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5 Steps of the Wise Mind Process: Strategies for Facing Difficulties

Help clients manage their emotions with this DBT strategy

Andrew Bein, Ph.D., LCSW

Debra is stressed about not having a job. In session she expressed the cycle of emotions that she鈥檚 stuck in.

She starts by thinking about all the steps she needs to take to get a job but gets overwhelmed. This would lead to despair and defeatism, thinking 鈥渘o one would want to hire me anyway.鈥

Once those emotions were ramped up, she鈥檇 start thinking about her mother and brother never supported her. In an attempt to address that, she would call them up seeking validation to alleviate this despair. But eventually her family would grow impatient and tell Debra to spend the time looking for a job instead of calling them to complain.

This resulted in Debra being angry about their non-validating responses and she began to have thoughts of 鈥渨hat鈥檚 the point?鈥 and 鈥渘obody gets it.鈥 Which brings us back to this cycle of thoughts.


So how do we move forward in therapy?

In the cognitive approach, we want to normalize how difficult it is. Head off the despair and defeatism with the Wise Mind Process.

Wise Mind is a synthesis of reasonable mind and emotional mind.

Wise Mind allows us to move into our frontal cortex where we can integrate the hope and passion that provides richness in our life with rational, non-impulsive decision making that helps us stay safe and see life clearly. As we practice wise mind living, we notice that our wise mind helps us stay happier, more contented, more centered, and less anxious.

The practitioner鈥檚 primary role is to help the client be mindful of the moment, respond to the moment, and expand the moment.

Mindful: Accept the moment, observe & notice the moment, and be in the moment.

Respond: Improve the moment and let go of the emotional charge of the moment, be response-able in the moment 鈥 self-soothe, engage in positive action, do opposite action.

Expand: Find meaning in the moment and connect to bigger picture, love, or spirituality in the moment.

Wise Mind Process

Step 1: Developing the intention to live in Wise Mind to enhance wellness

  • Inclining the mind toward non-reactivity, calmness, and present-focused awareness
  • Cultivating commitment; having a willingness and disposition to focus effect
  • Assess/orient self in the moment with questions: 鈥淎m I in Wise Mind?鈥 / 鈥淗ow can I practice Wise Mind now?"

Step 2: Accepting what arises

  • Mindfully noticing emotions, thoughts, and situations without reacting
  • Connecting with language that helps you accept: radical non-reactivity, facing what is, showing up for what is: all mean facing the truth of what is
  • Tuning into breath to assist

Step 3: Improving the moment

  • Accepting may mean that thoughts and feelings have less hold on you
  • Letting go and releasing
  • Seeking support
  • Engaging in positive individual or social action
  • Choosing healthy forms of soothing or distraction

Step 4: Expanding the moment/Accessing the bigger picture

  • Connecting spiritually to help deal with troubling emotions, thoughts or situations
  • Giving problems away to your higher power or 鈥渢he universe鈥
  • Thinking about how you & your recovery inspires others
  • Sensing how you belong in this world and are loved
  • Exploring your deepest purpose in the world

Step 5: Generating self-compassion for support

  • Touch the vulnerability 鈥 鈥渢he ouch that hurts鈥
  • Finding the patient, loving and compassionate part of yourself that appreciates who you are and recognizes that you will not be perfect
  • Maintaining awareness that evaluating and measuring yourself may affect self-esteem but jeopardizes self-compassion
  • Consciously tapping into self-compassion enhances wellness and recovery

Now that your client is aware of their emotions and the facts of the problem, lets improve the moment with the following exercise. Use this with clients to help them identify their judgements that keep them stuck, accept that it is there, and then let them go.

and watch Dr. Andrew Bein, a seasoned instructor with an energetic, hands-on approach to mindfulness-based practices and Dialectical Behavior Therapy education, demonstrate the Dealing with Judgement exercise here.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Certification (C-DBT): Practical Clinical Applications for Trauma, Comorbidities, Addiction and More
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Meet the Expert:
Andrew Bein, Ph.D., LCSW, has, for 20 years, been implementing mindfulness-based practices and Dialectical Behavior Therapy at a variety of practice settings. In a manner responsive to clinician, client and contextual realities, he has launched and contributed to DBT integration at the following settings: community mental health, outpatient dual diagnosis, women鈥檚 substance abuse, crisis residential, and high school and he has incorporated DBT into his private practice for individual and group treatment.

Learn more about his educational products, including upcoming live seminars, by clicking here.

Topic: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

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