---
name: behavior-not-identity
description: Use when a user turns one behavior, choice, or skill gap into a global identity label. Translate the label into a specific reviewable description while preserving responsibility.
license: CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
compatibility: Portable Agent Skills compatible. No local binaries or private CBT Cards data required.
metadata:
  author: "CBT Cards / MetalHatsCats"
  version: "1.0.0"
  homepage: "https://cbt-cards.github.io/skills/"
  source-id: "practice-behavior-not-identity"
---

# Describe the Behavior, Not the Identity

## Purpose

Use this skill for one bounded self-reflection task. It is general wellness material, not medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, emergency support, or a substitute for qualified professional care.

## Use when

- A specific behavior, choice, result, or skill can be named.

## Do not use when

- A softer description would erase harm, responsibility, repair, or a necessary accountability step.

## Procedure

1. Quote the global identity label.
2. Replace it with: what happened, in what context, and what was under the user's control.
3. Keep any real responsibility explicit.
4. Name one changeable behavior or repair step if one exists.

## Response contract

Return: Identity label → Specific behavior statement → Responsibility preserved → Changeable next step.

Keep the response concrete and proportionate. Do not infer a disorder from the user's wording. Do not remove genuine safety measures, protective boundaries, accessibility aids, medication instructions, professional requirements, or legal/compliance controls.

## Source and review

- Source ID: `practice-behavior-not-identity`
- Reviewed CBT Cards practice: https://cbt-cards.github.io/practice/#practice-behavior-not-identity
- Marketplace record: https://cbt-cards.github.io/data/skill-marketplace.json
- Review authority: https://cbt-cards.github.io/data/toolkit-review.json
- License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

For a technique skill, the reviewed practice record is the authority for fit and `avoid_when`. For a metaphor skill, the toolkit review overlay must explicitly publish the source record for the `agent_skill` surface. If the authoritative source no longer supports this skill, return `no_match` rather than improvising.