Info Centre Home | Contents | Search | eMJA Home

www.mja.com.au
© 1998 MJA

With the doctor's guidance, the patient learns to appraise situations accurately and then develop appropriate coping techniques. After one or two crises handled in this way, patients can learn to carry out the technique for themselves.

Step 1: What is the problem/goal?
Think about the problem/goal carefully, ask yourself questions. Then write down exactly what the problem/goal is.

Step 2: List all possible solutions
Put down all ideas, even bad ones. List the solutions without evaluation at this stage.

Step 3: Assess each possible solution
Quickly go down the list of possible solutions and assess the main advantages and disadvantages of each one.

Step 4: Choose the "best" or most practical solution
Choose the solution that can be carried out most easily to solve (or to begin to solve) the problem.

Step 5: Plan how to carry out the best solution
List the resources needed and the major pitfalls to overcome. Practise difficult steps, make notes of information needed.

Step 6: Review progress and be pleased with any progress
Focus on achievement first. Identify what has been achieved, then what still needs to be achieved. Go through steps 1 to 6 again in the light of what has been achieved or learned.
What has been achieved?
What still needs to be done?

On to section 5.11 . . .