Treating Explosive Kids. The Collaborative Problem Solving Approach

Customer Reviews

Perfect application for professionals!

2007-03-16
I've read "The Explosive Child" for parents, providers, etc. I enjoyed it; however, this book provided the perspective of a provider in such a concise way that I was able to immediately begin applying it as I read. It is a great way to reaffirm the professional's role.

Treating Explosive Kids: The Collaborative Problem Solving Approach

2007-01-10
Easy to read and understand, practical tips and excellent ideas for working with kids, a must read for those who work with children of all ages.

Provides solutions

2006-11-05
I purchased 'Treating Explosive Kids' out of frustration of trying to figure out how to work with one of our grandchildren (age 7) who seems unable to control his temper and outbursts. While other family members said it was just 'bad behavior' I felt there was something much deeper to this behavior. I think Dr. Greene has finally provided not only an answer, but some very do-able solutions. I realize this particular book was probably aimed more at professionals, I found it exceptionally helpful. The sample dialogs between doctor and parents, doctor and children provided real-life scenarios that could be used as examples in using the Collaborative Problem Solving Approach. This book, as well as well as the corresponding video I purchased, have finally given hope that explosive children can be helped as long as the adults/caregivers are willing to work at it.

Real Help for Parents and Therapists

2006-08-27
Very helpful for therapists and parents who want to use the Collaborative Problem Approach with explosive kids. Using plenty of examples and scripts, Drs. Green and Ablon help to walk people through the approach, through common pitfalls, and provide guidance and support for therapists working with families. A must-read for every family therapist and teacher who has ever worked with an explosive child.

Creating a better world

2006-08-16
I am reading "Treating the Explosive Child" and simply cannot put this book down - if everyone incorporated this approach into everyday life, what a humane world it could be. Thank you, Dr Ablon and Green for the expertise you are sharing and disseminating to the world - in my eyes, you are true heroes.

Wonderful book for those working with difficult children

2008-02-18
In this book I finally found an explanation for the frustrating behaviors of my child. Reading it changed the dynamics of our family and greatly improved our functioning. Many of the books on these children, including Dr. Greene's Explosive Child, provide descriptions of difficult behaviors and suggestions as to how to address these behaviors, but none provided a detailed explanation of what is happening for the child and how that creates these behaviors. This book is a must read for all parents, teachers, and providers who work with difficult children whose behaviors seem to defy the traditional explanations.

Insightful and compassionate approach

2007-12-31
I'm a clinical therapist with 18 years' experience. Several years ago I attended Dr. Green's training and was very impressed. So much in the mental health field, for working w/ behaviorally challenging kids and parents, focuses on rewards and consequences - basic behavioralism - which only works part of the time for part of the population. This is a wise and effective alternative, and one in consonance with what we're learning about why explosive kids are that way. My specialty areas are complex trauma and attachment disorders, which aren't mentioned as root causes for the difficulties in self-regulation skills for (I believe) a majority of explosive kids, which I think is an oversight. However, Dr. Green's creation of interventions which address the effects of these skill deficits remains an outstanding acheivement. His "Plan A, Plan B, Plan C" model is easily explained by clinicians and understood by parents. His model keeps parents empowered, gives them reasonable guidelines for which plan to use when, strengthens both kids' and parents' abilities to problem-solve in a connective, caring way, and gives kids hope for their own growth and change.

Too Technical to be Helpful

2007-11-09
In my line of work as a behavior consultant, I read A LOT of research journals. However, this dry book was much harder to plow through and so I gave up and ordered a different book! For a parent or professional who is trying to help an especially difficult child, this is just NOT a user-friendly book.

Refreshing Ideas

2007-10-12
Greene and Albon present some fantastic ideas about what makes kids behave the way they do and how to respond to them. It is a well written, thought provoking book. I found it to be an extremely easy read but loaded with conceptual richness. It is not an intellectual work as much as a wake up call to the understanding and treatment of children.

Treating Explosive Kids

2007-09-14
This book provides both an excellent treatise on easily-frustrated/highly explosive children from both a clinical and practical point of view. I especially appreciate the approach to helping these children from the viewpoint of their specific struggle instead of their "diagnosis" as ADHD, Bi-polar, Oppositional Defiant, etc. While those labels might be helpful in the short term, it does little to speak to actually helping them with their day to day difficulties. There is a sad dearth in helpful treatment for not only children, but adults with these needs. While new medications can and should be included in treatment, it is the relational context that either perpetuates the problem or in which healing is experienced. This book is highly recommended.