Principle 12: CBT uses guided discovery and teaches clients to respond to their dysfunctional cognitions. In the context of discussing a problem or goal, you ask clients questions to help them identify their dysfunctional thinking (by asking what was going through their mind), evaluate the validity and utility of their thoughts (using a number of techniques), and devise a plan of action. With Abe, I use gentle Socratic questioning, which helps foster his sense that I am truly interested in collaborative empiricism, that is, helping him determine the accuracy and utility of his ideas through a careful review of the evidence. Note that we refrain from challenging cognitions (by stating or trying to convince clients that their thoughts or beliefs aren’t valid); rather, we help clients through cognitive restructuring, a process of assessing and responding to maladaptive thinking.