Collaborative Proactive Solutions (CPS)

The main principle of CPS is that challenging behavior is a result of unmet needs, lack of skills, or difficulties in dealing with certain situations, rather than intentional defiance or misbehavior. CPS emphasizes the importance of understanding the individual’s perspective and working together to find solutions that meet everyone’s needs.

Key Components of Collaborative Proactive Solutions:

1. Empathy: This step involves understanding the person’s perspective. The goal is to gather information about the situation that triggered the behavior, which helps identify the underlying problems or unmet needs. It’s about listening actively and non-judgmentally to understand what is going on for the individual.
2. Define the Problem: Once empathy has been shown, the next step is to articulate the problem from the perspective of the adult or caregiver. This is about clearly identifying the specific issue or challenge, acknowledging the person’s feelings, and putting the problem into words.
3. Collaborative Solution-Finding: After both parties understand the problem, they work together to come up with a solution that addresses both the individual’s needs and the caregiver’s or adult’s needs. The aim is to come up with realistic, mutually acceptable solutions that allow the person to handle situations more effectively and appropriately.
4. Skill-Building: CPS also focuses on teaching new skills that help individuals respond to challenges in healthier ways. This can include improving emotional regulation, communication, and problem-solving abilities.

Why CPS Works:

• Focus on Collaboration: Unlike traditional behavioral approaches that often use consequences or rewards, CPS relies on collaboration. It views challenging behavior as a signal that a person is struggling with a problem they don’t know how to solve. By working together, both parties are more likely to reach a solution that works.
• Understanding and Addressing Root Causes: CPS emphasizes the need to uncover the root cause of the problem. For example, if a child acts out in school because they feel overwhelmed by tasks, CPS would focus on helping the child learn how to break down tasks into manageable steps, rather than simply punishing them for not completing the tasks.
• Promoting Long-Term Success: Instead of just managing behavior in the short term, CPS helps individuals develop skills that can lead to long-lasting positive changes in how they respond to difficult situations.

CPS in Practice:

• In Families: Parents and children work together to solve problems related to behavior, such as tantrums or oppositional behavior.
• In Schools: Teachers and students collaborate to find solutions to disruptive behavior in the classroom, such as difficulty following directions or social challenges with peers.
• In Clinical Settings: Therapists use CPS to help individuals with anxiety, ADHD, or other behavioral or emotional challenges.

Benefits of CPS:

• Builds trust between adults and children or individuals with challenging behaviors.
• Teaches problem-solving and coping skills.
• Reduces power struggles, as it focuses on collaboration rather than control.
• Helps individuals feel heard, respected, and supported in finding solutions to their struggles.

In summary, Collaborative Proactive Solutions is a compassionate and effective approach that seeks to address challenging behaviors by focusing on collaboration, understanding, and skill-building. It encourages positive changes by addressing the root causes of behaviors and providing individuals with the tools they need to thrive.

Please visit the Collaborative Proactive Solutions website for more information.