Essential Foundation in Collaborative Problem Solving® | JUL 2025| CE / PDP

Essential Foundation in Collaborative Problem Solving®

This level 1 course covers all aspects of the Collaborative Problem Solving approach. In this 12-hour live, interactive training, including lectures, role-play, video examples, case studies, and breakout groups, participants learn how to identify what’s really causing unmet expectations and challenging behavior and how to address those causes using a relational, replicable, and evidence-based process. Upon completing this course, graduates are eligible to take the Advanced Concepts course.

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Learning Objectives

After completing this course, learners will be able to:

• Describe why a new approach is needed for working with individuals with challenging behaviors.
• Explain that a person's behavior is influenced by their thinking skills rather than their motivation to behave well.
• Identify how implicit bias may impact judgment about a person's behavior.
• Differentiate between problems to be solved and challenging behaviors when doing a CPS Assessment.
• Identify how responses to situations are consistent with Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C.
• Use Collaborative Problem Solving to build skills and address problems, not just challenging behaviors.
• Solve problems collaboratively with others.

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This course is conducted in 3 sessions, online, over Zoom

• Day 1 , July 14: 11:00 am - 4:15 pm ET / 8:00 am - 1:15 pm PT
• Day 2, July 15: : 11:00 am - 4:15 pm ET / 8:00 am - 1:15 pm PT
• Day 3, July 16: 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

• Early-Bird Individual Rate: $595/person (available up to 30 days prior to course start)
• Regular Individual Rate: $635/person (available within 29 days of course start)
• Early-Bird Group Rate (5+ from the same organization): $560/person (available up to 30 days prior to course start)
• Regular Group Rate (5+ from the same organization+: $605/person (available within 29 days of course start)

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 12 General continuing education credits.
• Educators: We are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for 12 PDPs, our provider number is S201500058.
• Licensed Mental Health Counselors: This program has been approved by MaMHCA/MCEAP for 12 CEs.
• Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Other: A certificate of attendance will be provided for 12 units which can be submitted to the corresponding professional organization for consideration.
  
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Who Should Attend?

This beginner-level course is designed for social workers, educators, residential program staff, mental health clinicians. Please contact ThinkKidsInfo@partners.org if you are unsure if this course is for you.

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Meet Your Instructors

Review the course instructor’s bios on our website:

Hallie Carpenter, EdS, NCSP is the Manager of Implementation and a Certified Trainer and Consultant for Think:Kids. She provides training and coaching to individuals and organizations seeking to learn and implement Collaborative Problem Solving within their systems. Hallie has worked for over a decade in educational settings as a behavior specialist, school psychologist, consultant, and adjunct instructor. She has had the opportunity to collaborate with individuals serving in various roles in schools and other agencies to work towards the common goal of improving outcomes for youth and families.

Hallie received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Linfield College and an Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology from Lewis and Clark College. She has been using CPS in her professional work and personal life for the past 10 years. In this time, she has observed firsthand the transformative power that comes from teaching others about the CPS approach. Specifically, how it encourages a more compassionate view of behavioral challenges and gives youth voice and ownership in their personal growth.

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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Contact Us

Please contact us at ThinkKidsInfo@MGH.Harvard.edu or +1-617-643-6030 with any questions or concerns. One Bowdoin Square, Boston, MA 02114. www.ThinkKids.org

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