When It Helps
Describe is useful when a client blends facts with judgments, motives, assumptions, or conclusions and needs practice stating what was directly observed.
Describe
Describe is a DBT mindfulness practice tool for DBT practitioners and clients. It helps a client put factual words to observed internal or external experience without adding judgments, assumptions, motives, or conclusions.
Try a sample Describe entry and review how the wording appears to the practitioner.
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Tool guide
Learn more about this tool
Use this background section to understand when the tool fits, how practitioners use it, and what to consider before sharing it with clients.
Review Focus
The practitioner reviews the client's wording and coaches factual labeling while keeping practitioner interpretation separate.
Limits
The tool does not determine whether a statement is true, diagnose patterns, or provide cognitive restructuring content.
Does Describe automatically correct the client's wording?
No. The tool preserves attempts and revisions for practitioner review rather than auto-correcting meaning.
Can the client revise a description?
Yes. The product can show original wording and revised factual wording when revision is used.
Is this a thought record?
No. Describe is a DBT mindfulness skill for factual labeling of observed experience, not cognitive restructuring.
Does saving include demo examples?
No. Saving includes the tool and setup, not fictional sample wording or demo situations.