The Effects of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Zen retreat on healthcare workers
Karina Solovieff, Miguel Angel Murua, María Arqueros, Randy Wolbert, Jan Glasenapp, Vibh Forsythe, Joaquim Soler
Research Square October 28, 2025 preprint DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7750231/v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Nonrandomized controlled study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 212 |
| Population | DBT-trained mental health professionals (120 retreat participants, 92 controls) |
| Duration | 5-day intervention, assessed pre and post intervention |
| Topics | Buddhism |
| Key points | A 5-day silent Zen-style mindfulness retreat produced greater improvements than Dharma listening alone in self-compassion facets, depression (change −3.15 vs −0.33), stress (−6.78 vs −0.80), well-being, and situational self-awareness, with effect sizes ranging from d = 0.33 to 0.92. The authors conclude the retreat is a beneficial component for DBT-practicing clinicians and a potential training addition. |
Abstract
Abstract Background Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) integrates mindfulness and dialectics, yet the contribution of a residential Zen-style mindfulness retreat for clinicians has seldom been evaluated.
Methods: We conducted a nonrandomized controlled study with 212 DBT-trained mental health professionals (Retreat = 120; Control = 92). The intervention was a 5-day, silent residential retreat with intensive formal and informal mindfulness practice; controls listened to daily Dharma, without meditation, over the same period. Self-report outcomes were assessed pre and post intervention.
Results: Relative to controls, the retreat produced greater increases in self-compassion areas such self-kindness (Δ = 0.87 vs 0.26, d = 0.43, p = .001), common humanity (0.97 vs − 0.12, d = 0.72, p < .001), and mindfulness (0.56 vs 0.01, d = 0.49, p < .001) and larger reductions in negative facets such self-judgment, isolation, over-identification (d = 0.34–0.61, all p ≤ .01). The retreat yielded greater reductions in depression (Δ = −3.15 vs − 0.33, d = 0.55, p < .001) and stress (− 6.78 vs − 0.80, d = 0.92, p < .001). Well-being increased more in the retreat across emotional, social, and psychological domains (d = 0.33–0.61, all p ≤ .012) and situational self-awareness increased substantially (Δ = 4.63 vs − 0.13, d = 0.71, p < .001).
Conclusions: A 5-day Zen mindfulness retreat produced clinically meaningful improvements both in clinical and wellbeing indexes beyond psychoeducation Dharma talks alone. Findings support the retreat as a beneficial component for DBT-practicing clinicians and could be a protentional promoting training component for DBT.