A self-controlled problem-solving approach to the facilitation of effective behavior is presented. This approach involves training in the use of a cognitive strategy for dealing with real life problematic situations. An individual will progress through five phases with respect to real or hypothetical problematic situations. The first phase, orientation, involves the formation of a set or attitude to recognize and accept problematic situations when they occur and to inhibit the tendency to either respond automatically or to avoid the problem by doing nothing. In the second phase, problem statement and definition, problematic situation categories are introduced for training, and statement of the problem encouraged. Aspects of the problematic situation to be changed, are defined. In the third phase, the production of alternatives, the client produces associative responses related to the particular problematic situation in question. The fourth phase, decision making, involves anticipation of possible consequences of each alternative, the value and likelihood of occurrences of these consequences, and selection of the most satisfactory alternative. The final phase, verification, involves the trying out of this decision. (PS)