Collaboration over control: Using Collaborative Problem Solving to navigate power struggles, tantrums, and challenging behaviors with Dr. Stuart Ablon

Joining me is Dr. Stuart Ablon, a psychologist, Harvard Medical School professor, founder and director of Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital, and author of several books, including Changeable: How Collaborative Problem Solving Changes Lives at Home, at School, and at Work.   Together we explore:   Why kids' struggles are more about lagging skills than lack of motivation. The importance of empathy, co-regulation, and relationship-building in reducing conflict. The 3 "plans" parents can choose from when kids aren't meeting expectations—and how to use them effectively. How Collaborative Problem Solving offers a structured yet compassionate alternative to "tough love" or "gentle parenting." Practical ways to use this approach proactively and in the heat of the moment. How practicing this method not only improves behavior, but also fosters resilience, flexibility, and stronger parent–child bonds.   Whether you're a parent, teacher, or clinician, this conversation offers practical tools and a fresh perspective to help you support kids with understanding, structure, and collaboration   LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST: 🔗 https://www.stuartablon.com/ 🔗 https://thinkkids.org/  📚 Changeable: How Collaborative Problem Solving Changes Lives at Home, at School, and at Work 💻 Tedx Talk    FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: 📱@thinkkidscps 📱@drsarahbren   ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: 👉 Dr. Ablon has generously shared an amazing parenting resource with us. Visit https://thinkkids.org/Self-Paced-Courses/Parent-Caregiver-Course/ and use Code: SecurelyAttached to get access to this course for ✨FREE✨ Available in both English and Spanish.   💥 Tired of constant battles with your child? Watch my ✨FREE✨ workshop, Overcoming Power Struggles, where I'll teach you the exact strategies I use in my clinical practice to help parents break free from the cycle of yelling, threats, and negotiations—and instead foster cooperation, connection, and calm. Just visit drsarahbren.com/powerstruggles to get instant access to this workshop.   📚 The Explosive Child: A New Approach For Understanding And Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children       CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 328. The neuroscience of raising emotionally resilient kids: Supporting your child's emotional growth and regulation with Dr. Kristen Lindquist     🎧24. The psychology behind dysregulation with founder of Parenting Translator Cara Goodwin     🎧06. Teaching children emotion regulation skills through coregulation with Dana Rosenbloom   🎧318. The neuroscience of control: Helping kids cope with stress and become self-driven with Dr. William Stixrud