Treating Explosive Kids: The Collaborative Problem-Solving Approach Book

This book was suggested to me by a clinician at the collaborative school program I work at. It outlines a philosophy on how to communicate and interact with kids with behavioral problems and learning disabilities. The authors propose a move from the punishment/reward system most schools, detention centers, and residential programs adhere to, to a more open system based on finding the specific needs that underly the behavioral problems of any child and working to meet those needs, thus lessening the child's adjustment problems. The adults surrounding these disruptive children are encouraged to look at themselves and their own behaviors that are contributing to the problem. They are encouraged to focus on what triggers the child's outbursts, as well as try to teach the skills needed to deal with these "triggering" situations better. The 'CPS' approach also discourages hypothesizing about the child's motives behind their behavior. Often adults assume the child's behavior is a manipulative attempt at getting what they want; manipulation, laziness, stubbornness are all examples of motives adults assume when children act up. The 'CPS' model believes that cognitive deficiencies are the reason for the child's bad behavior and it is the adult's job to teach the kids in these lagging areas. You do this by "collaborating" with the children when problems arise, not by trying to bend them to your will. The 'CPS" model believes that if a kid can succeed they will. It is the adults job to find out what is standing in their way and try to help.
With all that said - the philosophy is interesting and also worth a shot. I have seen many times with my own eyes adults punishing a child's behavior over and over again - never realizing that the behavior never leaves. The adult doesn't realize that their approach IS NOT WORKING! They just don't know any other way, and I could see this approach helping a hell of a lot. The philosophy is cool, but the book was dry as all hell. Their is some very worthy content, however, behind the dull language.