Learning and attitude change are two cognitive processes essential to therapeutic change in counseling. Recently two cognitive models that reflect current research and theory, one focusing on learning and the other on attitude change, have each been applied to counseling with promising results. Martin's cognitive instructional counseling (CIC) is a learning or information processing model of counseling. Petty and Cacioppo's elaboration likelihood model (ELM) is a model of attitude change processes that has been applied to counseling. These two models are compatible and complementary with respect to change processes in counseling. By integrating these two distinct approaches to cognitive change in counseling, one based upon learning processes (CIC) and one based upon attitude change processes (ELM), a unified model of cognitive change in counseling can be formulated. The benefits of this integrated decision tree include: (1) providing an example of the unification of different theoretical models that share a common conceptual base; (2) facilitating research based broadly upon relevant cognitive processes; (3) presenting a practical decision tree that can be used and assessed in counseling settings; and (4) providing counselors with examples of ways that counseling researchers can conceptualize counseling. Figures are provided. (ABL)