I find acronyms very helpful with remembering ordered steps and information. That said, I enjoy using the ICED model to educate my clients on effective problem solving and decision making skills.
Identify the problem.
Spell out what the problem is and why it is a problem.
Create Alternatives.
List the possible ways that a person could handle the problem.
Evaluate the Alternatives.
How much will the alternative action/decision help versus harm the person or other people involved?
Decide on the Best Alternative to Do.
Which alternative will bring the most help and cause the least harm?
I find it helpful to pair this teaching with a decision making or problem solving activity. The activities I use most often include facilitating role play scenarios in which my clients are encouraged to respond to each scenario using the ICED model steps, and completing a decision making tree using an example presented by my client.
Cultivative Counseling 