Ross Greene

Ross Greene is an American child psychologist and author known for developing the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model, a method for understanding and helping behaviorally challenging children. His work focuses on moving away from traditional disciplinary approaches toward identifying and solving the problems that cause challenging behaviors. Greene served as Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and originated his CPS model while working at the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. He has written several influential books including "The Explosive Child" and "Lost at School," which have been translated into multiple languages. His research and methodology emphasize that challenging behaviors occur when the demands being placed on a child exceed their capacity to respond adaptively. Greene's approach promotes working collaboratively with children to solve problems rather than implementing reward and punishment systems. The CPS model has been implemented in countless families, schools, and treatment facilities worldwide. Greene currently serves as the founding director of Lives in the Balance, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and advocacy for behaviorally challenging children and their caregivers.

Parents and educators praise Greene's practical strategies for handling challenging behaviors without punishment. Readers consistently highlight how the CPS model helped them understand their children's struggles and improve family dynamics. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of why traditional discipline methods often fail - Step-by-step scripts and examples for having productive conversations - Focus on treating children with empathy and respect - Real case studies that demonstrate the approach What readers disliked: - Repetitive content across books - Time-intensive methods that can be difficult to implement - Limited guidance for severe behavioral issues - Some found the tone too academic Ratings across platforms: Amazon: "The Explosive Child" - 4.7/5 from 2,800+ reviews Goodreads: "Lost at School" - 4.3/5 from 3,900+ reviews One parent wrote: "This book completely changed how I parent my challenging child. Instead of constant power struggles, we now solve problems together." A teacher noted: "The strategies work, but require significant time and energy that isn't always available in a classroom of 30 students."

The Explosive Child (1998) Introduces Greene's Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model for helping children with behavioral challenges, explaining why traditional discipline methods often fail and offering alternative approaches.

Lost at School (2008) Applies the CPS model specifically to school settings, addressing behavioral challenges in the classroom and providing strategies for educators and administrators.

Lost & Found (2016) Expands the CPS approach beyond children to teens and young adults, focusing on relationship building and problem-solving skills across different age groups.

Raising Human Beings (2016) Presents the CPS model as a general parenting approach for all children, emphasizing collaborative problem-solving and skill development.

Lost & Found in Children's Mental Health (2021) Examines systemic issues in children's mental health treatment and proposes reforms based on the CPS model and collaborative problem-solving principles.

Lost in School, Revised and Updated (2021) Updates the original Lost at School with new research, case studies, and implementation strategies for the CPS model in educational settings.

Stuart Ablon focuses on collaborative problem solving with challenging kids in both clinical and classroom settings. His work on lagging cognitive skills aligns with Greene's approach and emphasizes understanding behavior as communication.

Tina Payne Bryson co-developed interpersonal neurobiology frameworks for understanding child behavior and brain development. Her work centers on relationship-based approaches to helping children with behavioral challenges.

Daniel Siegel developed models explaining how brain development affects behavior and emotion regulation in children. His research connects neuroscience with practical parenting and teaching strategies for supporting struggling kids.

Mona Delahooke incorporates polyvagal theory and neurodevelopmental principles into supporting children with behavioral challenges. Her work emphasizes meeting children where they are developmentally rather than focusing on compliance.

Alfie Kohn examines how reward/punishment systems impact child behavior and development. His research questions traditional behavioral approaches and promotes working with children rather than doing things to them.