving Institute and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard medical School), Treating Explosive Kids: The Collaborative Problem-Solving Approach is an invaluable reference to all parents, and is highly recommended reading regarding children who are struggling to find a comfortable level of self, and who may express themselves through aggressive, defiant, or erratic physical or verbal display. Treating Explosive Kids is painstakingly researched and offers an indispensable guide to taking proper care of an uncooperative or argumentative child, and takes a very deep exploration into the reasoning and psychological aide which one might take as probable course for action. A work of seminal scholarship, Treating Explosive Kids is an excellent addition to the library reference collection of any teacher, parent, or child psychotherapist.

This is by far the best approach I have ever encountered for children who are easily frustrated, chronically inflexible, and explosive (as well as those who "shut down" rather than explode). As a clinical and school psychologist who has worked with such children and families for over 15 years, this approach is the one that works when so many others have failed. The book, which is for school personnel as well as clinicians, helps people who are just starting to use the model as well as those who have been using it for a while and would like additional information, ideas, etc. It is written in clear, easy to understand language, and the stories, vignettes, and dialogs are especially helpful in illustrating how to use the approach and clarifying some of the aspects of the model. I refer back to it often as I prepare for school staffings, parent meetings, client sessions, etc. If you are a clinician who works with children in any setting, or anyone (teacher, administrator, counselor, dean, etc.) who works with these students in a school setting, this book is an absolute necessity. It is especially important for school personnel, because the core of this model involves teaching skills in the settings in which the problem behaviors occur and teachers are experts at teaching skills. If we can intervene with these students early, in the general education setting, I firmly believe we can prevent more serious difficulties with these students later on. Schools continually struggle with these types of behaviors and need effective models such as this. If you are a parent of an explosive child, I highly recommend the companion parent book, The Explosive Child by Dr. Ross Greene.