The Wise Mind
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) uses the concept of a reasonable, emotional, and wise mind to describe a person's thoughts and behaviors. The reasonable mind is driven by logic, the emotional mind is driven by feelings, and wise mind is a middle-ground between the two.
In DBT, clients will learn skills to use their wise mind and better manage their behavior. We suggest you use this DBT worksheet as a tool to introduce someone to the idea of the three states of mind.
This worksheet includes a brief overview of the three states of mind, a graphic to depict the concept, and an area for your client to record their own experiences with each of the minds.
1. Gratz, K. L., Tull, M. T., & Wagner, A. W. (2005). Applying DBT mindfulness skills to the treatment of clients with anxiety disorders. In Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches to anxiety (pp. 147-161). Springer, Boston, MA.
