HOLIDAY MODE | WHAT & HOW Skills Re-Shared

HOLIDAY MODE 🌴 | Re-Share: ABC Skills Welcome back to Wise Mind! 🧡 We’re taking a much-needed DBT break! Here in Australia, it’s school holidays and summer is in full swing, so we’re pressing pause on the podcast for the next two weeks to soak up some sunshine, rest and recharge. And a big welcome to all our new listeners! While we’re away, we’re bringing you an oldie but a goodie from the early days of Wise Mind an episode we think is definitely worth revisiting. So, settle in and enjoy this throwback episode all about ABC Skills. And if you’re missing your weekly Wise Mind fix, don’t worry! We’re still releasing new content every week over on Patreon, including bonus content and resources. Head to our website to find the link and join us over there! We’ll see you back here after the break with more Wise Mind, more DBT and more conversations about making sense of our wonderfully messy brains. See you in two weeks!

In Part 2, Maddy and Raich from Wise Mind are continuing the conversation around self-harm but this time, we’re getting practical. What do we do when someone isn’t ready to stop? We explore harm minimisation, how to support someone without judgement, and why meeting people where they’re at can be an important part of the work. We chat about what helpful support can actually look like, how to have these conversations safely, and how we can stay connected with someone even when they’re not ready to make a change!! If you enjoy the episode, please like, follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share to help support the podcast. Wanting more weekly wise Mind?! For bonus episodes and exclusive resources every week, join us on Patreon, the link via wisemindcollective.com.au.

In this episode, Maddy and Raich from Wise Mind are diving into a topic that can be difficult, misunderstood and sometimes pretty uncomfortable to talk about self-harm (In all its many forms). We chat about what it actually is, why people might turn to it, and what purpose it can serve. We also share how we approach working with self-harm in our clinical practice and why our approach differs slightly from the way Marsha Linehan talks about it in traditional DBT. As always, we’re keeping it real, compassionate and practical because understanding the behaviour is often the first step towards finding a different way through. If you enjoy the episode, please like, follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share to help support the podcast.

Social Signals & Connection: The Skills That Help Us Connect Why can connecting with others sometimes feel so difficult, even when we really want connection? In this episode of Wise Mind, we explore the role of social signalling the small verbal and non-verbal cues we use to communicate warmth, interest and openness to others. We explore the “flat face” and how our facial expressions, body language and tone can unintentionally communicate disinterest or distance, even when we’re feeling anxious or wanting connection. We unpack the fear of rejection that can make us pull back, avoid eye contact, or wait for others to make the first move. Most importantly, we explore practical skills for creating connection, including noticing our social signals, practising warmth and curiosity, showing genuine interest, initiating conversations and tolerating the discomfort that can come with vulnerability. Because connection isn't always about finding the “right” people sometimes it starts with learning how to signal, “I'm open to connecting.”

The Loneliness Epidemic: Why We Feel So Alone Loneliness is becoming increasingly recognised as a significant public health concern but what actually happens when we feel disconnected from others? In this episode of Wise Mind, we explore the research behind the loneliness epidemic and why feeling connected is such a fundamental human need. We unpack the difference between being alone and feeling lonely, and explore what research tells us about the impact of chronic loneliness on our emotional wellbeing, stress response, physical health and relationships. We also look at why loneliness can become a cycle: feeling disconnected can lead us to withdraw, which can make meaningful connection even harder to find. From the neuroscience of social connection to the psychology of belonging, we explore what loneliness might be trying to communicate and how we can respond to it more effectively. Because loneliness isn't a personal failure it's a deeply human experience and a signal that connection matters. If you enjoy the episode, please like, follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share to help support the podcast. Wanting more weekly wise Mind?! For bonus episodes and exclusive resources every week, join us on Patreon, the link via wisemindcollective.com.au.