Chapter 9 - Problem solving

Abstract

Children and adolescents often have difficulties in managing the problems of daily life. Also, the deficit in problem management is a risk factor for emotional and behavioral disorders. Adolescents may have misconceptions and emotions that interfere with dealing with problems, while younger children are in the process of learning boundaries and resolving all kinds of social conflicts that lead to frustration. This chapter reviews the application with the youth of problem-solving (PS) techniques. The application of PS in the school context is usually done in a group format as an activity of coexistence and learning, and can also be taught in class as a basic life skill. PS techniques can be used alone in psychological intervention or as part of a multicomponent treatment. In clinical contexts, the technique has been applied to a wide variety of individual and group clinical situations. The most frequent clinical problems treated with PS are stress, depression, anxiety, antisocial behavior, and multiple behavioral problems. The procedure for applying PS in different contexts is presented. Finally, examples and clinical cases that serve as examples are discussed.