
The CPS Podcast
Dr. Ross Greene, originator of the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions model and author of The Explosive Child, Lost at School, Lost & Found, and Raising Human Beings, provides guidance to parents on understanding and helping kids with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges...along with his co-hosts Kim Hopkins-Betts (Director of Outreach at Lives in the Balance) and parents Jennifer Trethewey, and Stella Hastings.
Latest episodes

Jul 1, 2025 • 1h 28min
Are the Kids OK?
Check out the May 2025 episode of the CPS Podcast - Are the Kids OK? Dr. Ross Greene and Dr. Narov Shaw explore the question “Are the kids ok?” by unpacking the rising stressors kids face in a rapidly changing world, from social media and school shootings to shifting social roles, while reminding us that many kids are still doing well. They emphasize that mental health struggles are human responses to stress and that it’s hard to pin down single causes, given the layered and nuanced nature of these challenges. They caution that correlation (e.g., social media user with anxiety) does not equal causation – and that involving kids in identifying solutions will likely be more successful than mandates. This was a special live presentation arranged by Freeport Speech, Meetinghouse Arts, and Freeport Community TV3.

Apr 21, 2025 • 46min
CPS with Adults and Kids with Disabilities: The Ireland Demonstration Project
This episode dives into the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions Ireland Demonstration Project, which has been making waves across children's disability services in Ireland. Toby Sachsenmaier shares how a grassroots start among a few healthcare professionals snowballed into a national initiative embraced by multidisciplinary teams — and even adult disability services. Anecdotes highlight how CPS helps both kids and adults feel truly heard, often solving long-standing challenges with surprising ease. With hundreds trained and research underway, this project is showing just how impactful CPS can be in multiple settings and varied populations.

Mar 27, 2025 • 31min
If Not Now, When?
This episode of the CPS Podcast takes a big-picture look at why power struggles dominate our world—politically, socially, as well as in parenting and education—when collaboration could be the real game-changer. We explore how listening, understanding, and solving problems together (instead of fighting to "win") could lead to better outcomes for everyone. Turns out, three simple steps might just be the secret to a less aggrieved and more cooperative world!

Feb 21, 2025 • 45min
The Realities of Restraint and Seclusion
Two mothers share their stories about their children's experience with restraint and seclusion in schools to raise awareness and offer hope - there is a different way...

Jan 16, 2025 • 33min
Skills That Foster The Better Side of Human Nature
Perhaps especially now, we think it's important to get back to skills -- empathy, appreciating how one's actions are affecting others, taking another person's perspective, resolving disagreements without conflict, and honesty -- that bring out the better side of human nature, and to be helping kids develop those skills as early as possible. Dr. Greene especially homed in on the honesty dimension...for the unfamiliar, here are two links to bring you up to speed on what he was talking about:https://cpsconnection.com/why-the-name-change/https://cpsconnection.com/disinformationormisinformation/

Dec 19, 2024 • 30min
Passion, perseverance…and problem solving
Dr. Ross Greene and Kim Hopkins explore the definition of grit and the fact that a lot of literature explaining how to teach grit leaves out the important role of problem solving first...

Nov 26, 2024 • 46min
US Dept of Ed's Words of Wisdom: Do More of the Same
The US Department of Education recently released guidance suggesting that FBAs should be completed on all students. Dr. Ross Greene and our Director of Legal & Policy Initiatives, Ben Jones, J.D., discuss where this idea falls short, what can be done instead, and how the USDOE became so wedded to PBIS. We also have time to address one parent's email regarding a 4-year-old who is having difficulty with the word "stop."

Oct 17, 2024 • 34min
The CPS Podcast: School Safety
Don't be late...ask the kid...developmental variability...safety - all key themes of this month's episode tackling the topic of school safety. Listen now!

Sep 9, 2024 • 34min
Setting the CPS Record Straight
We are back for the 2024-25 school year! ...and using new technology to hopefully resolve previous audio issues. In this edition of The CPS Podcast, Dr. Greene responds to a TikTok-er who is spreading misinformation about the CPS Model. A good listen whether you are a parent, educator, provider or other caring adult!

May 21, 2024 • 42min
What We're Up Against
There's legislation pending in Massachusetts that would ban suspension for students in grades K-3. An admirable effort, but it drew some very ineresting responses from readers of The Boston Glove, which reported on this effort. Those responses tell us we still have a lot more work to do to ensure that caregivers understand the true factors that cause kids' concerning behaviors...and why a suspension would do far more harm than good.