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CDTC Online Programs

Better Thinking

A court-assignable program that changes the thinking behind the trouble: catch the thought, put it on trial, replace it, and act on the better one. Three tiers. Your court assigns one. Complete it at your own pace, on any device.

A man reflects at his kitchen table with a workbook and laptop while taking the Better Thinking cognitive-skills program online.

Change your thinking. Change what happens next.

Every action begins with a thought. Better Thinking teaches you to notice the thoughts that lead to trouble, test them, and swap them for thoughts that lead somewhere better — then earn a certificate that shows the court you did the work. No lectures. No shaming. A clear, step-by-step skill for life.

Better Thinking 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 cognitive skills or cognitive restructuring, 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). 60 sessions, about 31 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 chain inside your mind

See how a thought leads to a feeling, an action, and a result — and where your power to change it lives.

The thinking traps

Spot the thoughts that cause trouble — blaming, all-or-nothing, the “I had no choice” excuse. Name a trap and it loses its grip.

Catching your thoughts

A simple daily check-up to notice what you're actually thinking, in the moment, before you act.

Putting a thought on trial

Test a thought with honest questions — is it true? is it helping me? — instead of just obeying it.

Replacing the thought

Build a better, truer thought and make it the one you act on.

Acting on it — the full loop

Follow the better thought into a better action, start small, and become your own coach so the change sticks.
Common questions
Answers before you enroll
How do I know which tier to enroll in?
Your court paperwork or probation officer tells you your assigned tier, based on your ORAS-CT screening. If you're not sure, ask before you enroll — the right tier the first time saves you money and time.
Is this the same as a criminal thinking class online?
Yes — courts use different names. Whether your paperwork says cognitive skills, thinking errors, or criminal thinking, Better Thinking covers that ground.
Do I have to finish it all at once?
No. It's self-paced — a session on your lunch break, a couple at night, whatever works. It saves your place across your phone and a computer.
What happens when I finish?
You pass a final exam and earn a completion certificate the court can verify. That certificate is your proof that you did the work.

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