problem solving in social situations

71+ Free Social Problem-Solving Scenarios

Do you have kiddos who struggle with their social problem-solving skills? Teach your students the simple process of how to solve a problem along with having them review how well their solution worked or didn’t work.

Why Teach Problem Solving Skills?

Learning to problem solve is an essential skill that is used not only throughout childhood but also into adulthood. Social problem solving is the ability to change or adapt to undesirable situations that arise throughout our day.

On a daily basis, a child will encounter social problems that they will need to solve.

Anything from:

arguing with another student
to hurting a friend’s feelings
to having a difficult conversation
working with others

Start with Small Problems

Many of the “problems” children encounter are often small problems which the child may be over-reacting to, such as wanting a different coloring crayon or wanting to be first in line, however, these small problems are still very real to the child.

Practicing problem-solving with these small problems can be a great learning opportunity. Children can practice problem-solving with a small problem which can help them learn how to handle bigger problems in the future.

Problem Solving Importance

Social problem-solving skills are critical to a child’s social interactions, personal and professional relationships. A child’s ability to handle change, cope with stress, and handle challenges improves with a child’s ability to successfully solve social problems.

The ultimate goal is that the child will be able to solve social problems all on their own, but until they can independently solve a problem they will need to learn how to communicate and self-advocate to positively solve their problems.

Steps to Problem Solving

Children can be taught how to problem solve through a guided process of breaking down the problem and using simple steps to solve the problem.

Learning specific steps to problem-solving can allow children to remember how to solve a problem when they become overwhelmed or stressed.

Although learning to solve a problem independently can take some time and practice it is well worth the investment to have a child who can eventually solve most social situations in a positive manner on their own.

What we learnt about solving problems is don't freak out, if one thing doesn't work , try something else out. And work together as a team. #melthammathsweek #MELTHAMPUPILVOICE @problemsolveit pic.twitter.com/iVm1Im4Aue — yr6melthamce (@yr6melthamce) February 4, 2019

Problem Solving Form

Teach your students the 4 steps to becoming a social problem-solver.

Identify the problem. For instance, start by having your student identify the social problem.
Create three solutions. Also, have your student come up with three different solutions that they could use to solve the problem that they identified.
Identify the consequences. Then, identify the consequence for each individual solution.
Pick the best solution. Lastly, have your student identify which of their three solutions is the best choice Then have your student put into words why they think that solution is the best solution.

Problem Solving Review Form

After your students go through the social problem-solver have them use the social problem-solving review form.

What happened. For instance, after your student tried their solution have them explain what happened next.
Review the results. Also, have your student identify whether or not their solution got them the results they wanted.
Use this solution again. Furthermore, have your student identify whether or not they would use this solution again in the future to solve the same or similar problem.
What would you do differently? Finally, have your student explain what they would do differently if they didn’t get the results they wanted or if they wouldn’t use that solution again in the future.

71+ Social Problem Scenarios + 6 Blank Scenarios

Use the 71 social problem-solving scenarios to have your students get great experience practicing how to solve a social problem.

Also, included are 6 blank scenarios. Then laminate them so you can use them over and over again. Therefore, create social problems that the student experiences and needs help solving.

Wordless Video teaching Problem Solving

Watch this super cute wordless animation with your students and have them discuss the problem they see and how to best solve the problem.

Use this as a fun practice example to get your students started towards learning how to problem-solve.

Demonstrate Through Modeling

Model and discuss empathy.

First and foremost, children need to understand how another person might be feeling in a given situation in order to become a good social problem solver. The student needs to learn how to “stand in someone else’s shoes” for a little bit.

One way you can work on this skill is during the reading time you can focus on how a particular character in the story might be feeling.

Ask questions, such as:

“How do they feel right now?”
“How would you feel in that same situation?”
“Why do you think they feel that way?”

Model Problem-Solving Skills as the Teacher

When you are faced with a problem you can solve the problem by thinking aloud for the students to hear how you solve a problem.

You can state the problem, then come up with possible solutions, then identify the possible consequences to each solution, then pick and explain why a solution is the best option.

For example, you could say, “I was hoping to take the class outside for a stress walk around the track before the reading test, but the problem is that it is raining outside. I could still take you outside, but then you will get wet, or we could walk the halls, but then we’d have to be really quiet because there are other classes learning, or we could just skip the walk and take the reading test, but then you might not do as well on the test. I think based on all of those solutions the best solution will be to walk the hallway, but you guys will have to promise to be quiet so that we don’t disrupt other classes.

Modeling the problem-solving process can be very helpful for the students to watch, observe, and later implement themselves.

Teach Communication

Have students communicate how they are feeling.

Teaching your students to share their emotions in a respectful way can improve their ability to problem-solve.

Have students use an “I” sentence frame, such as, “I feel _____ (insert feeling word) when _____ (identify what made you feel that way).”

For example, “I felt sad when Jackson broke my favorite pencil” or “I was mad when I wasn’t picked to be first in line.”

This way students can communicate how they are feeling using honest and open communication. Teaching students to appropriately communicate their emotions can help solve some social problems from the beginning.

Encourage Independency

Encourage your student to problem solve.

If your student is struggling to problem solve independently encourage them to do so using open-ended questions.

“How could you fix this problem?”
“What would be a fair solution?”
“What would happen if you used that solution?”

Let the Student try to Problem Solve Independently

Give your students the space to try and solve their own problems using the guided strategies. Try not to come running to their rescue for every little problem.

Some problems are small and a great opportunity for the student to learn and practice. If an adult does all of the problem solving for a student then what are they really learning?

Give your students the time and space they need to practice solving small problems on their own. Of course, if it is a bigger or more serious problem then have an adult help guide the problem-solving process.

Tell an Adult

Remind your students that there are still some problems that are too big for them to solve on their own and that it is okay to get help from an adult to solve big problems.

For example, if the student doesn’t feel safe, someone is being hurt physically or emotionally, or if they tried to solve a problem independently but it didn’t work and they need help. Let them know that it’s okay to tell an adult.

Teach How to Disagree and How to Make Up

Discuss how to disagree respectfully.

Remind your student that they won’t always agree with their teacher, friends, classmate, or parents and that’s okay. Even the people we like might have different opinions, interests, and likes than we do.

However, even if we disagree with someone we should still treat them with respect. Treating someone with respect means to not call them names, ignore them, yell or hit them. It means that you do try to create solutions that both parties can agree with and to apologize when we hurt others’ feelings.

Role-Play How to Make Up

Practice in everyday life how to make up after a social problem .

Students are really having to stretch their brains today. It's @NSPCC #NumberDay and @problemsolveit are challenging Y9 and 10 to solve the escape room boxes. It's not as easy as it looks! The promise of a few sweet treats for the winners seems to be helping though! pic.twitter.com/AxRRJnJIv2 — CongletonHS (@CongletonHS) February 2, 2018

Be sure to get your free social problem solver today below! I hope you and your students love this freebie.

Have your students use task card scenarios to help them identify how they and others might feel in different social scenarios. Be sure to discuss the problem, identify possible solutions, identify the consequences of those possible solutions, and then based on those consequences pick the best solution.

Make social problem-solving a game by telling the students that they are social detectives and that it is their job to use what they know about social rules to help them identify the possible and best solutions.

Start practicing today with 71+ free social problem social task cards! Do your students need more practice?

Be sure to check out my other freebie for 31 wordless animated videos to teach problem-solving and so much more.

Make Problem Solving Easier with this Freebie!

Download yours today to get started.

Get More Problem Solving Time Saving Materials

Next, be sure to check out the following time-saving materials to continue to teach your students how to solve their social problems in addition to this freebie.

Weekly Social Pragmatics Homework

Weekly problem-solving. Send home a weekly homework page that includes a problem-solving scenario plus an idiom and a conversational practice scenario.

Restorative Justice Problem Solving Flip Book

Restorative justice graphic visual. Use this graphic visual to help your student restore a social relationship after a social problem.

Self-Advocating Role-Play Scenarios

Self-advocating in high school. Teach your high schoolers the process to self-advocate for what they need.

5th-12th Grade Life Skills Problem Solving

Life skills problem-solving. In addition, this life skills differentiated bundle includes a problem-solving lesson plan.

I recommend you read Problem Solving Wheel: Help Kids Solve Their Own Problems , 61+ Free Fillable SLP Planner Pages 2020-2021 , 430+ Free Multisyllabic Words List Activity Bundle , or 432+ Free IEP Goal Bank to Save You Time posts because they include freebies as well and who doesn’t want more freebies!

Got questions? Leave a comment. Let’s chat!

Monday 30th of January 2023

Hello! I have entered my name and email twice (yesterday & today) to receive to 71+ Free Social Problem-Solving Senarios, but I have not received anything yet. Not even an email back to mine in order to subcribe. Thanks for your help! Tracy

Melissa Berg

Tuesday 31st of January 2023

Hi Tracy, Thanks so much for reaching out! Sorry about that. We went ahead and sent you an email with the PDF attached. Wishing you all my best, Melissa

Problem Solving Skills

Tuesday 30th of August 2022

I truly love your site. Excellent colors, theme and writing. Thanks for sharing.

Laura Ricca

Monday 11th of April 2022

Tuesday 12th of April 2022

Hi Laura, I'm glad you found this resource helpful. Melissa

Modified Mental Health and Suicide Prevention - Speech Therapy Store

Monday 11th of May 2020

[…] 71+ FREE SOCIAL PROBLEM-SOLVING SCENARIOS […]

Problem Solving Wheel: Help Kids Solve Their Own Problems - Speech Therapy Store

Monday 4th of May 2020

[…] 71+ Free Social Problem Solving Task Cards Scenarios […]

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
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Social Problem Solving

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Social problem-solving might also be called ‘ problem-solving in real life ’. In other words, it is a rather academic way of describing the systems and processes that we use to solve the problems that we encounter in our everyday lives.

The word ‘ social ’ does not mean that it only applies to problems that we solve with other people, or, indeed, those that we feel are caused by others. The word is simply used to indicate the ‘ real life ’ nature of the problems, and the way that we approach them.

Social problem-solving is generally considered to apply to four different types of problems:

Impersonal problems, for example, shortage of money;
Personal problems, for example, emotional or health problems;
Interpersonal problems, such as disagreements with other people; and
Community and wider societal problems, such as litter or crime rate.

A Model of Social Problem-Solving

One of the main models used in academic studies of social problem-solving was put forward by a group led by Thomas D’Zurilla.

This model includes three basic concepts or elements:

Problem-solving

This is defined as the process used by an individual, pair or group to find an effective solution for a particular problem. It is a self-directed process, meaning simply that the individual or group does not have anyone telling them what to do. Parts of this process include generating lots of possible solutions and selecting the best from among them.

A problem is defined as any situation or task that needs some kind of a response if it is to be managed effectively, but to which no obvious response is available. The demands may be external, from the environment, or internal.

A solution is a response or coping mechanism which is specific to the problem or situation. It is the outcome of the problem-solving process.

Once a solution has been identified, it must then be implemented. D’Zurilla’s model distinguishes between problem-solving (the process that identifies a solution) and solution implementation (the process of putting that solution into practice), and notes that the skills required for the two are not necessarily the same. It also distinguishes between two parts of the problem-solving process: problem orientation and actual problem-solving.

Problem Orientation

Problem orientation is the way that people approach problems, and how they set them into the context of their existing knowledge and ways of looking at the world.

Each of us will see problems in a different way, depending on our experience and skills, and this orientation is key to working out which skills we will need to use to solve the problem.

An Example of Orientation

Most people, on seeing a spout of water coming from a loose joint between a tap and a pipe, will probably reach first for a cloth to put round the joint to catch the water, and then a phone, employing their research skills to find a plumber.

A plumber, however, or someone with some experience of plumbing, is more likely to reach for tools to mend the joint and fix the leak. It’s all a question of orientation.

Problem-Solving

Problem-solving includes four key skills:

Defining the problem,
Coming up with alternative solutions,
Making a decision about which solution to use, and
Implementing that solution.

Based on this split between orientation and problem-solving, D’Zurilla and colleagues defined two scales to measure both abilities.

They defined two orientation dimensions, positive and negative, and three problem-solving styles, rational, impulsive/careless and avoidance.

They noted that people who were good at orientation were not necessarily good at problem-solving and vice versa, although the two might also go together.

It will probably be obvious from these descriptions that the researchers viewed positive orientation and rational problem-solving as functional behaviours, and defined all the others as dysfunctional, leading to psychological distress.

The skills required for positive problem orientation are:

Being able to see problems as ‘challenges’, or opportunities to gain something, rather than insurmountable difficulties at which it is only possible to fail.

For more about this, see our page on The Importance of Mindset ;

Believing that problems are solvable. While this, too, may be considered an aspect of mindset, it is also important to use techniques of Positive Thinking ;

Believing that you personally are able to solve problems successfully, which is at least in part an aspect of self-confidence.

See our page on Building Confidence for more;

Understanding that solving problems successfully will take time and effort, which may require a certain amount of resilience ; and

Motivating yourself to solve problems immediately, rather than putting them off.

See our pages on Self-Motivation and Time Management for more.

Those who find it harder to develop positive problem orientation tend to view problems as insurmountable obstacles, or a threat to their well-being, doubt their own abilities to solve problems, and become frustrated or upset when they encounter problems.

The skills required for rational problem-solving include:

The ability to gather information and facts, through research. There is more about this on our page on defining and identifying problems ;

The ability to set suitable problem-solving goals. You may find our page on personal goal-setting helpful;

The application of rational thinking to generate possible solutions. You may find some of the ideas on our Creative Thinking page helpful, as well as those on investigating ideas and solutions ;

Good decision-making skills to decide which solution is best. See our page on Decision-Making for more; and

Implementation skills, which include the ability to plan, organise and do. You may find our pages on Action Planning , Project Management and Solution Implementation helpful.

There is more about the rational problem-solving process on our page on Problem-Solving .

Potential Difficulties

Those who struggle to manage rational problem-solving tend to either:

Rush things without thinking them through properly (the impulsive/careless approach), or
Avoid them through procrastination, ignoring the problem, or trying to persuade someone else to solve the problem (the avoidance mode).

This ‘ avoidance ’ is not the same as actively and appropriately delegating to someone with the necessary skills (see our page on Delegation Skills for more).

Instead, it is simple ‘buck-passing’, usually characterised by a lack of selection of anyone with the appropriate skills, and/or an attempt to avoid responsibility for the problem.

An Academic Term for a Human Process?

You may be thinking that social problem-solving, and the model described here, sounds like an academic attempt to define very normal human processes. This is probably not an unreasonable summary.

However, breaking a complex process down in this way not only helps academics to study it, but also helps us to develop our skills in a more targeted way. By considering each element of the process separately, we can focus on those that we find most difficult: maximum ‘bang for your buck’, as it were.

Continue to: Decision Making Creative Problem-Solving

See also: What is Empathy? Social Skills

Social Problem Solving

Reference work entry
pp 1399–1403
Cite this reference work entry

Molly Adrian 3 ,
Aaron Lyon 4 ,
Rosalind Oti 5 &
Jennifer Tininenko 6

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Interpersonal cognitive problem solving ; Interpersonal problem solving ; Social decision making ; Social information processing

Social problem solving is the process by which individuals identify and enact solutions to social life situations in an effort to alter the problematic nature of the situation, their relation to the situation, or both [ 7 ].

Description

In D’Zurilla and Goldfried’s [ 6 ] seminal article, the authors conceptualized social problem solving as an individuals’ processing and action upon entering interpersonal situations in which no immediately effective response is available. One primary component of social problem solving is the cognitive-behavioral process of generating potential solutions to the social dilemma. The steps in this process were posited to be similar across individuals despite the wide variability of observed behaviors. The revised model [ 7 ] is comprised of two interrelated domains: problem orientation and problem solving style....

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D’Zurilla, T. J., & Nezu, A. M. (1999). Problem solving therapy: A social competence approach to clinical intervention (2nd ed.). New York: Springer.

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Pettit, G. S., Dodge, K. A., & Brown, M. M. (1988). Early family experience, social problem solving patterns, and children’s social competence. Child Development, 59 , 107–120.

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Rubin, K. H., & Krasnor, L. R. (1986). Social-cognitive and social behavioral perspectives on problem solving. In M. Perlmutter (Ed.), Cognitive perspectives on children’s social and behavioral development. The Minnesota symposia on child psychology (Vol. 18, pp. 1–68). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

Rubin, K. H., & Rose-Krasnor, L. (1992). Interpersonal problem-solving and social competence in children. In V. B. van Hasselt & M. Hersen (Eds.), Handbook of social development: A lifespace perspective . New York: Plenum.

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Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 354920, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

Molly Adrian

Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Seattle Children's Hospital, 4800 Gand Point way NE, Seattle, WA, 98125, USA

Rosalind Oti

Evidence Based Treatment Center of Seattle, 1200 5th Avenue, Suite 800, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA

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Adrian, M., Lyon, A., Oti, R., Tininenko, J. (2011). Social Problem Solving. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2703

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10 Best Problem-Solving Therapy Worksheets & Activities

Cognitive science tells us that we regularly face not only well-defined problems but, importantly, many that are ill defined (Eysenck & Keane, 2015).

Sometimes, we find ourselves unable to overcome our daily problems or the inevitable (though hopefully infrequent) life traumas we face.

Problem-Solving Therapy aims to reduce the incidence and impact of mental health disorders and improve wellbeing by helping clients face life’s difficulties (Dobson, 2011).

This article introduces Problem-Solving Therapy and offers techniques, activities, and worksheets that mental health professionals can use with clients.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology, including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

What is problem-solving therapy, 14 steps for problem-solving therapy, 3 best interventions and techniques, 7 activities and worksheets for your session, fascinating books on the topic, resources from positivepsychology.com, a take-home message.

Problem-Solving Therapy assumes that mental disorders arise in response to ineffective or maladaptive coping. By adopting a more realistic and optimistic view of coping, individuals can understand the role of emotions and develop actions to reduce distress and maintain mental wellbeing (Nezu & Nezu, 2009).

“Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a psychosocial intervention, generally considered to be under a cognitive-behavioral umbrella” (Nezu, Nezu, & D’Zurilla, 2013, p. ix). It aims to encourage the client to cope better with day-to-day problems and traumatic events and reduce their impact on mental and physical wellbeing.

Clinical research, counseling, and health psychology have shown PST to be highly effective in clients of all ages, ranging from children to the elderly, across multiple clinical settings, including schizophrenia, stress, and anxiety disorders (Dobson, 2011).

Can it help with depression?

PST appears particularly helpful in treating clients with depression. A recent analysis of 30 studies found that PST was an effective treatment with a similar degree of success as other successful therapies targeting depression (Cuijpers, Wit, Kleiboer, Karyotaki, & Ebert, 2020).

Other studies confirm the value of PST and its effectiveness at treating depression in multiple age groups and its capacity to combine with other therapies, including drug treatments (Dobson, 2011).

The major concepts

Effective coping varies depending on the situation, and treatment typically focuses on improving the environment and reducing emotional distress (Dobson, 2011).

PST is based on two overlapping models:

Social problem-solving model

This model focuses on solving the problem “as it occurs in the natural social environment,” combined with a general coping strategy and a method of self-control (Dobson, 2011, p. 198).

The model includes three central concepts:

Social problem-solving
The problem
The solution

The model is a “self-directed cognitive-behavioral process by which an individual, couple, or group attempts to identify or discover effective solutions for specific problems encountered in everyday living” (Dobson, 2011, p. 199).

Relational problem-solving model

The theory of PST is underpinned by a relational problem-solving model, whereby stress is viewed in terms of the relationships between three factors:

Stressful life events
Emotional distress and wellbeing
Problem-solving coping

Therefore, when a significant adverse life event occurs, it may require “sweeping readjustments in a person’s life” (Dobson, 2011, p. 202).

Enhance positive problem orientation
Decrease negative orientation
Foster ability to apply rational problem-solving skills
Reduce the tendency to avoid problem-solving
Minimize the tendency to be careless and impulsive

D’Zurilla’s and Nezu’s model includes (modified from Dobson, 2011):

Initial structuring Establish a positive therapeutic relationship that encourages optimism and explains the PST approach.
Assessment Formally and informally assess areas of stress in the client’s life and their problem-solving strengths and weaknesses.
Obstacles to effective problem-solving Explore typically human challenges to problem-solving, such as multitasking and the negative impact of stress. Introduce tools that can help, such as making lists, visualization, and breaking complex problems down.
Problem orientation – fostering self-efficacy Introduce the importance of a positive problem orientation, adopting tools, such as visualization, to promote self-efficacy.
Problem orientation – recognizing problems Help clients recognize issues as they occur and use problem checklists to ‘normalize’ the experience.
Problem orientation – seeing problems as challenges Encourage clients to break free of harmful and restricted ways of thinking while learning how to argue from another point of view.
Problem orientation – use and control emotions Help clients understand the role of emotions in problem-solving, including using feelings to inform the process and managing disruptive emotions (such as cognitive reframing and relaxation exercises).
Problem orientation – stop and think Teach clients how to reduce impulsive and avoidance tendencies (visualizing a stop sign or traffic light).
Problem definition and formulation Encourage an understanding of the nature of problems and set realistic goals and objectives.
Generation of alternatives Work with clients to help them recognize the wide range of potential solutions to each problem (for example, brainstorming).
Decision-making Encourage better decision-making through an improved understanding of the consequences of decisions and the value and likelihood of different outcomes.
Solution implementation and verification Foster the client’s ability to carry out a solution plan, monitor its outcome, evaluate its effectiveness, and use self-reinforcement to increase the chance of success.
Guided practice Encourage the application of problem-solving skills across multiple domains and future stressful problems.
Rapid problem-solving Teach clients how to apply problem-solving questions and guidelines quickly in any given situation.

Success in PST depends on the effectiveness of its implementation; using the right approach is crucial (Dobson, 2011).

Problem-solving therapy – Baycrest

The following interventions and techniques are helpful when implementing more effective problem-solving approaches in client’s lives.

First, it is essential to consider if PST is the best approach for the client, based on the problems they present.

Is PPT appropriate?

It is vital to consider whether PST is appropriate for the client’s situation. Therapists new to the approach may require additional guidance (Nezu et al., 2013).

Therapists should consider the following questions before beginning PST with a client (modified from Nezu et al., 2013):

Has PST proven effective in the past for the problem? For example, research has shown success with depression, generalized anxiety, back pain, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and supporting caregivers (Nezu et al., 2013).
Is PST acceptable to the client?
Is the individual experiencing a significant mental or physical health problem?

All affirmative answers suggest that PST would be a helpful technique to apply in this instance.

Five problem-solving steps

The following five steps are valuable when working with clients to help them cope with and manage their environment (modified from Dobson, 2011).

Ask the client to consider the following points (forming the acronym ADAPT) when confronted by a problem:

Attitude Aim to adopt a positive, optimistic attitude to the problem and problem-solving process.
Define Obtain all required facts and details of potential obstacles to define the problem.
Alternatives Identify various alternative solutions and actions to overcome the obstacle and achieve the problem-solving goal.
Predict Predict each alternative’s positive and negative outcomes and choose the one most likely to achieve the goal and maximize the benefits.
Try out Once selected, try out the solution and monitor its effectiveness while engaging in self-reinforcement.

If the client is not satisfied with their solution, they can return to step ‘A’ and find a more appropriate solution.

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Exercises (PDF)

Enhance wellbeing with these free, science-based exercises that draw on the latest insights from positive psychology.

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Tools Pack (PDF)

By filling out your name and email address below.

Positive self-statements

When dealing with clients facing negative self-beliefs, it can be helpful for them to use positive self-statements.

Use the following (or add new) self-statements to replace harmful, negative thinking (modified from Dobson, 2011):

I can solve this problem; I’ve tackled similar ones before.
I can cope with this.
I just need to take a breath and relax.
Once I start, it will be easier.
It’s okay to look out for myself.
I can get help if needed.
Other people feel the same way I do.
I’ll take one piece of the problem at a time.
I can keep my fears in check.
I don’t need to please everyone.

5 Worksheets and workbooks

Problem-solving self-monitoring form.

Answering the questions in the Problem-Solving Self-Monitoring Form provides the therapist with necessary information regarding the client’s overall and specific problem-solving approaches and reactions (Dobson, 2011).

Ask the client to complete the following:

Describe the problem you are facing.
What is your goal?
What have you tried so far to solve the problem?
What was the outcome?

Reactions to Stress

It can be helpful for the client to recognize their own experiences of stress. Do they react angrily, withdraw, or give up (Dobson, 2011)?

The Reactions to Stress worksheet can be given to the client as homework to capture stressful events and their reactions. By recording how they felt, behaved, and thought, they can recognize repeating patterns.

What Are Your Unique Triggers?

Helping clients capture triggers for their stressful reactions can encourage emotional regulation.

When clients can identify triggers that may lead to a negative response, they can stop the experience or slow down their emotional reaction (Dobson, 2011).

The What Are Your Unique Triggers ? worksheet helps the client identify their triggers (e.g., conflict, relationships, physical environment, etc.).

Problem-Solving worksheet

Imagining an existing or potential problem and working through how to resolve it can be a powerful exercise for the client.

Use the Problem-Solving worksheet to state a problem and goal and consider the obstacles in the way. Then explore options for achieving the goal, along with their pros and cons, to assess the best action plan.

Getting the Facts

Clients can become better equipped to tackle problems and choose the right course of action by recognizing facts versus assumptions and gathering all the necessary information (Dobson, 2011).

Use the Getting the Facts worksheet to answer the following questions clearly and unambiguously:

Who is involved?
What did or did not happen, and how did it bother you?
Where did it happen?
When did it happen?
Why did it happen?
How did you respond?

2 Helpful Group Activities

While therapists can use the worksheets above in group situations, the following two interventions work particularly well with more than one person.

Generating Alternative Solutions and Better Decision-Making

A group setting can provide an ideal opportunity to share a problem and identify potential solutions arising from multiple perspectives.

Use the Generating Alternative Solutions and Better Decision-Making worksheet and ask the client to explain the situation or problem to the group and the obstacles in the way.

Once the approaches are captured and reviewed, the individual can share their decision-making process with the group if they want further feedback.

Visualization

Visualization can be performed with individuals or in a group setting to help clients solve problems in multiple ways, including (Dobson, 2011):

Clarifying the problem by looking at it from multiple perspectives
Rehearsing a solution in the mind to improve and get more practice
Visualizing a ‘safe place’ for relaxation, slowing down, and stress management

Guided imagery is particularly valuable for encouraging the group to take a ‘mental vacation’ and let go of stress.

Ask the group to begin with slow, deep breathing that fills the entire diaphragm. Then ask them to visualize a favorite scene (real or imagined) that makes them feel relaxed, perhaps beside a gently flowing river, a summer meadow, or at the beach.

The more the senses are engaged, the more real the experience. Ask the group to think about what they can hear, see, touch, smell, and even taste.

Encourage them to experience the situation as fully as possible, immersing themselves and enjoying their place of safety.

Such feelings of relaxation may be able to help clients fall asleep, relieve stress, and become more ready to solve problems.

We have included three of our favorite books on the subject of Problem-Solving Therapy below.

1. Problem-Solving Therapy: A Treatment Manual – Arthur Nezu, Christine Maguth Nezu, and Thomas D’Zurilla

This is an incredibly valuable book for anyone wishing to understand the principles and practice behind PST.

Written by the co-developers of PST, the manual provides powerful toolkits to overcome cognitive overload, emotional dysregulation, and the barriers to practical problem-solving.

Find the book on Amazon .

2. Emotion-Centered Problem-Solving Therapy: Treatment Guidelines – Arthur Nezu and Christine Maguth Nezu

Another, more recent, book from the creators of PST, this text includes important advances in neuroscience underpinning the role of emotion in behavioral treatment.

Along with clinical examples, the book also includes crucial toolkits that form part of a stepped model for the application of PST.

3. Handbook of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies – Keith Dobson and David Dozois

This is the fourth edition of a hugely popular guide to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies and includes a valuable and insightful section on Problem-Solving Therapy.

This is an important book for students and more experienced therapists wishing to form a high-level and in-depth understanding of the tools and techniques available to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists.

For even more tools to help strengthen your clients’ problem-solving skills, check out the following free worksheets from our blog.

Case Formulation Worksheet This worksheet presents a four-step framework to help therapists and their clients come to a shared understanding of the client’s presenting problem.
Understanding Your Default Problem-Solving Approach This worksheet poses a series of questions helping clients reflect on their typical cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to problems.
Social Problem Solving: Step by Step This worksheet presents a streamlined template to help clients define a problem, generate possible courses of action, and evaluate the effectiveness of an implemented solution.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others enhance their wellbeing, check out this signature collection of 17 validated positive psychology tools for practitioners. Use them to help others flourish and thrive.

17 Top-Rated Positive Psychology Exercises for Practitioners

Expand your arsenal and impact with these 17 Positive Psychology Exercises [PDF] , scientifically designed to promote human flourishing, meaning, and wellbeing.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

While we are born problem-solvers, facing an incredibly diverse set of challenges daily, we sometimes need support.

Problem-Solving Therapy aims to reduce stress and associated mental health disorders and improve wellbeing by improving our ability to cope. PST is valuable in diverse clinical settings, ranging from depression to schizophrenia, with research suggesting it as a highly effective treatment for teaching coping strategies and reducing emotional distress.

Many PST techniques are available to help improve clients’ positive outlook on obstacles while reducing avoidance of problem situations and the tendency to be careless and impulsive.

The PST model typically assesses the client’s strengths, weaknesses, and coping strategies when facing problems before encouraging a healthy experience of and relationship with problem-solving.

Why not use this article to explore the theory behind PST and try out some of our powerful tools and interventions with your clients to help them with their decision-making, coping, and problem-solving?

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

Cuijpers, P., Wit, L., Kleiboer, A., Karyotaki, E., & Ebert, D. (2020). Problem-solving therapy for adult depression: An updated meta-analysis. European P sychiatry , 48 (1), 27–37.
Dobson, K. S. (2011). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
Dobson, K. S., & Dozois, D. J. A. (2021). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies (4th ed.). Guilford Press.
Eysenck, M. W., & Keane, M. T. (2015). Cognitive psychology: A student’s handbook . Psychology Press.
Nezu, A. M., & Nezu, C. M. (2009). Problem-solving therapy DVD . Retrieved September 13, 2021, from https://www.apa.org/pubs/videos/4310852
Nezu, A. M., & Nezu, C. M. (2018). Emotion-centered problem-solving therapy: Treatment guidelines. Springer.
Nezu, A. M., Nezu, C. M., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (2013). Problem-solving therapy: A treatment manual . Springer.

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5 Social Problem Solving Scenarios to Challenge Your Perspective

Unraveling the Art of Social Problem-Solving: An Introduction

Are you struggling to navigate through social puzzles and dilemmas? You’re not alone. Many of us find ourselves entangled in the complex web of social issues, often feeling lost and unsure how to tackle the situation effectively. The good news is this article is here to guide you through the intricacies of social problem solving scenarios.

Understanding social problem-solving can be a game-changer in your personal and professional life. It’s not just about finding solutions but also about understanding why these scenarios matter in the first place. It’s about gaining perspective, a tool that can empower you to transform conflicts into opportunities for growth and deeper understanding.

Remember, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. It’s okay to stumble and make mistakes along the way. What matters is your willingness to learn, to adapt, and to grow. With the insights and advice provided in this article, you’ll understand the art of social problem-solving and feel empowered to face any social scenario thrown your way. Step by step, you’ll learn how to unravel the knots of social dilemmas, turning them into stepping stones towards better relationships and stronger connections. Let’s embark on this empowering journey together.

Scenario 1: Handling Workplace Discrimination

Workplace discrimination can be a challenging and disheartening experience. It’s tough to face, and you’re not alone in this. Let’s break down the process into manageable steps so you can navigate this tricky territory with confidence and dignity.

Identifying Discrimination

First, it’s crucial to identify discrimination accurately. It may manifest as unfair treatment based on race, gender, age, religion, or other protected characteristics. Some signs are uncomfortable jokes, unequal pay, poor evaluation despite good performance, or exclusion from opportunities. Remember, it’s not in your head. Trust your instincts, gather evidence, and confide in someone you trust.

Record instances of discrimination
Keep a log of offensive remarks or actions
Save emails or documents that prove unfair treatment

How to Respond Diplomatically

Reacting to discrimination is tricky, but standing up for your rights calmly and professionally is essential. Express your feelings and concerns without resorting to a confrontational or aggressive tone.

Practice what you want to say in advance
Keep the conversation focused on the discriminatory behavior, not the person
Use “I” statements to express how you feel

Remember, your goal is to stop discriminatory behavior, not attack the responsible person. It isn’t easy, but keeping cool can lead to more productive outcomes.

Seeking Legal and Professional Help

If discrimination continues despite your efforts, it’s time to seek professional help. Contact your HR department initially and provide them with all the evidence you have. They are there to protect you and ensure a fair working environment . If HR fails to take appropriate action, consider seeking legal advice.

Document your conversations with HR
Consult a lawyer if needed
Reach out to local labor boards or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for further assistance

Workplace discrimination is a daunting experience, and it’s okay to seek help. Remember, you’re not alone, and resources are available to protect your rights. Stand tall, and don’t let discrimination define your career or self-worth.

In conclusion, handling workplace discrimination involves identifying the behavior, responding diplomatically, and seeking professional help when necessary. This process is complex, but remember you are stronger than the situation. You have the right to a discrimination-free workplace and the power to ensure it.

Remember, you’re not alone. Many others have walked this path and emerged stronger. You, too, can rise above this.

Scenario 2: Dealing with Bullying in School

Have you ever felt cornered, humiliated, or constantly picked on at school? If yes, you may have encountered bullying, an unfortunate yet common issue in many schools. Recognizing that bullying isn’t your fault and you’re not alone is essential.

Recognizing the Signs of Bullying

Bullying can take many forms – physical, verbal, or even online. It might be in constant teasing, spreading rumors, hitting, or intentionally excluding someone from a group.

Here are some signs to watch out for:

Frequent unexplained injuries or lost possessions
Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating
Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school
Feelings of helplessness or decreased self-esteem

Remember, it’s not always easy to identify bullying, especially when it’s subtle. Trust your instincts and speak up if something doesn’t feel right.

Effective Strategies to Challenge Bullying

Bullying can be challenging to confront. But with a few practical strategies, you can stand up against it.

Speak up: Don’t keep it to yourself. Speak to a trusted adult about what’s happening. They can provide guidance and take necessary actions.
Stay confident: Bullies often target those they perceive as weak. Show them you’re a challenging target. Stand tall and maintain eye contact.
Practice self-defense: If you’re dealing with physical bullying, consider learning some basic self-defense techniques.
Avoid retaliation: It’s natural to want to retaliate, but fighting back can often escalate the situation. Instead, focus on strategies to stay safe and involve adults when necessary.

Importance of Support Systems

You’re not alone in this fight. You have a support system – friends, family, or a school counselor- who can provide emotional and practical help.

Engage in activities you love, join clubs or sports teams, and surround yourself with positive influences. These connections can boost your self-esteem and provide a safe space to share your experiences.

Remember, seeking help is not a sign of weakness but courage. You’re stronger than you think and can overcome this challenge with proper support.

In conclusion, dealing with bullying can be challenging, but recognizing the signs, employing effective strategies, and having a solid support system can help make the situation better. Always remember that it’s okay to ask for help, and you have the power to stand up against bullying.

Scenario 3: Navigating Family Conflicts

Navigating family conflicts can feel like navigating a maze in the dark. The unpredictability, the emotional toll, the feeling of being trapped – it’s all too familiar to many of us. But remember, you’re not alone. Let’s break this down and explore how we can better understand and navigate family conflicts.

Understanding the Root Cause of Conflict

Often, conflicts seem to be about one thing, but they’re really about something else entirely. It’s like a layer of fog that shrouds the actual issue. To clear this, we must first understand the root cause.

Have an open mind: Try to look beyond the surface-level disagreements.
Reflect: Consider the history, past experiences, and dynamics.
Analyse: Identify patterns in arguments and triggers for conflict.

Remember, the goal isn’t to assign blame but to understand. Understanding is the first step towards resolution.

Tips for Open and Honest Communication

Communication is the bridge that connects us, but when conflict arises, that bridge can feel more like a wall. Here are some tips to foster open and honest communication:

Speak from the heart: Share your feelings without blaming or criticizing.
Listen actively: Show empathy and validate the other person’s feelings.
Use “I” statements: This can help avoid sounding accusatory.
Stay calm: Emotions can run high, but keep a level head.

Remember, communication is a two-way street. It’s about speaking and listening.

The Role of Professional Counselling in Conflict Resolution

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we need a little help. That’s where professional counseling can play a crucial role. Counselors act as neutral third parties. They can:

Provide guidance: They can help navigate difficult conversations .
Offer perspective: They can illuminate blind spots we might miss.
Foster understanding: They can help us better understand ourselves and others.

Remember, seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength. It shows that you’re committed to resolution and healing.

Navigating family conflicts can feel like walking on a tightrope. It’s a delicate balance, and it can be scary. But remember, you’re not alone. You’re capable of understanding, communicating, and resolving. Remember these tips: reach out for help when needed, and take it one step at a time. You’ve got this!

Scenario 4: Addressing Neighborhood Disputes

We’ve all been there. You’re living your life, minding your own business, when suddenly a neighborhood dispute arises. Whether it’s a disagreement over property lines, noise complaints, or a pesky tree dropping leaves on your lawn, these conflicts can escalate quickly and cause unnecessary stress. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Let’s go through a step-by-step process to help you navigate these tricky waters.

Identifying he Source of the Dispute

The first step in resolving any dispute is pinpointing its source. You need to understand the root of the problem before you can start to address it.

Is it about shared spaces or property boundaries?
Are there issues with noise or behavior that are causing friction? Or it’s a matter of differing lifestyle choices or values.

Once you’ve identified the source, you can start planning to address it. Remember, it’s essential to approach this with a level head and a clear mind. The aim is resolution, not escalation.

Approaching the Dispute with Empathy

Often, disputes arise from misunderstandings or miscommunications. That’s why it’s crucial to approach the situation with empathy.

Try to see things from your neighbor’s perspective.
Understand their concerns and feelings.
Remember, they, too, are part of the community and have a right to feel comfortable and at ease.

Approaching the dispute with empathy can help to de-escalate the situation and pave the way for a more productive conversation. It’s not about who’s right or wrong; it’s about finding a solution that works for everyone.

The Benefits of Mediation Services

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you might need more time to get through. This is where mediation services can be a game changer.

Mediation services provide a neutral third party to help facilitate discussions and negotiations.
They can help to ensure that all parties are heard and that the outcome is as fair as possible.
a mediator can help keep things professional and prevent personal feelings from clouding the issue.

In conclusion, disputes are a part of life – they do not reflect you or your abilities. It’s about how you handle them that truly matters. Be patient, empathetic, and open-minded, and you’ll be well on finding a resolution. Remember, the goal is not to win the argument but to maintain harmony in your neighborhood. After all, home is where the heart is, and peace of mind is priceless.

Scenario 5: Responding to Cyber Harassment

It’s difficult to discuss, but we need to address cyber harassment. It’s an unfortunate reality many face professionally and personally, and it’s crucial to understand how to recognize it and respond effectively. So, let’s navigate this together.

Recognizing Cyber Harassment

Start by acknowledging that cyber harassment is not your fault. It can take many forms and can involve:

Threatening or offensive emails, texts, or social media messages
Stalking or unwanted attention online
Repeated, unwanted contact or communication
Sharing of private or damaging information without consent

If you’re feeling uncomfortable, threatened, or unsafe due to someone’s online behavior, that’s a sign that you may be experiencing cyber harassment.

Steps to Take After Experiencing Harassment

It’s okay to feel frightened or uncertain. But remember, there are actionable steps you can take:

Document everything : Save and screenshot all communications and attempts at contact. This can serve as evidence if you decide to report the harassment.
Report it : Notify the appropriate platform or service provider about the harassment. Most have procedures in place to deal with such behavior.
Block the harasser : Prevent further communication by blocking the person across all platforms.
Reach out for support : Talk to friends, family, or a counselor about what you’re going through.
Report to authorities : If the harassment continues or escalates, it may be necessary to involve law enforcement.

Importance of Online Safety and Privacy

Now, let’s talk about prevention. Online safety and privacy are your shields against cyber harassment. Here are some tips:

Keep personal information private: Be cautious about what information you share online.
Use strong, unique passwords: This helps protect your accounts from being hacked.
Be selective with friend requests: Only accept requests from people you know and trust.
Adjust privacy settings: Make sure your profiles are private, and control who can see your posts and personal information.
Be wary of phishing attempts: Be careful when clicking links or attachments from unknown sources.

Remember, everyone has the right to feel safe and respected online. If you’ve experienced harassment, know you’re not alone; resources and people are ready to help. Internet safety starts with awareness, so let’s continue to educate ourselves and others about these issues. It’s a step towards making the online world safer for everyone.

In Conclusion: Social Problem-Solving and the Power of Empathy

As we wrap up our discussion on social problem-solving scenarios, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the challenges and anxieties these scenarios often bring. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed or uncertain when faced with complex interpersonal issues. But remember, every problem you encounter is an opportunity to grow and learn.

The key lies in empathy and understanding . These two attributes can significantly transform your problem-solving approach. Empathy allows you to see through the lens of others, fostering an environment of mutual respect and collaboration. On the other hand, understanding helps you grasp the intricacies of the situation more effectively, enabling you to devise both fair and practical solutions.

As you continue your journey, we encourage you to embrace these challenges head-on, using them as stepping stones for personal and professional growth. Never stop learning, evolving, and adapting. With empathy and understanding as your guides, you’re well-equipped to navigate any social problem-solving scenario that comes your way. Remember, it’s not about being perfect but striving for progress. So, keep going, keep growing, and most importantly, keep believing in your capacity to create positive change.

Key Takeaways: Challenge Your Perspective

Tips for social problem solving scenarios.

Workplace Conflict We understand how stressful it can be when facing work conflict . But remember, it’s often a chance to grow and improve. Try to view the situation objectively. Listen to all sides and ensure each party feels heard. Seek compromise where possible. If you can’t resolve the issue, feel free to ask for help from a manager or HR.
Family Disputes Family disputes can be emotionally draining. It’s essential to approach these situations with empathy and patience. Understand that everyone has their perspective and feelings. Have open, honest conversations, and avoid blaming or attacking. Seek professional help if the disputes become too challenging to handle.
Social Injustice It can be overwhelming to tackle social injustices, but every little step makes a difference. Stay informed about the issues, educate others, and support relevant organizations. Participate in peaceful protests or use your vote to help policies that promote equality and fairness.
Online Harassment Online harassment can be terrifying. If you’re a victim, know that it’s not your fault. Document every incident, block the harasser, and report them to the platform and law enforcement. Contact support networks offline and online to help you through this challenging time.
Community Issues Issues in your community often feel like they’re out of your control. However, you can make an impact. Attend community meetings, voice your concerns, and volunteer in local initiatives. Remember, change happens one step at a time.

These scenarios are complex, but we believe in your ability to navigate them. Remember, it’s okay to ask for help when you need it. You’re not alone in these struggles, and people and resources are available to support you.

Solving the unsolvable – moog problem solver’s ingenious approach, 7 habits of highly disengaged employees – a cautionary tale, ultimate guide – top 10 resolution resources for conflict management.

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Solutions for Social Emotional Learning & Executive Functioning

Teaching Social Problem-Solving with a Free Activity

February 3, 2018 by pathway2success 5 Comments

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How to Teach Social Problem Solving with a Free Activity Solving

Kids and young adults need to be able to problem-solve on their own. Every day, kids are faced with a huge number of social situations and challenges. Whether they are just having a conversation with a peer, working with a group on a project, or dealing with an ethical dilemma, kids must use their social skills and knowledge to help them navigate tough situations. Ideally, we want kids to make positive choices entirely on their own. Of course, we know that kids don’t start off that way. They need to learn how to collaborate, communicate, cooperate, negotiate, and self-advocate.

Social problem solving skills are critical skills to learn for kids with autism, ADHD, and other social challenges. Of course, all kids and young adults benefit from these skills. They fit perfectly into a morning meeting discussion or advisory periods for older kids. Not only are these skills that kids will use in your classroom, but throughout their entire lives. They are well worth the time to teach!

Here are 5 steps to help kids learn social problem solving skills:

1. Teach kids to communicate their feelings. Being able to openly and respectfully share emotions is a foundational element to social problem solving. Teaching I statements can be a simple and effective way to kids to share their feelings. With an I statement, kids will state, “I feel ______ when _____.” The whole idea is that this type of statement allows someone to share how their feeling without targeting or blaming anyone else. Helping kids to communicate their emotions can solve many social problems from the start and encourages positive self-expression.

2. Discuss and model empathy. In order for kids to really grasp problem-solving, they need to learn how to think about the feelings of others. Literature is a great way teach and practice empathy! Talk about the feelings of characters within texts you are reading, really highlighting how they might feel in situations and why. Ask questions like, “How might they feel? Why do you think they felt that way? Would you feel the same in that situation? Why or why not?” to help teach emerging empathy skills. You can also make up your own situations and have kids share responses, too.

3. Model problem-solving skills. When a problem arises, discuss it and share some solutions how you might go forward to fix it. For example, you might say, “I was really expecting to give the class this math assignment today but I just found out we have an assembly. This wasn’t in my plans. I could try to give part of it now or I could hold off and give the assignment tomorrow instead. It’s not perfect, but I think I’ll wait that way we can go at the pace we need to.” This type of think-aloud models the type of thinking that kids should be using when a problem comes up.

4. Use social scenarios to practice. Give a scenario and have kids consider how that person might feel in that situation. Discuss options for what that person might do to solve the problem, possible consequences for their choices, and what the best decision might be. Kids can consider themselves social detectives by using the clues and what they know about social rules to help them figure out the solution. These are especially fun in small groups to have kids discuss collaboratively. Use these free social problem solving cards to start your kids off practicing!

5. Allow kids to figure it out. Don’t come to the rescue when a child or young adult has a problem. As long as it’s not a serious issue, give them time to think about it and use their problem-solving skills on their own. Of course, it’s much easier to have an adult solve all the problems but that doesn’t teach the necessary skills. When a child comes to you asking for your help with a social problem, encourage them to think about it for five minutes before coming back to you. By that point, they might have already figured out possible solutions and ideas and might not even need you anymore.

If you are interested in helping your kids learn social problem solving skills right away, consider trying out these Social Problem Solving Task Cards . They highlight real social scenarios and situations that kids can discuss. The scenarios include a variety of locations, such as in classrooms, with family, with friends, at recess, and at lunch. This set is targeted for elementary-age learners.

Social Scenario Problem Solving Task Cards

Of course, older kids need social problem solving skills, too! If you work with older kids, you will love these Social Problem Solving Task Cards for Middle and High School Kids. These situations target age-appropriate issues that come up in classes, with friends, with family, in the hallway, in the cafeteria, and with online and texting.

Social Problem Solving Task Cards for Middle and High School

Remember that teaching social problem skills does take a little bit of planning and effort, but it will be well worth the time! Kids will use these skills to help them make social decisions in their everyday lives now and in the future!

Social Problem Solving with a Free Activity

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22 Social Scenarios for Speech Therapy Practice

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Social Scenarios

You were at school and you were running in the hallway. You ran past a teacher and she gave you a look. What kind of look do you think was on her face and why? What do you think you should do?
You are playing cards with some kids and one of them burps out loud. His face turns red and everyone looks at him. Why did his face turn red? Why did everyone look at him? How do you think he felt? What could you say or do?
You got home from school really late because you stopped by the river on the way home and threw rocks. When you walked in the door your mom had a worried look on her face. What does a worried face look like? Why was she worried? What do you think you should say or do?
After soccer practice you hand out birthday invitations to everyone except a little boy you didn’t know. As you were leaving you saw him crying and talking to his mom. Why was the boy crying? What could you do or say?
After dinner on Friday night you wanted to go to the movies, but your mom said no because she didn’t have enough time to wash the dishes, pick up your sister, and get you to the movie theater on time. How do you feel about this? What could you do or say so that you could still go to the movies?
Your sister was out riding her new bike. She suddenly came running in the house crying. Why do you think she was crying and what could you do about it?
Your teacher asked what kind of cupcake everyone wanted and you said you didn’t care, but the girl next to you said she wanted chocolate. Your teacher passed the cupcakes out and you got chocolate. You were about to eat it when you noticed the girl next to you had a sad face and had not touched her cupcake yet. What did her face look like? Why do you think she felt sad? What could you do about it?
You were at school having quiet free time. Everyone could choose something they wanted to do, so you chose to draw. You got out your favorite clicking pen that turned different colors every time you clicked. You were playing with your pen and you looked over at the girl next to you who was reading. She looked at you with a different look on her face that wasn’t very nice. What kind of face do you think she gave you? Why do you think she looked at you that way? What could you do about it?
You are watching a movie with your little sister about the coolest monster ever. You look over at you sister and she has a scared look on her face. Why do you think she looks scared? What could you do or say?
A girl in your class is bossy and not very nice. One day she brought cookies for her birthday and handed them out to everyone one by one. When she got to you, she set the cookie on your desk, and then looked at you with her eyebrows raised and her mouth pursed. Why did she do that? What did her face mean? What should you do?
Someone in your class teased you because you got so many wrong on your spelling test. How did you feel? What did you do?
Your friends finished their work, but you weren't finished yet. They were playing a game. How would you feel? What would you do?
The teacher asked you a question in class, but you didn't know the answer. How do you feel? What do you do?
Your schedule changed. You will have an assembly instead of your favorite art class. How do you feel and what do you do about it?
You were working on a test and the bell rang. You were not done. How do you feel? What would you do?
Some students in class are telling lies about your friend. How does that make you feel and what would you do?
You noticed the new girl in class didn't have anyone to play with during recess. How would you feel if you were her? What would you do?
Your friend got a new haircut. You really liked it. What could you do?
You and a friend were playing a game. Another classmate asked to join your game. What would you say?
Your friend was shooting baskets in PE class and missed every shot. How do you think he felt and what would you do?
In the lunch room, your friend dropped his tray and his food went all over the floor. What do you think he is feeling and what would you do?
While you were walking in the hall, a girl tripped you and started laughing. How does that make you feel and what would you do about it?

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Social Problem Solving

Social problem solving - preschoolers, with our support, children can work together to find solutions to their problems.

Conflicts between peers are typical in most preschool classrooms. At this age, children are still learning to understand how their actions affect others, so it is hard for them to come up with fair solutions to their conflicts. It’s our role to practice and teach problem-solving skills and then support children as they navigate handling problems.

The problem-solving steps outlined in these modules are based on resources from the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI).

Hallmarks of This Strategy

Be proactive.

Find ways to prevent common conflicts. Can you expand popular centers or add more of an often-fought over toy? How can you minimize the time children are waiting?

Practice Problem Solving

Teach children social problem-solving skills in advance through books, puppets, games, or discussions. These can give them the tools they need to find solutions in the moment.

Give Children an Active Say

When challenging moments come up, support the problem-solving process by giving children an active say in how they might solve a problem.

Teaching Social Problem Solving in Advance

In this lesson, we cover tips for explicitly teaching problem-solving skills in engaging and meaningful ways.

Supporting Social Problem Solving in the Moment

In this lesson, we explore ways to support problem-solving skills in the moment when children encounter challenging social situations.

IMPLEMENT THIS STRATEGY

Additional Resources

Guide to promoting problem solving, guide to promoting problem solving (español).

Learn more about this strategy and its importance, and learn tips for trying it in your classroom.

Family Guide to Supporting Problem Solving with Others

Family guide to supporting problem solving with others (español).

Share this guide with families to communicate the strategies you're using at school. Take time to make connections between how children are supported at home and in the classroom.

A Problem-Solving Toolkit

These downloadable resources are a great way to help your students become super problem solvers.

Problem Solving Story
Problem Solving Story (multiple languages)
Problem Solving Steps
Problem Solving Steps (multiple languages )
Solution Kit
Solution Kit (multiple languages)

Consider Context and Culture

Problem solving can look different across classrooms, situations, and cultures. Explore culturally appropriate ways to resolve conflicts between children.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD INVESTIGATIONS

A Teachable Moment

Nadia Jaboneta shares her experience using a peer conflict as an opportunity to promote equity and social justice.

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11 Scenarios to Help Teens Work Through Sticky Social Situations

Tweens and teens increasing encounter social situations that they must have skills to navigate independently. In this article, you’ll read through scenarios that teens might experience as they spend time with friends. For each scenario, prompts are provided for consideration and discussion. These prompts can be used as talking points with the teens at your home or school. You’ll also have the opportunity to download a free Classroom Etiquette Do’s and Don’ts Resource for both teachers and students.

Why Manners Matter

As tweens and teens spend a lot more time with their friends, they may encounter new situations that they need to navigate with skill and polite manners. Etiquette and manners are important—because people who know how to handle themselves in social situations come out on top, get what they want, feel good about themselves, and enjoy life to the fullest.

Why Scenarios Can Be Powerful Teen Learning Experiences

Preparing to manage experiences before they occur will allow kids to better manage them in real time.

Hypothetical scenarios can be a great tool for learning on this topic. They present real-life examples that students may not anticipate. They allow students to remove heightened emotions that they may experience in social settings so that they can think clearly on the issues presented. They also allow students to work together, collaboratively, to tackle these challenges with peers.

11 Manners Challenges for Teens

In group discussions, use these eleven relatable manners challenges to get teens talking about how they can politely deal with problems, before they occur, at home or school.

FREE DOWNLOAD Do’s and Don’ts of Classroom Etiquette Resource Classroom manners matter too! This free resource includes two handouts with 30 tips for teachers and another 30 tips for students to support classroom etiquette.

Too-Hot Soup

You’re eating dinner at a friend’s house. You take a mouthful of soup and discover it’s burning hot. Other than spitting it out, burning your tongue, and suing your hostess for $4 million, how could you deal (politely) with this situation?

Text Troubles

Your best friend spends half the time you’re together texting other friends. You think of sending your friend a text saying, “PUT DOWN YOUR STUPID PHONE AND BE WITH ME!” Maybe there’s a better solution. What is it?

You brought a great present for your friend to his Bar Mitzvah party. Three months later you’ve heard nothing from him, and you’re wondering why. You could send a “Thanks for nothing” note, or… What’s a better way to handle this?

Your friends are great one-on-one. But when they get together, they’re like boorish marauders. It really bothers you when they make fun of people with disabilities. How can you address this without being drawn and quartered yourself?

Chew on View

One of your friends always chews with his mouth open. It’s gross—all those saliva-slimed, maggoty, masticated morsels of chopper-chomped chow. (Told you it was gross.) How could you address this delicate subject with your friend?

Embarrassed Online

A friend posted a photo on social media of you drooling in your sleep. You’re angry and humiliated. Think of a rude way to respond and then a polite way. Which is better and why?

Your friend is chronically late and always shrugs it off with lame excuses. You could give him some of his own medicine by standing him up, but that just brings more rudeness into the world. What’s a better way to resolve this?

Your friend always invites herself over to your house and then never leaves. Short of screaming, “INCOMING MISSILE!” and locking the doors after she dives out the window, what would be a polite way to deal with this?

Too Much Texting

A friend floods you with hundreds of unwanted texts a day. Think of a rude way to respond and a polite way. Which do you think would work better and why?

Tips Needed

You’re at a restaurant with friends. You all chip in, but as you leave, you notice the kid who paid the bill didn’t leave a tip. How can you handle this so the server isn’t stiffed and your friend isn’t miffed?

Your friend bailed on going to the movies with you by saying she was sick. Later you learn she went out with someone else. Instead of getting even by giving her measles, how could you handle this politely?

Manners matter. Good etiquette helps us all get what we want, feel good about ourselves, and enjoy life to the fullest. Giving tweens and teens resources—like the 11 scenarios and the Do’s and Don’ts of Classroom Etiquette Resource for students included in this article—gives them the opportunity to prepare for sticky social situations both out in the world and at school. For more relevant etiquette challenges, check out How Rude! The Teen Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior, and Not Grossing People Out by Alex J. Packer, Ph.D.

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Author bio:, alex j.packer, ph.d..

'Etiquette Guru to the Youth of America', Alex J. Packer, Ph.D., is an educator, psychologist, and award-winning author of numerous books for parents and teenagers including How Rude! The Teen Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior, and Not Grossing People Out. Alex's books have been translated into many languages including Spanish, German, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Mandarin, Greek, Romanian, and Serbian. Alex is sought after by the media for his provocative commentary on manners, child-rearing,...

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Home » Blog » General » Practical Social Problem Solving Scenarios for High School Students

Practical Social Problem Solving Scenarios for High School Students

As high school students navigate the complexities of social interactions, it is crucial for them to develop strong social problem-solving skills. These skills empower students to effectively navigate conflicts, make informed decisions, and build healthy relationships. In this blog post, we will explore practical social problem-solving scenarios specifically designed for high school students. By engaging in these scenarios, students can enhance their problem-solving abilities and improve their overall social-emotional well-being.

Understanding Social Problem Solving

Social problem-solving skills refer to the ability to identify, analyze, and resolve social conflicts and challenges. These skills involve various components, including critical thinking, decision-making, communication, empathy, and self-regulation. By developing these skills, high school students can effectively navigate social situations, build positive relationships, and make informed choices.

There are several benefits to developing social problem-solving skills. Firstly, these skills enhance students’ ability to manage conflicts and resolve issues peacefully. By learning how to identify the root causes of conflicts and generate creative solutions, students can foster positive relationships with their peers and authority figures. Additionally, social problem-solving skills promote self-confidence and self-efficacy, as students feel empowered to address challenges and make decisions aligned with their values and goals.

Let’s explore three practical social problem-solving scenarios that high school students commonly encounter:

Scenario 1: Dealing with conflicts among friends

1. Identifying the problem: Recognize the specific issue causing the conflict, such as a disagreement or misunderstanding.

2. Generating possible solutions: Brainstorm different ways to address the conflict, considering the perspectives and needs of all parties involved.

3. Evaluating the pros and cons of each solution: Analyze the potential outcomes and consequences of each solution.

4. Selecting the best solution: Choose the solution that is most likely to resolve the conflict and maintain positive relationships.

5. Implementing the chosen solution: Put the selected solution into action, communicating and collaborating with friends to resolve the conflict.

6. Reflecting on the outcome and adjusting if necessary: Evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen solution and make adjustments if needed for future conflicts.

Scenario 2: Handling peer pressure situations

1. Recognizing the pressure and potential consequences: Identify situations where peer pressure may arise and understand the potential negative outcomes.

2. Analyzing personal values and goals: Reflect on personal values and long-term goals to make decisions aligned with individual beliefs.

3. Generating alternative responses: Brainstorm different ways to respond to peer pressure, considering the potential impact on personal well-being and relationships.

4. Evaluating the potential outcomes of each response: Analyze the potential consequences of each response, considering short-term and long-term effects.

5. Making a decision aligned with personal values: Choose the response that aligns with personal values and promotes personal growth.

6. Communicating the decision assertively: Clearly and confidently communicate the decision to peers, expressing personal boundaries and values.

Scenario 3: Resolving conflicts with teachers or authority figures

1. Identifying the source of conflict: Understand the specific issue causing the conflict with the teacher or authority figure.

2. Understanding the perspective of the authority figure: Consider the perspective and concerns of the teacher or authority figure involved.

3. Expressing concerns and emotions respectfully: Communicate concerns and emotions in a respectful and constructive manner.

4. Collaborating to find a mutually beneficial solution: Work together with the authority figure to find a solution that addresses both parties’ needs.

5. Implementing the agreed-upon solution: Put the agreed-upon solution into action, following through on commitments made during the resolution process.

6. Reflecting on the resolution and learning from the experience: Reflect on the conflict resolution process, identifying lessons learned and strategies for future conflicts.

Strategies to Enhance Social Problem Solving Skills

In addition to engaging in practical scenarios, there are several strategies that high school students can utilize to enhance their social problem-solving skills:

A. Developing self-awareness and emotional regulation: By understanding their own emotions and triggers, students can better manage their reactions in social situations.

B. Practicing active listening and effective communication: Active listening skills and clear communication promote understanding and collaboration in problem-solving.

C. Encouraging perspective-taking and empathy: Developing empathy allows students to consider others’ perspectives and find mutually beneficial solutions.

D. Promoting critical thinking and decision-making skills: Encouraging students to think critically and make informed decisions fosters effective problem-solving abilities.

Developing social problem-solving skills is crucial for high school students as they navigate the complexities of social interactions. By engaging in practical scenarios and utilizing strategies such as self-awareness, active listening, empathy, and critical thinking, students can enhance their problem-solving abilities and improve their overall social-emotional well-being. Remember, practice and application are key to mastering these skills. Start your EverydaySpeech Free trial today to access a wide range of resources and activities that can support high school students in developing their social problem-solving skills.

Preparing for Success: Enhancing Social Communication in Grade 12

Preparing for Success: Enhancing Social Communication in Grade 12 Key Takeaways Strong social communication skills are crucial for academic success and building meaningful relationships in Grade 12. Social communication includes verbal and non-verbal communication,...

Preparing for Success: Enhancing Social Communication in Grade 12 Preparing for Success: Enhancing Social Communication in Grade 12 As students enter Grade 12, they are on the cusp of adulthood and preparing for the next chapter of their lives. While academic success...

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Social Problem Solving: Best Practices for Youth with ASD

By: Michael Selbst, PhD, BCBA-D Steven B. Gordon, PhD, ABPP Behavior Therapy Associates
July 1st, 2014
assessment , problem solving , social information processing , social skills
8322 0

Joey, age 9, has been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and due to his high functioning has been mainstreamed into a fourth grade classroom with a shadow. His […]

Joey, age 9, has been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and due to his high functioning has been mainstreamed into a fourth grade classroom with a shadow. His challenging behaviors typically center on his peer interactions in spite of adequate academic performance. When in a group situation he becomes very argumentative when his ideas are not used, becomes very bossy on the playground, and has run out of the classroom when things do not go his way. Megan, age 14, has also been diagnosed with ASD. She isolates herself from her peers and rarely initiates or responds to greetings. Conversations are almost nonexistent unless they are focused on her favorite topics of anime or fashion.

Children with ASD described as above typically have significant social skills impairments and often require direct instruction in order to address these deficits. They often have difficulty in many of the following areas: sharing, handling frustration, controlling their temper, ending arguments calmly, responding to teasing, making/keeping friends, complying with requests. Strong social skills contribute to the initiation and maintenance of positive relationships with others and as a result contribute to peer acceptance. Social skills impairments, on the other hand, contribute to peer rejection. The ability to get along with peers, therefore, is as important to self-esteem as the ability to meet with academic success in the classroom. This article will review the domain of social skills, the assessment of social skills, the importance of social problem-solving and a social skills curriculum which incorporates evidence-based practices to address this very important area.

Social information processing (SIP) is a widely-studied framework for understanding why some children have difficulty getting along with peers. A particularly well-known SIP model developed by Crick and Dodge (1994) describes six stages of information processing that children cycle through when evaluating a particular social situation: encoding (attending to and encoding the relevant cues), interpreting (making a judgment about what is going on), clarifying goals (deciding what their goal is in the particular situation), generating responses (identifying different behavioral strategies for attaining the decided upon goal), deciding on the response (evaluating the likelihood that each potential strategy will help reach their goal and choosing which strategy to implement), and performing the response (doing the chosen response). It is assumed that the steps outlined above operate in real time and frequently outside of conscious awareness. Numerous studies have shown that unpopular children have deficits at multiple stages of the SIP model. For example, they frequently attend to fewer social cues before deciding on peers’ intent, are more likely to assume that peers have acted towards them with hostile intent, are less likely to adopt pro-social goals, are more likely to access aggressive strategies for handling potential conflicts, evaluate aggressive responses more favorably, and are less skillful at enacting assertive and prosocial strategies.

Deficits in social skills are one of the defining characteristics of children with ASD. These impairments manifest in making and keeping friends, communicating feelings appropriately, demonstrating self-control, controlling emotions, solving social problems, managing anger, and generalizing learned social skills across settings. Elliott and Gresham (1991) indicated that social skills are primarily acquired through learning (observation, modeling, rehearsal, & feedback); comprise specific, discrete verbal and nonverbal behaviors; entail both effective and appropriate initiations and responses; maximize social reinforcement; are influenced by characteristics of environment; and that deficits/excesses in social performance can be specified and targeted for intervention. Social skills can be conceptualized as a narrow, discrete response (i.e., initiating a greeting) or as a broader set of skills associated with social problem solving. The former approach results in the generation of an endless list of discrete skills that are assessed for their presence/absence and are then targeted for instruction. Although this approach has an intuitive appeal and is easily understood, the child can easily become dependent on the teacher/parent in order to learn each skill.

An alternative approach focuses on teaching a problem solving model that the child is able to apply independently. Rather than focusing on teaching a specific behavioral skill, the focus is on teaching a social problem solving model that the learner would be able to use as a “tool box.” The well-used saying “give a person a fish and she eats for a day but teach her to fish and she eats for a lifetime” is particularly relevant. The social problem solving approach offers the promise of helping the child with ASD to become a better problem solver, thereby promoting greater independence in social situations and throughout life.

After many years of conducting social skills training using the specific skill approach, the authors have developed a model of social problem solving that uses the easily learned acronym of POWER. The steps of POWER-Solving® include:

P ut problem into words

O bserve feelings

W ork out your goal

E xplore solutions

R eview plan

Each of the five steps of POWER-Solving® has been previously identified as reliably distinguishing between children with emotional/behavioral disorders and psychologically well-adjusted individuals. The ability to “Put problem into words” is critical in order to start the problem solving process. Children with ASD often have difficulties finding the words to identify a problem. Thus, the first step in this approach involves direct training in the use of the rubric “I was… and then…” Upon entering the classroom and finding a peer in his seat Joey immediately pushed the peer in an attempt to get him out of his seat. Through the use of POWER-Solving® Joey was taught to articulate “I was walking into the classroom and then I saw that Billy was in my seat.”

The second step of “Observe feelings” was addressed by helping Joey develop a feelings vocabulary (e.g., angry, frustrated, scared, sad) as well as measuring the intensity of these emotions using a scale from one to ten, with a one being “very weak” and a ten being “very strong.” Photographs and drawings were used extensively to capitalize on his strong visual skills.

The third step of POWER-Solving®, “Work out your goal?” involves identifying the goal and the motivation to reach the chosen goal. This critical step sets the stage for what follows. The goal must be specific and measurable, consistent with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles. Joey was able to identify that his goal consisted of two parts. First, he wanted to get Billy out of his seat and second, he wanted him to still be his friend. He reported that his desire to reach this goal was a nine on the ten-point scale.

The fourth step of POWER-Solving® involves “Explore solutions.” Socially skilled individuals are able to generate a range of effective solutions but those with impairments are more limited and often apply the same rigid solution over and over again in spite of repeated ineffectiveness. Joey was taught to “brainstorm,” which involves generating as many solutions as possible that might reach the stated goal, provided the solution is safe, fair, and effective. Joey was able to identify that approaching Billy and saying “Excuse me but I need to sit in my seat now” would help him to accomplish his goal(s). Behavioral rehearsal, combined with coaching and feedback, helped Joey to become fluent in applying this solution.

The final step of POWER-Solving®, “Review plan,” involved Joey reviewing his plan to use this skill the next time the situation presented and to reward himself by saying “I am proud of myself for figuring this out.”

POWER-Solving® has been applied successfully in multiple settings such as the classroom, a summer treatment program, clinical settings and home environments. The curriculum is systematic and relies heavily on visual cues and supports. Children are taught how to problem-solve first using their “toolbox” (i.e., the five steps of POWER-Solving®). The children are presented with specific unit lessons on each of the five steps of POWER-Solving®. All children have an opportunity to practice each step of POWER-Solving®. After learning each step of POWER, the children have acquired a “toolbox” which they can begin to apply to social situations.

When teaching social skills, it is important to coach the children through behavioral rehearsal activities to promote skill acquisition, performance, generalization and fluency. Additionally, daily activities reinforce these skills, some of which include designing their own feelings thermometer, developing novel products via group collaboration, and developing a skit to teach a specific skill.

To increase students’ performance of the desired skills, use of a token economy may be helpful, whereby points are earned during the day for displaying appropriate behavior, demonstrating a predetermined individualized social behavioral objective and for using the POWER-Solving® steps. At the end of every day, points could be exchanged for a reward. In addition to the direct instructional format, incidental teaching should be used in anticipation of a challenging situation as well as a consequence for failure to use the steps when confronted with a specific problem. An experienced social skills coach, generalization strategies, and a systematic plan to teach and reinforce skills are critical for success.

Please feel free to contact us at Behavior Therapy Associates for more information about best practices for social skills training, as well as information regarding the POWER-Solving curriculum. We can be reached at 732-873-1212, via email [email protected] or on website at www.BehaviorTherapyAssociates.com .

Crick, N.R., & Dodge, K.A. (1994). A review and reformulation of social information-processing mechanisms in children’s social adjustment. Psychological Bulletin , 115, 74–101.

Elliott, S.T. & Gresham, F. M. (1991). Social skills intervention guide: Practical strategies for social skills training . Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

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Problem Solving Social Skills Scenarios, Problems Solutions Perspective Taking

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Problem solving and social skills stories, problem size, solutions, common problems and more are included in this set. There are 80 unique problem solving and solution scenarios for critical thinking.

Open response questions and multiple choice questions are included in every story! You will receive problem size and common problem teaching pages, as well as multiple examples.

⭐️ 80 Problem Solving Stories

80 unique problem scenarios
Multiple choice question for every story
2 open response exercises for every story

⭐️ Problem Size Slides & Questions

5 in-depth teaching pages
Problem size (small, medium, big) definitions
Emotions related to problem sizes
Color coordinated problem size visual
2 small problem exercises
2 medium problem exercises
2 big problem exercises

⭐️ Common Problems & Questions

Teaching slide with definitions & examples
6 scenarios of common problems
2 free response problem & solution questions per scenario

With 80 unique stories, 12 common problem scenarios, 6 problem size questions and multiple teaching pages, you will be able to use this resource for many teaching sessions. You won't need anything else!

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COMMENTS

30 Problem Solving Scenarios for Kids & Teens
Home practice will make progress toward meeting individual language goals much faster. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are only able to see students/clients 30-60 mins (or less) per week. This is not enough time or practice for someone to handle Problem solving scenarios. Every day that your loved one goes without practice it becomes more ...
71+ Free Social Problem-Solving Scenarios
71+ Social Problem Scenarios + 6 Blank Scenarios. Use the 71 social problem-solving scenarios to have your students get great experience practicing how to solve a social problem. Also, included are 6 blank scenarios. Then laminate them so you can use them over and over again. Therefore, create social problems that the student experiences and ...
Practical Social Problem Solving Scenarios for Better Emotional
Social problem solving scenarios PDF download: Access a downloadable PDF of social problem solving scenarios to practice and apply your skills in various situations. Conclusion. Developing social problem-solving skills is crucial for our emotional development and overall well-being. By practicing these skills, we can improve our communication ...
Effective Social Problem Solving: Free Worksheets and Resources
Here are some free social problem solving worksheets that you can utilize: Worksheet 1: Identifying the problem: This worksheet helps individuals identify and define the social problem they are facing. It prompts them to describe the situation, their feelings, and the impact of the problem on themselves and others.
Social Skills Training for Adults: 10 Best Activities + PDF
An individual's lack of ability to problem solve in social situations significantly affects their ability to come up with reasonable solutions to typical social problems, which in turn, causes them to avoid more difficult social situations. Practicing social problem solving is a key component of social skills training. This worksheet on ...
Navigating Real-Life Situations: Social Problem Solving Scenarios PDF
A social problem solving scenarios PDF is a collection of real-life situations that individuals can use to practice their problem-solving skills. These scenarios are designed to simulate common social challenges and provide individuals with opportunities to navigate them effectively. They often include prompts, questions, and suggested ...
Social Problem Solving
Problem. A problem is defined as any situation or task that needs some kind of a response if it is to be managed effectively, but to which no obvious response is available. ... You may be thinking that social problem-solving, and the model described here, sounds like an academic attempt to define very normal human processes. This is probably ...
Social problem-solving
Social problem-solving, in its most basic form, is defined as problem solving as it occurs in the natural environment. [1] More specifically it refers to the cognitive-behavioral process in which one works to find adaptive ways of coping with everyday situations that are considered problematic. This process in self-directed, conscious ...
Social Problem Solving
Description. In D'Zurilla and Goldfried's [ 6] seminal article, the authors conceptualized social problem solving as an individuals' processing and action upon entering interpersonal situations in which no immediately effective response is available. One primary component of social problem solving is the cognitive-behavioral process of ...
Using Task Cards to Teach Social Problem Solving
Task cards are a great way to practice a variety of scenarios for social problem solving. Here are some strategies for using task cards for teaching social problem solving: 1. Put together a variety of social situations on task cards. You can make your own with index cards or use a pre-made set, like the Social Scenario Problem Solving Task Cards.
10 Best Problem-Solving Therapy Worksheets & Activities
Social problem-solving model. This model focuses on solving the problem "as it occurs in the natural social environment," combined with a general coping strategy and a method of self-control (Dobson, 2011, p. 198). The model includes three central concepts: Social problem-solving; The problem; The solution
Problem Solving Scenarios for Kids
Social problem solving is a process of recognizing difficulties and adapting or changing to resolve problems that we encounter in everyday living. Social problem solving is an essential life skill. Strong problem-solving skills are important in social interactions throughout life. Young children learn social problem-solving skills like learning ...
Social problem solving: Theory, research, and training.
Abstract. We put together a book that would offer readers multiple perspectives, insights, and directions in understanding social problem solving as an important theory that has driven wide-ranging scientific research and as an important means of training to empower and elevate the lives of individuals. We believe that social problem solving ...
5 Social Problem Solving Scenarios to Challenge Your Perspective
In Conclusion: Social Problem-Solving and the Power of Empathy. As we wrap up our discussion on social problem-solving scenarios, let's take a moment to acknowledge the challenges and anxieties these scenarios often bring. It's natural to feel overwhelmed or uncertain when faced with complex interpersonal issues.
Navigating Social Challenges: Interactive Scenarios for High School
Understanding Social Problem-Solving. Social problem-solving is the process of identifying, generating, evaluating, implementing, and reflecting on solutions to social challenges. It involves a series of steps that enable individuals to effectively navigate social situations and make informed decisions.
Teaching Social Problem-Solving with a Free Activity
The scenarios include a variety of locations, such as in classrooms, with family, with friends, at recess, and at lunch. This set is targeted for elementary-age learners. Of course, older kids need social problem solving skills, too! If you work with older kids, you will love these Social Problem Solving Task Cards for Middle and High School ...
Problem Solving
PROBLEM SOLVING. Social Problem Solving is the process of changing or adapting to undesirable situations that come up in our day to day life as we engage with others. For young children, the things they consider to be "problems" come up quite often in their interactions with peers and teachers. And even though we may feel that our students ...
22 Social Scenarios for Speech Therapy Practice
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are only able to see students/clients 30-60 mins (or less) per week. This is not enough time or practice for someone to strengthen their understanding of and responses to different social scenarios. Every day that your loved one goes without social scenarios practice it becomes more difficult to help them.
Social Problem Solving
Social Problem Solving - Preschoolers. With our support, children can work together to find solutions to their problems. Conflicts between peers are typical in most preschool classrooms. At this age, children are still learning to understand how their actions affect others, so it is hard for them to come up with fair solutions to their conflicts.
11 Scenarios to Help Teens Work Through Sticky Social Situations
Hypothetical scenarios can be a great tool for learning on this topic. They present real-life examples that students may not anticipate. They allow students to remove heightened emotions that they may experience in social settings so that they can think clearly on the issues presented. They also allow students to work together, collaboratively ...
Practical Social Problem Solving Scenarios for High School Students
A. Developing self-awareness and emotional regulation: By understanding their own emotions and triggers, students can better manage their reactions in social situations. B. Practicing active listening and effective communication: Active listening skills and clear communication promote understanding and collaboration in problem-solving.
Social Problem Solving: Best Practices for Youth with ASD
The well-used saying "give a person a fish and she eats for a day but teach her to fish and she eats for a lifetime" is particularly relevant. The social problem solving approach offers the promise of helping the child with ASD to become a better problem solver, thereby promoting greater independence in social situations and throughout life.
Problem Solving Social Skills Scenarios, Problems Solutions ...
Problem solving and social skills stories, problem size, solutions, common problems and more are included in this set. There are 80 unique problem solving and solution scenarios for critical thinking.Open response questions and multiple choice questions are included in every story! You will receive ...

71+ Free Social Problem-Solving Scenarios

Why Teach Problem Solving Skills?

Start with Small Problems

Problem Solving Importance

Steps to Problem Solving

Problem Solving Form

Problem Solving Review Form

71+ Social Problem Scenarios + 6 Blank Scenarios

Wordless Video teaching Problem Solving

Demonstrate Through Modeling

Model Problem-Solving Skills as the Teacher

Teach Communication

Encourage Independency

Let the Student try to Problem Solve Independently

Tell an Adult

Teach How to Disagree and How to Make Up

Role-Play How to Make Up

Make Problem Solving Easier with this Freebie!

Get More Problem Solving Time Saving Materials

Weekly Social Pragmatics Homework

Restorative Justice Problem Solving Flip Book

Self-Advocating Role-Play Scenarios

5th-12th Grade Life Skills Problem Solving

Social Problem-Solving

A Model of Social Problem-Solving

Problem Orientation

Problem-Solving

The skills required for positive problem orientation are:

The skills required for rational problem-solving include:

Potential Difficulties

An Academic Term for a Human Process?

Social Problem Solving

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10 Best Problem-Solving Therapy Worksheets & Activities

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Can it help with depression?

The major concepts

Social problem-solving model

Relational problem-solving model

Problem-solving therapy – Baycrest

Is PPT appropriate?

Five problem-solving steps

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Exercises (PDF)

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Tools Pack (PDF)

Positive self-statements

5 Worksheets and workbooks

Reactions to Stress

What Are Your Unique Triggers?

Problem-Solving worksheet

Getting the Facts

2 Helpful Group Activities

Generating Alternative Solutions and Better Decision-Making

Visualization

1. Problem-Solving Therapy: A Treatment Manual – Arthur Nezu, Christine Maguth Nezu, and Thomas D’Zurilla

2. Emotion-Centered Problem-Solving Therapy: Treatment Guidelines – Arthur Nezu and Christine Maguth Nezu

3. Handbook of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies – Keith Dobson and David Dozois

17 Top-Rated Positive Psychology Exercises for Practitioners

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