Consumer direction training involves self-management, self-care, decision-making, and self-advocacy. Describing what is needed and translating those needs into instructions for others is also part of management skills training. In self-care, for example, a person works toward basic daily health maintenance, recognition and interpretation of symptoms, with informal and formal health support systems, gets health education, and complies or doesn't comply with health directives.

Often instruction in self-care comes from literature that provides an overview, instructions, and community resources. Some consumer-directed programs find one-on-one training best or in-home training. Training also can come from peer counselors and be done at a central localization, one's home, or by telephone. Peer counselors may show how to accomplish something and at the same time demonstrate the personal rewards that come with learning a new skill. Instruction can be done at a centralized site, which can cause problems if people do not have transportation. If transportation is a problem, many groups provide a video of the training for people who were unable to attend.

Consumer-directed care works with community resources such as a center for independent living for optimum results. Before training starts, a written agreement between a consumer and a trainer that lists expectations and outcomes can get a program off to a good start and keep it on track. A contract may include: