Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) is an evidence-based, trauma-informed, neurodiversity affirming model of care that helps caregivers focus on identifying the problems that are causing concerning behaviors in children and teens and solving those problems collaboratively and proactively in ways that are non-punitive, non-adversarial, skill building and relationship enhancing. The model is a departure from approaches emphasizing the use of rewards and consequences to modify concerning behaviors. Foundational to this approach is the recognition and acknowledgement of children’s and teens developmental variability and the necessity of meeting each and every kid where they’re at.  

This model also distinguishes between problematic and a problem waiting to be solved. While concerning behaviour is highly problematic, the focus of attention and intervention in the CPS approach is on the unsolved problems that are giving rise to the concerning behaviour. If we solve those problems, the behaviour will subside because only unsolved problems cause concerning behaviours; solved ones don’t. 

CPS was developed by Dr. Ross Greene, a psychologist who has written several books on the subject.  

Two key understandings in CPS are:  

1) Kids do well if they CAN, not, kids do well if they WANT to. Why would anyone not want to do well if they could? Isn’t doing well preferable to not doing well? Kids who aren’t doing well are struggling with skills, not motivation. In fact, kids who aren’t doing well are often trying harder to do well than the kids who have the skills they need to do well. 

2) Concerning behaviours only occur when situational demands or expectations exceed kids’ abilities to respond adaptively. In the CPS model, kids’ big frustrations and concerning behaviours are understood as distress signals that let us know they are “stuck” because they are struggling with the skills they need to meet certain expectations and are not able to communicate this to us in pro-social ways. 

To learn more about Collaborative and Proactive Solutions, please check out Dr. Greene’s website:  https://livesinthebalance.org/. Dr. Greene’s classic book, The Explosive Child, is also a must-read for any caregiver who craves fewer conflicts and more collaboration with their children at home. You can order the book through the CPS online store. (https://livesinthebalance.org/our-solution/). 

At Possibilities, a Certified CPS Provider will work with you and your child or teen together in 10-session blocks. You are welcome to book additional blocks if you would like clinician support working through additional unsolved problems. Single booster sessions are also available with the clinician to help you maintain skills after you have completed at least 10 sessions using the CPS approach.   

The first step is for the clinician to work with caregivers to identify the skills a child or teen is struggling with, as well as the specific expectations they are having difficulty meeting. After hearing from the adults, the clinician will often meet with the child or teen to gather their thoughts and perspectives on skills and expectations they are struggling with. These unmet expectations are known as Unsolved Problems and the assessment instrument used in this first step is called the ASUP (Assessment of Skills & Unsolved Problems). 

Once these steps are completed, the clinician will review with caregivers the list of Unsolved Problems, exploring the expectations adults currently hold, as well as the ones they feel their child or teen is able to meet right now. One of the questions the clinician will ask is: “How do you know your child or teen can meet this expectation?”  

The most common way to answer this question is to consider whether the child or teen has ever met the expectation in the past. If they have met the expectation sometimes, but not all the time, then the expectation is probably realistic and developmentally appropriate. In that case, a key step in the problem-solving process will be for the clinician and the caregivers to work with the child or teen to better understand what it is that sometimes gets in their way of meeting the expectation.  

If, on the other hand, the child or teen has never met the expectation, it is likely they can’t at this point in time. If that’s the conclusion, then the expectation may need to be removed for now since it is leading to predictable, enduring and often escalating conflict. Removing an expectation that the child or teen has consistently demonstrated they can’t meet allows us to meet them where they’re at developmentally. In addition, removing expectations a child or teen has consistently demonstrated they can’t meet will help stabilize situations and create a more peaceful, empathetic and effective problem-solving environment for everyone.  

The next step is for caregivers and children or teens to choose 1 or 2 Unsolved Problems they would like to start working on. After that, caregivers work with the clinician to develop temporary plans, known as Proactive Plan Cs, for how they are going to handle the rest of the Unsolved Problems while they are working together on proactively solving the prioritized ones. 

Problem Solving conversations, known as Plan Bs, involve 3 steps. These steps follow in a certain order using specific language and a structured format. Over the next few sessions, the clinician will use a variety of instructional techniques including direct teaching, modelling, coaching and assigning practice tasks to support caregivers and children or teens in learning how to do these Plan B conversations together as a family away from the clinic.  

As children and teens work with their caregivers to solve problems, they not only leverage the skills they have. They are also indirectly enhancing the very skills they had been struggling with or, at the very least, struggling to access. 

Our clinicians are licensed to practice in Ontario, and we provide services across the province through secure video sessions. You and your child must be within Ontario during the time of your sessions in order for our clinicians to see you through video sessions. 

CPS at Possibilities is provided by allied health professionals, not medical doctors. As such, it is not covered by OHIP. Your private insurance plan may cover services offered by psychologists, social workers or registered psychotherapists. 

Fees range from $200 to $280 per session, depending on the clinician providing the service.  

Please check with your insurance provider to determine if you have any coverage. If you are interested in learning more about our payment policies, medical loans for assessments or treatments, or additional funding resources, please read more here. https://possibilitiesclinic.com/payment-policies-fees-faqs/.