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Symposium

Transdiagnostic and Therapeutic Processes
Symposium

Symposium 5 - Advances in Psychotherapeutic Approaches for Emotional Distress: Applications and Efficacy of Transdiagnostic and Mindfulness-Based Interventions

Thursday, June 25, 2026
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM PDT
Location: Yerba Buena Salon 7, B3 Level
CE: 1.5

Keywords: Mindfulness/Meditation, Randomized Controlled Trial, Transdiagnostic
Level of Familiarity: Moderate to Advanced
Recommended Readings: Li, Y., Zhang, Y., Wang, C., Luo, J., Yu Y., Feng, S., Wang, C., Xu, Q., Wang, P., Chen, J., Zhang, N., Yu, Q., Liu, Y., Chen, D., Hofmann, S. G., & Liu, X.* (2025). Supported Mindfulness-Based Self-Help Intervention as an Adjunctive Treatment for Rapid Symptom Change in Emotional Disorders: A Practice-Oriented Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, 94,119-129. https://doi.org/10.1159/000542937,   Wang, Z., Chen, M., Hu, A., Feng, S., Hofmann, S. G., & Liu, X. (2025). Effect of cognitive flexibility in mindfulness intervention for emotional distress: Two randomized controlled trials. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 72(5), 581–597. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000812,   Chen, M., Xin, Z., He, M., Wang, Z., Li, Y., Hofmann, S. G., & Liu, X. (2025). Temporal dynamics in the early stages of mindfulness intervention for emotional distress: A network analysis. Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-025-02656-y,   ,  

This symposium presents a collection of innovative approaches to the treatment of emotional distress, focusing on the integration of mindfulness-based interventions and transdiagnostic frameworks. These interventions aim to address a wide range of emotional disorders by targeting underlying mechanisms such as emotional dysregulation, avoidance behaviors, and cognitive rigidity.
The first presentation adapts the Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress (MIED) for bereavement care. Based on a dual-process model of grief, this study integrates mindfulness practices to facilitate both restoration- and loss-oriented coping strategies. Findings from preliminary surveys and interviews suggest that MIED is effective in reducing bereavement-related distress and could be enhanced by incorporating bereavement-specific examples and death education elements.
The second presentation addresses the Unified Protocol for Adolescents (UP-A) in China, emphasizing a parent-adolescent group intervention. The pilot and randomized controlled trial (RCT) findings demonstrate the efficacy of a culturally adapted UP-A in reducing emotional disorder severity in adolescents, highlighting the role of parental involvement. The research suggests that integrating parents into adolescent interventions may be key to overcoming barriers to access and improving long-term outcomes in Chinese adolescents.
The third presentation explores Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) applied to female offenders with suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety. A randomized controlled trial demonstrates DBT’s efficacy in reducing these symptoms, with longitudinal mediation analyses revealing specific pathways through mindfulness, experiential avoidance, and interpersonal factors. These findings offer a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving DBT’s success in this high-risk population.
In the fourth presentation, perceived stress is identified as a critical mediator in the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for emotional distress. Data from two RCTs indicate that reducing perceived stress mediates the effects of MBIs in alleviating anxiety and depression. This finding underscores the importance of targeting perceived stress in MBIs to enhance their therapeutic impact.
Finally, the symposium concludes with a presentation on a case study demonstrating the Unified Protocol (UP) applied through the MIED Psychopathology Diamond Model for treating Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The study highlights how this model targets the four nodes of emotional distress—life engagement, distress tolerance, emotional behaviors, and cognitive flexibility—to reduce symptoms and improve life functioning in a depressed client. The case study provides robust evidence for the model’s utility in individual therapy.
Each presentation in this symposium contributes valuable insights into the application and mechanisms of transdiagnostic and mindfulness-based treatments across diverse populations and contexts. The research highlights the potential of these approaches to improve emotional regulation, reduce distress, and restore functioning across various emotional disorders.

Learning Objectives:

  • Integrate mindfulness techniques to improve bereavement-related distress by enhancing emotional tolerance and reducing rumination.
  • Evaluate the Unified Protocol for Adolescents (UP-A) effectiveness in treating emotional disorders with family involvement.
  • Apply the MIED Psychopathology Diamond Model to assess and design interventions for emotional distress in clients with depression.
  • Enhance therapists' skills in using transdiagnostic frameworks and mindfulness interventions across emotional disorders.
  • Improve therapists' ability to implement evidence-based therapies tailored to diverse clinical populations.

Presentations:

  • 9:35 AM - 9:52 AM PDT
    (SYM 5) Adapting the Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress (MIED) Program for Bereavement Care

    Speaker: Yanjuan Li, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – the university of Hong Kong

  • 9:52 AM - 10:09 AM PDT
    (SYM 5) Concurrent Adolescent and Parent Group Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in China: Evidence from Feasibility and Efficacy Studies

    Speaker: Meirong Pan, M.D. (she/her/hers) – Peking University Sixth Hospital

    Co-Author: Xue Gao, M.D (she/her/hers) – Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing 100191, China

    Co-Author: Xueying Liu, M.D (she/her/hers) – Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing 100191, China

    Co-Author: Zhongfang Fu, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Peking University

    Co-Author: Lu Liu, Ph. D (she/her/hers) – Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing 100191, China

    Co-Author: haimei Li, Ph. D (she/her/hers) – Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing 100191, China

    Co-Author: Yufeng Wang, Ph. D (she/her/hers) – Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing 100191, China

    Co-Author: qiujin qian, M.D. – Peking university

  • 10:09 AM - 10:26 AM PDT
    (SYM 5) The Efficacy and Mechanisms of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Suicidal Ideation, Depression, and Anxiety in Female Offenders: A Randomized Controlled Trial

    Speaker: Jiali Yang, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Co-Author: Lan Wang, Ph.D. Candidate (she/her/hers) – School of Criminal Justice, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing , China

    Co-Author: Bo Yang, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – China School of Sociology, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing , China

    Co-Author: Xinghua Liu, Ph.D. – Peking University

  • 10:26 AM - 10:43 AM PDT
    (SYM 5) Perceived Stress as a Mediator of a Mindfulness-based Intervention for Emotional Distress: Two Randomized Controlled Trials

    Speaker: Jialu Jin, None (he/him/his) – Peking university

    Co-Author: Dongyang Chen, PhD Candidate – Peking University School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences

    Co-Author: Mengyao He, PhD – Peking University School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences

    Co-Author: Amy Hu, Master – Peking University School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences

    Co-Author: Stefan G. Hofmann, PhD – Philipps-Universitat Marburg

    Co-Author: Xinghua Liu, Ph.D. – Peking University

  • 10:43 AM - 11:00 AM PDT
    (SYM 5) UP Intervention from the Perspective of the MIED Psychopathology Diamond Model: A Case Study of Depression

    Speaker: Yinan Zhang, M.D. (she/her/hers) – Peking University