ABSTRACT
Engaging in mindful living is a central component of dialectical behavior therapy. This chapter addresses a dialectical approach aimed at guiding clients toward achieving a balanced life. Balance is fostered when individuals employ their “wise mind,” or the synthesis of emotional awareness and reason. When individuals are in a state of wise mind, they can respond to situations by incorporating both emotional insight and logical reasoning. Conversely, when individuals are out of balance, spending too much time in either emotion or reason mind, they place themselves at risk of engaging in behaviors that contributed to their offending.
In this chapter, clients are introduced to the acronym FLOURISH, providing them with skills to begin “training” their brains to engage in mindful practices their daily lives. Research has consistently demonstrated that individuals who can engage in mindfulness practices tend to notice a reduction in negative emotions, which in turn plays a role in mitigating the likelihood of reoffending.
