Wise Mind Practices: Five DBT Exercises for Finding Wise Mind, With an Imagery Safety Note
DBT · DBT · Manualised
A client sheet with five ways to practise reaching Wise Mind, the integration of Reasonable Mind and Emotion Mind. Two are guided imagery (a stone drifting down through a calm lake and a spiral staircase to the centre of the self) and three are breath-based (silently saying "Wise" on the in-breath and "Mind" on the out-breath ten times, asking Wise Mind a question and asking "Is this Wise Mind?" about a decision). Each has three numbered steps, and a safety note steers clients who find imagery hard or distressing to the breath-based practices first.
Underlying mechanism: DBT Core Mindfulness: Practising Wise Mind
What it helps with
- Giving clients concrete ways to practise reaching Wise Mind, not just a definition of it.
- Offering both imagery-based and breath-based routes, so clients with aphantasia or trauma still have options.
- Checking a decision against Wise Mind before acting on it.
- Building a regular Wise Mind practice chosen by the client.
How clinicians use it
- Teach after the six core mindfulness skills are familiar.
- Check imagery suitability before teaching the stone on the lake or spiral staircase.
- Practise at least one exercise together in session, eyes open if preferred.
- Ask the client to choose one practice and a time to use it this week.
Clinical Implementation Guide
- Check imagery suitability first.
- Offer breath-based practices as the default where imagery does not suit.
- Practise in session before assigning.
What the worksheet looks like
| Practice | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Stone on the lake | Picture a small stone drifting down through calm water and settling on the bottom |
| Spiral staircase | Walk slowly down an inner staircase, stopping wherever feels right |
| "Wise" in, "Mind" out | Say "Wise" on each in-breath and "Mind" on each out-breath, ten times |
| Ask a question | Ask on the in-breath, listen on the out-breath |
| Is this Wise Mind? | Check a decision against Wise Mind before acting |
Clinical cautions
The stone on the lake and spiral staircase practices are guided imagery. Some people cannot form mental images, and for a client with trauma or a fear of water, sinking or descending into enclosed spaces, these images can raise distress rather than settle it. Offer the breath-based practices first where imagery does not suit, allow eyes open throughout and stop any practice that brings up strong distress. This tool does not diagnose any condition and is not a substitute for individual face-to-face therapy or for emergency crisis support. Anyone in immediate distress should contact their local emergency service or crisis line.
References
- Linehan, M. M. (2014). DBT skills training manual (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
- Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT skills training handouts and worksheets (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Part of
DBT Core Mindfulness
Related worksheets
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