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Better Choices

A court-assignable program that teaches decision-making as a skill: find the space between what happens and what you do, and use it to pick a better next move. Three tiers. Your court assigns one. Complete it at your own pace, on any device.

A woman writes in her workbook, weighing her options, during the Better Choices online decision-making program.

Make decisions on purpose — not on autopilot.

Most of the trouble in life doesn't come from being a bad person — it comes from fast choices made in hot moments. Better Choices teaches decision-making as a skill: step by step, in plain language, at your own pace. You'll learn to find the space between what happens to you and what you do about it, and use it to pick a better next move — then earn a certificate the court can verify.

Better Choices comes from CDTC Online, the online-programs arm of the Court Diagnostic & Treatment Center — a nonprofit and the premier provider of forensic mental health services in Northwest Ohio, serving courts across 13 counties. If your paperwork says a decision making class, this is that program.

Is this your program?
Find your tier, then enroll

Tier 1 — Foundation

$49 · one time · per participant
For a 1st offense or low risk for reoffending (low ORAS-CT). 14 sessions, about 8 hours.
Enroll in Tier 1

Tier 2 — Standard

$79 · one time · per participant
For a 2nd offense or moderate risk (moderate ORAS-CT). 29 sessions, about 16 hours.
Enroll in Tier 2

Tier 3 — Intensive

$149 · one time · per participant
For 2nd+ re-offenses or high / very high risk (high/very high ORAS-CT). 61 sessions, about 32 hours.
Enroll in Tier 3

Prices are per participant, paid directly at enrollment. No cost to the court. Not sure of your tier? Check your paperwork or ask your probation officer.

What you'll learn
The real curriculum — built deeper at each tier

The space between trigger and action

Something happens — a text, a look, a bill — and there's a split second before you respond. Find that space and use it; that's where every choice lives.

Calm your body so you can think

When you're heated, the thinking brain goes offline. Learn simple, physical ways to bring it back before you act.

A 7-step decision map

Name the real problem, set a goal, weigh the options and consequences, choose on purpose, act in small steps, and review — a map you can run on any decision.

Short-term vs. long-term cost

The fast payoff almost always costs more than it pays. Practice seeing the whole price tag before you buy.

Deciding under pressure

Pressure from friends, family, or old running buddies is real. Hold your ground and say no — and still walk away with your respect.

Catch the first domino

Trouble rarely starts at the trouble — it starts with the “harmless” choice three steps earlier. Spot the small decisions that set up the big ones.
Common questions
Answers before you enroll
My paperwork says a “decision making class” — is this it?
Yes. Courts use different words for the same thing. Better Choices is our decision-making program — check your paperwork or ask your probation officer to confirm your assigned program and tier.
Do I have to finish it all at once?
No. It's self-paced — log in when you have time; ten minutes on a lunch break counts. Your progress saves automatically.
What does my court actually see?
Your court can verify that you completed the program and passed the final exam. Your written reflections stay private, always.
What if I was assigned a different program?
We also offer Better Thinking, Speaking Up, Bouncing Back, and Anger Management. Check your court paperwork for the program and tier you were assigned.

Talk to a real person

Not sure which program or tier is yours? CDTC's Treatment Department can help before you spend a dollar. Call 419.244.8624, option 3.
Call 419.244.8624