Think:Kids – Collaborative Problem Solving

From Think:Kids | ThinkKids.org

Think:Kids Conference
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2015
Location: Microsoft NERD Center | 1 Memorial Drive | Cambridge, MA 02142

Registration Info

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Think:Kids will bring together parents and professionals at our First Annual Conference. ALL ARE WELCOME – those who are passionate about the Collaborative Problem Solving Approach, those who want to learn more, even those who are completely new to the approach can attend! A special keynote address will be given by Jerome Kagan, Ph.D., a luminary figure in the field of developmental psychology and the forefather of temperament research.

How can we help children with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges?

There is a vital need for more enlightened approaches for understanding and helping the increasing number of children with social, emotional and behavioral challenges. All too often, their difficult behavior is seen as willful and goal oriented. This has led to interventions that focus on gaining greater compliance through the use of consequences. Such interventions often don’t adequately address the child’s needs. As a result, many such children continue to have very adversarial interactions with teachers, family members, peers… and are at risk for poor long-term outcomes. This conference brings together parents and professionals to learn and network together. Based on current research, caregivers will gain the knowledge needed to understand the nature of these children’s challenges in a new light; as the result of a delay in the development of crucial cognitive skills that are essential for handling frustration, demands for flexibility and adaptability, and for problem solving. Innovative intervention strategies that are based on this understanding and that focus on working collaboratively with children to building skills will be taught. The day begins with a keynote address given by Dr. Jerome Kagan renowned expert on child temperament. During the remainder of the day, attendees have the opportunity to attend three separate breakout workshop sessions, where they will choose from a variety of workshops on pertinent topics.

Topics will include the following:

Plan B Troubleshooting
Session 1 Breakouts:

• Introduction to Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS): Philosophy and Assessment (Dr. Tai Katzenstein)
• Troubleshooting: Beyond the Plan B Basics (Dr. Stuart Ablon, Dr. Larry Epstein, Ben Stitch, Dr. Aude Henin)
• Collaborative Problem Solving and Lagging Skills

Session 2 Breakouts:

• Introduction to Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS): The Three Plans (Dr. Tai Katzenstein)
• Helping Bright Kids who Can’t Keep Up: (Dr. Ellen Braaten); When Excessive Worry Gets in the Way: (Dr. Aude Henin)
• Helping Kids Regulate so They Can Relate and Reason: (Jennifer Boggett-Carsjens, OTR and Dr. Larry Epstein)
• Collaborative Problem Solving in Real Life

Session 3 Breakouts: 

• Introduction to Collaborative Problem Solving: Plan B (Dr. Tai Katzenstein)
• Psychiatric Medications and Collaborative Problem Solving: What to Consider? (Dr. Tanishia Choice)
• Building Bridges: Advocating for Your Child at School (Joan Toussaint and Dr. Larry Epstein)
• Evaluating CPS Across Settings: The Research Process and Outcomes (Dr. Alisha Pollastri)