This theory emphasizes recognizing and changing negative thoughts and maladaptive beliefs. The theory holds that how people feel and behave is determined by their perceptions. Counselors work to change clients' distorted thinking by bringing about changes to how they think about situations. This enables clients to interpret experiences more realistically. Some strategies used to help clients cope with stressors include relaxation training, affirmations, creative visualizations, and visual or audio aids for clients with intellectual impairments.