directive
n. a command, suggestion, or order specifying the type of action that should be performed. In therapeutic contexts, a directive is a specific statement by the therapist that enjoins the client to act, feel, or think in a particular way when he or she confronts a particular problem or situation. The use of directives varies depending on therapeutic method; in some modes (e.g., psychoanalysis), directives occur rarely if at all, whereas in others (e.g., behavior therapy), they occur more frequently.