Abe French

Most cognitive behavioral approaches to changing poor decision making focuses upon why people do the things that cause them problems. Oftentimes people try to correct poor decision making with a substitute solution initiated by an outside source. This does not often bring about long term behavior and lifestyle changes because entrenched thinking habits are left unaddressed.Thinking Matters Evolution for Decision Making takes a different approach. Using a step-by step process Thinking Matters Evolution teaches skills that help people understand their own thinking and decision making. This five step process begins with objective description of the decision to be made and moves toward checking to see if the decision accomplishes the desired goal(s) before taking action. Using a worksheet based approach Thinking Matters Evolution helps people discover and correct thinking that leads to risk of problem behaviors.Thinking Matters Evolution is appropriate for anyone that would like to work toward ridding themselves of troubling behaviors. The gender neutral graphics and easy to understand language is appropriate for adults and youth.

Thinking Matters Facilitator Manual was originally created to provide change agents with a tool to teach fundamental meta-cognitive skills essential for lasting behavior changes. Over approximately twelve years I have received much feedback from users who made suggestions for improvements. These suggestions have been incorporated into Thinking Matters Facilitator Manual Second Edition. In its original form, this publication was primarily used for criminal and juvenile justice participants. Many of the change agents reported that they found the information and approach beneficial for others-including themselves and their families. Over time change agents from various disciplines contacted me with reports that they were using the publication to help people change their behavior. Disciplines such as: - Substance Abuse - Mental Health - Social Work - Education - Human Resources - Business Thinking Matters Facilitator Manual Second Edition has been updated to be more useful for these user groups and be more visually engaging. This publication maintains the familiar 5-step process. Through repetition of the steps, Thinking Matters can be expanded to help create and maintain sustainable behavioral changes. I thank everyone who has contributed to Thinking Matters over the years for your participation, feedback and friendship.