In many probation officer and probationer/parolee relationships, the problems facing the clients are not addressed, often because the client does not understand or consciously accept the problem or focus area. To assist Federal probation officers in using counseling methods and problem-definition skills, the author introduces a systematic framework -- a flowchart. The flowchart defines a variety of processes and decisions that may be pertinent in addressing issues and problems. The author applies the flowchart to an actual probation case and offers a flexible yet structured approach to defining problems and overcoming barriers that inhibit problem resolution. 8 footnotes and 4 references.