This guide discusses the need for decision making expertise, and the steps to attain it. First, human beings are forever encountering the necessity to make choices, because they are constantly striving to adapt to their environment and to co-exist with others, Second there is an expectation that individuals will be independent. Third, psychological research has brought to the foreground literature introducing an adult development pattern. The following steps should be taken in decision making: (1) identification of the problem; (2) identification of alternatives; (3) gathering of information; (4) evaluation and (5) selection. (Author/JLL)