Mapping the Moment: Why We Do What We Do (Plot Twist—Your brain is trying to help!)

In this episode of Wise Mind- A DBT Podcast, Raichel Green and Madelein Robinson expertly guide listeners through Behavioral Chain Analysis (BCA) (An essential DBT skill)—a trauma-informed, functional approach from DBT that helps answer the question, “Why do I do what I do?” They begin by clearly distinguishing between behaviors, thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and memories, explaining why clarifying these categories is foundational for meaningful therapeutic insight for both clinicians and clients.

Then, they walk through the 8-step chain analysis process—starting with vulnerability factors and prompting events, unfolding through thoughts, emotions, and sensations, and culminating in the target behavior and its effective/ineffective consequences.

Through 'skilled acting' role-play scenarios, they bring each step to life, revealing how behaviors often serve a purpose, even if harmful, making this method essential in trauma-sensitive work.

By pinpointing target behaviors—such as self-harm, avoidance, or chronic lateness (Maddy, we are looking at you!)—clinicians can help clients interrupt destructive cycles and build adaptive alternatives .

The hosts share and explain practical worksheets and tools (Linked below in the show notes), encouraging listeners to explore how behaviors that once helped might now be harming them now.

Recommendations & Links to Our Resources:

• Behavioural Chain Analysis worksheet

Marsha Linehan’s BCA – from the original DBT Skills Training Manual (Linehan, 2nd ed., 2015) & Dr. Lane Pederson’s BCA in The Expanded Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training Manual (2nd ed. 2017; 3rd ed. 2025).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dDX11d4r0IJ3Cg8blr17zgSw4RDOho6z/view?usp=drive_link

• Lane Pederson- Life Vision (LV) Worksheet

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k-5NOg4x0ozVx8eAyc2-s56ImDD09s9H/view?usp=sharing

• Identifying My Target Behaviours Worksheet

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15mT_pxFfEeeZqaRHwuWsyZPTE7hy5lqx/view?usp=drive_link

• All behavior is Functional Worksheet

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mast4rTbGLiqa1gu__scxFrPrsK2YjZQ/view?usp=sharing

• Example worksheets of Raich and Maddy's role play, How to do the skills and write it out

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SfRSPxsW7jC3jWhDgUo4G0Q992q-OrIP/view?usp=drive_link

Work With Us

We’d love to connect with you! Whether you have questions, feedback, collaboration ideas, or just want to say hello — reach out to us at:

⁠[e-mail]⁠

To learn more about our clinical work or book a session, visit:🔗 Raichel Green Counselling ⁠www.raichelgreencounselling.com⁠

📸 Madelein Robinson on Instagram: ⁠@theesteemcollective⁠

Stay tuned for the launch of The Wise Mind Collective — website - Coming soon!

Music“Note to Daisy” by the incredibly talented Micah Polla🎧 ⁠Listen on Spotify⁠

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Darkinjung people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we record, share, and connect here on the Central Coast. We pay our deepest respects to Elders past , present and emerging, and extend that respect to all First Nations peoples joining us today.

Crisis support

This space may include discussions that bring up strong emotions or difficult topics. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, please know you're not alone and support is available.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, we encourage you to reach out to:

• Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24/7)

• Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636

• 13YARN – 13 92 76 (A 24/7 national support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

• Emergency Services – 000 (if you are in immediate danger)

Acknowledgment of Dr. Marsha M. Linehan and the Origins of DBT

We honor Dr. Marsha M. Linehan— psychologist and pro