Advanced Concepts in Collaborative Problem Solving® | JUNE 2025 | CE / PDP

Advanced Concepts in Collaborative Problem Solving®

This level 2 course deepens skills at all phases of the Collaborative Problem Solving® approach and enhances implementation in the real world. Participants advance their skills by learning strategies for using the approach in the most challenging situations using real-life examples from their experiences. Participants learn through lectures, role-play, video examples, case presentations, and breakout groups.

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Learning Objectives

After completing this course, learners will be able to:

• Assess different ways in which Plan B can be used (proactively, spontaneously, or urgently) depending on the situation.
• Complete CPS assessments for youth with minimal errors.
• Determine which Collaborative Problem Solving plan to use for each problem to be solved.
• Adapt Plan B to complex circumstances.
• Conduct Plan B when not directly involved in a situation.
• Engage in conversations about Collaborative Problem Solving with those who hold more conventional understandings about behavior.
• Conduct Plan B in group settings.

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This course is conducted in 4 sessions, online, over Zoom

• June 24: 11:00 am - 4:15 pm ET / 8:00 am - 1:15 pm PT
• June 25: 11:00 am - 4:15 pm ET / 8:00 am - 1:15 pm PT
• June 26: 11:00 am - 4:15 pm ET / 8:00 am - 1:15 pm PT
• June 27: 11:00 am - 4:15 pm ET / 8:00 am - 1:15 pm PT

See the detailed agenda below for more information.

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Tuition & Registration

• Individuals: $595/person
• Groups of 5 or more from the same organization: $535/person
  
  

Additional Details:

• Payment Methods: Credit/debit card is preferred for registration payment. Please email us at ThinkKidsInfo@Partners.org if you need to pay by check/invoice.
• Financial Assistance: If you require financial assistance, please apply for assistance by completing this form. Funds are limited, and the application does not guarantee an award. The application is due a minimum of two weeks before the training begins.
• Registration Deadline: Registration closes two business days before the start of the course or if we have reached our maximum capacity and the registration is no longer live on the website.

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Policies & Requirements

• Cancelation and Refund Policy >>
• Grievances and Accommodations Policy >>
• Confidentiality of Participant Information Policy >>
• Attendance and Earning CE/PDP Policy >>
• System Requirements: Users must join the training on their own devices, have access to a strong internet signal, use a web camera and microphone, and have downloaded Zoom to their devices. Review the Zoom system requirements on their website >>
• Prerequisite: Prior exposure to Collaborative Problem Solving, including taking an Introduction to Collaborative Problem Solving course, is strongly recommended, but not required.

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CE/PDP Credits and Attendance

Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital is an Accredited Provider of Continuing Education Units (CE) and Professional Development Points (PDP)

To earn CE, PDP, or Certificates of Attendance, attendees must attend each session in full, complete a course evaluation, and complete an attestation of attendance. Partial credits will not be given in cases of missed hours or incomplete evaluations or attestations. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 10 business days to attendees who meet these requirements. If you do not receive your certificate or if you have any questions, please contact us at ThinkKidsInfo@Partners.org.

Learn more about our CE/PDP policy >>

• Social Workers: Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital, provider #1960 is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/28/2024 - 8/28/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 14 General continuing education credits and 2 Social and Cultural Competence continuing education credits.

• Educators: We are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for 16 PDPs, our provider number is S201500058.
• Licensed Mental Health Counselors: This program has been approved by MaMHCA/MCEAP for 16 CEs.
• Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Other: A certificate of attendance will be provided for 16 units which can be submitted to the corresponding professional organization for consideration.

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Who Should Attend

This intermediate-level course is designed for social workers, educators, staff, and anyone who is helping kids with challenging behavior.

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Meet Your Instructors

Review the course instructor’s bios on our website:

• Jordan Spikes is the Manager of Curriculum and a Certified Trainer and Consultant at Think:Kids, providing training and coaching for individuals and organizations interested in implementing Collaborative Problem Solving in their systems. He earned a BS in Psychology from Oregon State University and has worked in the mental health and special education arenas as a front-line staff, coach, and administrator for more than 12 years.

With a goal of shifting mindsets away from conventional “people choosing to misbehave” to a neurobiologically-guided mindset of viewing behavioral challenges as a form of learning disorder, Jordan joins with educators, parents, and caregivers in the responsibility of teaching individuals the necessary skills to meet daily, real-world expectations.

• Elizabeth Buchholz, MNS is a Certified Trainer and Consultant and works with learners across the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) continuum. She provides training and coaching for organizations, provides implementation consultation sessions, and facilitates learning through the Certification program.

Elizabeth has experience working directly with youth and families using Collaborative Problem Solving in residential treatment, private day schools, and treatment foster care. As an Organization Learning Manager for a statewide nonprofit, she provided training and consultation in Collaborative Problem Solving and Implementation to staff and families in each of these settings. Elizabeth also led the direct care team in a large residential facility using the CPS approach as both a human resources management approach and as the guiding philosophy for interacting with and treating clients and families.

Elizabeth received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Philosophy and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Studies with a concentration in Implementation Science and Trauma Informed Care from the University of Richmond.

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Meet Your Instructors

Review the course instructor’s bios on our website:

Jordan Spikes is the Manager of Curriculum and a Certified Trainer and Consultant at Think:Kids, providing training and coaching for individuals and organizations interested in implementing Collaborative Problem Solving in their systems. He earned a BS in Psychology from Oregon State University and has worked in the mental health and special education arenas as a front-line staff, coach, and administrator for more than 12 years.

With a goal of shifting mindsets away from conventional “people choosing to misbehave” to a neurobiologically-guided mindset of viewing behavioral challenges as a form of learning disorder, Jordan joins with educators, parents, and caregivers in the responsibility of teaching individuals the necessary skills to meet daily, real-world expectations.

Elizabeth Buchholz, MNS is a Certified Trainer and Consultant and works with learners across the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) continuum. She provides training and coaching for organizations, provides implementation consultation sessions, and facilitates learning through the Certification program.

Elizabeth has experience working directly with youth and families using Collaborative Problem Solving in residential treatment, private day schools, and treatment foster care. As an Organization Learning Manager for a statewide nonprofit, she provided training and consultation in Collaborative Problem Solving and Implementation to staff and families in each of these settings. Elizabeth also led the direct care team in a large residential facility using the CPS approach as both a human resources management approach and as the guiding philosophy for interacting with and treating clients and families.

Elizabeth received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Philosophy and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Studies with a concentration in Implementation Science and Trauma Informed Care from the University of Richmond.

Contact Us

Please contact us at ThinkKidsInfo@MGH.Harvard.edu or +1-617-643-6030 with any questions or concerns. www.ThinkKids.org

Note: The content of this course was last updated in March 2024.

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