A specific from of data is important enough to be included as separate skill category. These are the skills with which the worker helps clients reexamine perceptions (cog-nitions) about themselves, their life situations, or important people or systems in client’s live (e.g., husband, parent, school). This skill can be central to a form of practice called cognitive behavioral therapy (for a fuller discussion of this approach and other, see Chapter 18). To summarize briefly, clients have developed their views of life subjectively. Given the difficulties involved in communications, they quite possibly distort other people’s actions or have internalized perceptions of themselves and their life experiences that lead to negative feelings and self-defeating behaviors. By exploring alternative views in collaboration with the client, the worker attempts to help a client rethink his or her life situation and correct negative and inaccurate “automatic thoughts” and perceptions. This approach is consistent with some of the solution-focused techniques and strategies also discussed in Chapter 18.