DBT mindfulness skills
Mindfulness is the core of DBT — the skill the other three modules rest on. It's paying attention to the present moment, on purpose, without judgment. On a diary card it often shows up as whether the client could reach Wise Mind and use the “what” and “how” skills.
The mindfulness skills
The balance of emotion mind and reasonable mind — the state a client is acting from when a skill actually lands. Many cards track simply whether the client reached Wise Mind that day.
Notice an experience without putting words to it — sensations, thoughts, urges as they come and go.
Put words to what you observed, sticking to the facts rather than interpretations.
Enter fully into the current activity instead of watching from the outside.
Drop the good/bad, should/shouldn't labels and stay with what is.
Do one thing at a time, with full attention.
Do what works in the situation rather than what feels “right” or fair.
Track skill use on a diary card
Skills only help when they generalize. A DBT diary card captures which skills a client actually used between sessions — and Theracharts charts that use over time so you can see it in session.
Build a free diary cardAbout diary cardsFrequently asked questions
What are the DBT mindfulness skills?
The mindfulness module centers on Wise Mind plus the three “what” skills (Observe, Describe, Participate) and three “how” skills (Non-judgmentally, One-mindfully, Effectively).
How do clients track mindfulness practice?
On a diary card, clients note the days they used mindfulness skills and whether they reached Wise Mind. Reviewing that pattern in session shows whether the core skill is generalizing.
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