CEBTT
Cultivating Emotional Balance Teacher Training
Why Emotional Balance Is Essential
In a world increasingly defined by stress, emotional reactivity, and disconnection, the need for inner balance is profound. Cultivating Emotional Balance (CEB) was developed to help people meet this need by integrating cutting-edge emotion science with contemplative practices that promote clarity, empathy, and resilience.
The Origins of CEB: A Meeting of Science and Compassion
The CEB program was born in 2000, following a historic meeting convened by the Dalai Lama with Western scientists and Buddhist scholars. Among the participants was Dr. Paul Ekman, whose foundational research on emotional expression, the physiology of emotion, and emotional triggers helped shape the early discussions. Alongside Dr. Alan Wallace, and others, a vision emerged: to create a training that could help people reduce emotional suffering through both scientific understanding and experiential practice.
“We hoped to develop a training that could foster greater emotional insight and compassion for anyone, not just scientists or monastics.” — Paul Ekman
What is Cultivating Emotional Balance (CEB)?
CEB is a secular, evidence-based program that invites participants to explore:
- Somatic experiences of emotions — learning to sense how emotions manifest in the body
- Emotional granularity — refining awareness of nuanced emotional states
- The emotional timeline — understanding the causes, triggers, unfolding, and consequences of emotion
- Contemplative practices — including mindfulness, loving-kindness, and other tools to cultivate emotional balance
By combining scientific theory with practical methods of self-inquiry and meditation, CEB offers a unique and effective approach to working with emotion.
Train to Teach CEB: The 2025–2026 Teacher Training Program
The next CEB Teacher Training (CEBTT) cohort is now accepting applications. This year-long program offers:
- Two immersive residential retreats in Mexico
- Monthly online group trainings and guided practices
- Mentorship and small group teaching practice
- A comprehensive teaching manual, lesson plans, and emotional timeline practice
- Certification to teach the full 42-hour CEB curriculum
This educational modality allows participants to deepen their own practice while gaining the skills to share CEB with others—be that in clinical, educational, organizational, or community settings.
The Influence of Paul Ekman’s Work
CEB is separate and distinct from the facial expression recognition or lie detection training offered on this site. It draws deeply on the core emotional science developed by Dr. Paul Ekman, including:
- The structure and function of emotions
- Emotional triggers and the refractory period
- The interplay of emotion, attention, and behavior
CEB offers a grounded framework for applying this science through contemplative introspection, emotional mapping, and skillful engagement with everyday emotional experiences.
“Understanding emotion is not enough. We must cultivate awareness, compassion, and the ability to respond constructively. That’s what CEB is designed to do.” — Paul Ekman
Save $500 Through PaulEkman.com
PaulEkman.com is proud to support the next generation of CEB teachers. New applicants who reference PaulEkman.com in their applications will receive an exclusive $500 discount toward their tuition.
🔗 https://cultivating-emotional-balance.org/cebtt-2025-outline/
If you’re passionate about emotional learning, mindfulness, and sharing tools that truly change lives, the CEB Teacher Training Program may be your next step. With deep roots in both science and contemplative practice, it is more than a certification—it’s a path toward greater personal and collective well-being.
