Ross Greene
New York Times Best-Selling Author, World Renowned Thought Leader on Children’s Behavior & Creator of the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) Model
Ross Greene
New York Times Best-Selling Author, World Renowned Thought Leader on Children’s Behavior & Creator of the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) Model
Biography
Ross W. Greene, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, internationally recognized thought leader on children’s behavior, and the originator of the evidence-based Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model. For decades, he has worked at the intersection of education, mental health, and systems change, partnering with schools, families, and communities to reimagine how we understand and support kids with concerning behaviors. His work challenges long-held assumptions, reframing concerning behavior as a frustration or distress response rather than defiance or intentional noncompliance, and equipping educators and caregivers with practical, compassionate strategies that lead to safer, more inclusive environments. Through the nonprofit he founded, Lives in the Balance, and his global consulting and speaking engagements, Dr. Greene engages directly with communities to drive meaningful, sustainable change in how adults respond to kids who are struggling.
Dr. Greene is the author of numerous influential books on children’s behavior and learning, including The Explosive Child and the widely adopted Lost at School, as well as Lost & Found and Raising Human Beings. His latest book, The Kids Who Aren’t Okay: The Urgent Case for Reimagining Support, Belonging, and Hope in Schools, offers a timely and urgent look at the growing mental health challenges facing students and educators alike. Drawing on decades of experience in classrooms around the world, he calls for a fundamental shift in how schools approach behavior, advocating for proactive, collaborative solutions that meet students where they are and addressing root causes rather than symptoms. Mixing research, practicality, real-world examples, actionable strategies, and a touch of idealism, the book provides a clear roadmap for creating more responsive, supportive, and effective learning environments.
Lives in the Balance serves as the hub for Dr. Greene’s advocacy, legislative efforts, and public awareness work. Through the organization, he has helped bring the CPS model to scale, providing free resources, training, and tools that support families, educators, and systems in adopting more humane and effective approaches to behavior. His work continues to influence conversations around discipline reform and equity in education as he partners with educators, policymakers, and caregivers to advance solutions that prioritize understanding, collaboration, and better long-term outcomes for children.
Dr. Greene was on the faculty at Harvard Medical School for over 20 years and now serves on the clinical faculty in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech and in the Faculty of Science at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia. His research has been funded by the Stanley Research Institute, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institutes of Mental Health, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. His work and insights have been featured across major media outlets, including The Oprah Show, Good Morning America, The Morning Show, The Atlantic, and National Public Radio.
A highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Greene works with schools & school districts, colleges, associations and organizations around the world to transform how adults understand and respond to children with behavioral challenges. Through practical, research-backed strategies, he equips audiences with tools to reduce conflict, build relationships, and create more compassionate, effective environments for kids and the adults who support them.
Speaker Videos
What Are Kids Telling Us: Lives in the Balance
Explosive Kids
Speech Topics
Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS): Rethinking Discipline Through Collaboration & Problem Solving
What if the key to changing behavior isn’t control—but collaboration? Ross W. Greene challenges the long-standing reliance on traditional discipline models and introduces a more effective, humane approach to supporting struggling kids. For decades, families, schools, and treatment settings have focused on modifying behavior, yet more young people than ever continue to face significant challenges. Dr. Greene’s evidence-based Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model shifts the focus from reacting to behavior to understanding and proactively solving the problems that cause it. Used by hundreds of thousands of educators, parents, clinicians, and organizations worldwide, CPS empowers adults to work with kids rather than on them—building skills, reducing conflict, and fostering trust. This keynote provides a clear, actionable path forward for anyone committed to meeting kids where they are and helping them succeed.
Audiences will learn:
- Why traditional discipline models often fall short—and what to do instead
- How to shift from reactive responses to proactive, collaborative problem solving
- Practical strategies to better understand and support kids with challenging behaviors
The Kids Who Aren’t Okay: Rethinking Behavior, Belonging & Support in Today’s Schools
What if the behaviors we struggle with most are actually the clearest signals of what students need? What if our special education structures and tiered systems of support – designed to make sure kids get what they need – aren’t accomplishing the mission? What if the crisis management training schools have been providing their staff is the exact opposite of what students and educators really need? Ross W. Greene challenges long-held assumptions about discipline and student behavior, offering a transformative shift in how educators and leaders respond to today’s growing mental health crisis. Drawing from his latest book, he reframes concerning behavior not as defiance, but as a form of communication—an indication that kids are having difficulty meeting expectations. Through the lens of his evidence-based Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model, Dr. Greene provides a practical, research-backed roadmap for creating learning environments where students feel understood, supported, and capable of success. Grounded in real-world application, this keynote moves beyond theory to equip audiences with strategies that reduce conflict, build trust, and foster genuine belonging across school communities.
Audiences will learn:
- A new framework for understanding concerning behavior as communication, not misconduct
- Practical strategies to foster belonging and reduce conflict in schools
- Actionable steps to create more responsive, student-centered systems
Beyond Discipline: Building Schools Where Every Student Can Succeed
If discipline alone worked, more students would be thriving. Ross W. Greene challenges educators and leaders to take a hard look at systems that were never designed for the complexity of today’s classrooms. Too often, traditional approaches exclude, punish, or misunderstand students who need support the most. Dr. Greene offers a different path forward—one rooted in empathy, equity, and collaborative problem solving. By aligning mindset, policy, and practice, schools can move beyond compliance-driven models and toward environments where both students and adults feel supported and capable of success. This keynote is both a call to action and a practical roadmap for creating meaningful, sustainable change across entire school communities.
Audiences will learn:
- Why traditional discipline approaches often fail to meet the needs of today’s students
- A framework for aligning school policies with how students actually learn and behave
- Practical strategies to drive lasting, system-level change in schools
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