Changeable: How Collaborative Problem Solving Changes Lives at Home, at School, and at Work

by J. Stuart Ablon

“An empowering read.”
--Susan David, Ph.D., author of Emotional Agility

“A great book.”
--Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., co-author of What Happened to You?

As featured on The Mel Robbins Show—discover the surprising science of helping anyone change

Whether as a parent, a boss, a romantic partner, or on your own journey toward personal growth, you know how hard it is to change problem behavior. Conventional methods like willpower, punishment, and strict discipline often backfire, creating a downward spiral of resentment and frustration, while the problem goes unsolved.

But what if the thinking behind “tough love” is wrong? What if people don’t misbehave because they want to, but because they lack the skills to do better? Or as renowned psychologist J. Stuart Ablon asks, what if changing problem behavior is a matter of skill, not will?

Based on more than twenty-five years of clinical work with at-risk teens as well as training parents, teachers, counselors and law enforcement, and supported by research in the neuroscience of conflict resolution, Changeable presents an empowering new way of thinking about changing unwanted behavior—Collaborative Problem Solving—that builds empathy and connection, helps others reach their full potential, and actually gets results.

Presenting remarkable success stories and actionable insights, Changeable gives parents, educators, managers, and change-makers of all stripes a simple roadmap for helping people grow.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that includes visual content from the pages of the book.

Audible Audio

Published June 5, 2018

About the author

J. Stuart Ablon, Ph.D., is the Director of Think:Kids in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is also Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ablon co-founded the Center for Collaborative Problem Solving where he also served as Co-Director from its inception until 2008. Dr. Ablon is co-author of Treating Explosive Kids: The Collaborative Problem Solving Approach and author of numerous articles, chapters and scientific papers on the process and outcome of psychosocial interventions. A dynamic and engaging speaker, Dr. Ablon was recently ranked #5 on the list of the world’s top rated keynote speakers in the academic arena.

Dr. Ablon’s research has been funded by, amongst others, the National Institute of Health, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the International Psychoanalytic Association, the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Institute, and the Endowment for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. Dr. Ablon received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of California at Berkeley and completed his predoctoral and postdoctoral training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ablon trains parents, educators, and clinicians and consults to schools and treatment programs throughout the world in the Collaborative Problem Solving approach.