The School Discipline Fix: Changing Behavior Using the Collaborative Problem Solving Approach

A complete guide to a paradigm-shifting model of school discipline.  Disruptive students need problem-solving skills, not punishment.

Traditional school discipline is ineffective and often damaging, relying heavily on punishments and motivational procedures aimed at giving students the incentive to behave better. There is a better way.

Dr. Ablon and his co-author Dr. Pollastri have been working with schools throughout the world to refine the Collaborative Problem-Solving (CPS) approach, creating a step-by-step program for educators based on the recognition―from research in neuroscience―that challenging classroom behaviors are due to a deficit of skill, not will. This book provides everything needed to implement the program, including reproducible assessment tools to pinpoint skill deficits in areas like frustration tolerance and flexibility that are at the root of students' challenging behaviors.

Whether you are a teacher, counselor, coach, or administrator, the CPS approach to school discipline will provide you with a new mindset, an assessment process, and an effective intervention plan for each of your challenging students. You will walk away with strategies that are immediately actionable with the students in your life.

J. Stuart Ablon, PhD, is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and founder and director of Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital.


Alisha R. Pollastri, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and researcher, the director of research and evaluation at Think:Kids, and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School.