Mindfulness based interventions (MBI) are increasingly being used to reduce mental distress and symptomology, yet little is known about the mechanisms behind these effects. The Cultivating Emotional Balance (CEB) intervention is well-placed to more deeply investigate underlying mechanisms of the effects of mindfulness training. This research will deliver the mindfulness and emotions skills training components of CEB in isolation to investigate their individual effects and interactions on adaptive and maladaptive subtypes of rumination, worry, mind-wandering and HPA axis activity (cortisol) all of which are predictors of symptomology.
CEB applies authentic contemplative techniques to an understanding of the behavioural sciences, using clear definitions and ancillary-free training pedagogy of mindfulness. This research will also investigate the effect of increased metacognitive skills on self-report measures of mindfulness by correlating them with behavioural measures at three time-points throughout the intervention. It will also be the first study on the emotional skills training component and order effects of CEB components.
Cultivating Emotional Balance was developed by leaders in the field of emotion and mindfulness research, Drs Paul Ekman and B. Alan Wallace. More information on CEB is available here.
If you would like information on participating in this research, please send me an email or book into the information evening here.
These videos are Dr. Paul Ekman and Dr. Alan Wallace discussing some of the key elements of Cultivating Emotional Balance.