21. Dr. J. Stuart Ablon on Collaborative Problem Solving

Episode 21 of the Get Psyched, a PsychSIGN Podcast podcast, hosted by PsychSIGN, titled "21. Dr. J. Stuart Ablon on Collaborative Problem Solving" was published on August 19, 2025 and runs 42 minutes.

August 19, 2025 ·42m · Get Psyched, a PsychSIGN Podcast

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Summary

In this episode of Get Psyched, we sit down with Dr. J. Stuart Ablon—clinical psychologist, founder of Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Thomas G. Stemberg Endowed Chair in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ablon has spent decades championing a compassionate, evidence-based approach to challenging behavior called Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS)—a model built on empathy, co-regulation, and the belief that “kids do well if they can.”We explore Dr. Ablon’s personal journey, from his early inspirations to his work transforming schools, hospitals, juvenile justice systems, and beyond. He breaks down the core principles of CPS, shares how it can be applied across psychiatry and other disciplines, and offers practical advice for medical students, residents, and clinicians navigating high-stress environments.From dismantling misconceptions about behavior management to addressing systemic inequities, Dr. Ablon invites us to rethink how we understand, and respond to, human behavior. Whether you’re a medical student, psychiatrist, educator, or simply curious about new ways to foster connection and change, this conversation will leave you informed, inspired, and ready to collaborate.Links to resources:https://www.stuartablon.com/https://thinkkids.org/Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/cruen/city-streetsLicense code: 2JJVCBQKEE2GJH5N

Episode Description

In this episode of Get Psyched, we sit down with Dr. J. Stuart Ablon—clinical psychologist, founder of Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Thomas G. Stemberg Endowed Chair in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ablon has spent decades championing a compassionate, evidence-based approach to challenging behavior called Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS)—a model built on empathy, co-regulation, and the belief that “kids do well if they can.”

We explore Dr. Ablon’s personal journey, from his early inspirations to his work transforming schools, hospitals, juvenile justice systems, and beyond. He breaks down the core principles of CPS, shares how it can be applied across psychiatry and other disciplines, and offers practical advice for medical students, residents, and clinicians navigating high-stress environments.

From dismantling misconceptions about behavior management to addressing systemic inequities, Dr. Ablon invites us to rethink how we understand, and respond to, human behavior. Whether you’re a medical student, psychiatrist, educator, or simply curious about new ways to foster connection and change, this conversation will leave you informed, inspired, and ready to collaborate.

Links to resources:

https://www.stuartablon.com/

https://thinkkids.org/

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/cruen/city-streets

License code: 2JJVCBQKEE2GJH5N