Think, available via the National Institute of Corrections, is delivered as the first portion of a cognitive-program continuum. This 45-hour program is designed specifically to confront faulty thinking and includes a simple, straightforward principle: Thinking (internal behavior) controls actions (external behavior). Therefore, it is necessary to target clients’ thinking in order to change actions that lead to criminal conduct.

Think uses a combination of approaches to increase clients’ awareness of self and others. This deepened attentiveness to attitudes, beliefs and thinking patterns is combined with explicit teaching of interpersonal skills relevant to clients’ present and future needs. The goal is to provide contextual instructions and related experiences so clients are confident and motivated to use pro-social skills when faced with interpersonal and/or antisocial or stressful problems. The philosophy of the program endorses empowering the clients to be responsible for controlling their own behavior.

Content/Skills

• Objective self-assessment
• Identifying attitudes, beliefs and thoughts
• Identifying personal cognitive distortions
• Writing thinking reports
• Identifying automatic thoughts and key thinking patterns
• Identifying thoughts and feelings that lead to antisocial or criminal behavior
• Identifying personal barriers to change
• Journaling about targeted antisocial or criminal attitudes, beliefs and thoughts
• Problem solving
• Role playing and modeling positive social skills

Outcomes

• Objective assessment of attitudes, beliefs and thinking behind target behaviors
• Learned use of tools to identify and address antisocial and criminal mindset
• Recognition and intervention of cognitive distortions
• Overcoming of barriers to change
• Creation of interventions and controls
• Use of problem-solving strategies
• Development of positive social skills for trigger situations
• Plan for change