ABSTRACT
Once clients have selected one or more goals to aim for and these have been expressed in terms that are as specific as possible, the next step in the process is to work out how to achieve these goals. Useful questions at this stage are ‘What might be a good first step at this point?’; or ‘What would be one small thing you could do to begin moving toward your goal?’ For some clients the task at this point is really one of choice: they may already have the resources needed to achieve the goal, but are finding it difficult to establish priorities or to choose between alternatives that seem equally attractive but may be incompatible. Often the gathering of information and the use of some systematic method of decisionmaking are sufficient to decide what needs to be done and how to do it. Occasionally, clients may need help in following up on the implications of their decision. Unproductive client behaviours at this point include continuing with things as they are, letting others make the decision, and making a hasty, illconsidered decision (Manthei, 1990). Counsellors need to be alert to these behaviours and address them directly; for example, by using the skill of dealing with discrepancies (see chapter 6).
