HEART: Healing Climate-Related Trauma: Trialling Arts-Based and Nature-Based Compassion-Focused Groups

The study will compare the effectiveness of two compassion, group-based programs (ABC and NBC programs) for the treatment of disaster-related PTSD in NNSW communities. Both programs are grounded in research on compassion-based programs and have been adapted to address the specific psychological impacts of climate-related trauma. Arts-Based Compassion (ABC) Program The ABC program is a five-session program that aims to foster compassion skills through engagement with visual arts. It is adapted from a previous pilot study (Bennett-Levy et al., 2020) which found promising results in enhancing compassion and well-being among Aboriginal community participants. Participants will receive an ABC handbook, and each session of the ABC program will consist of three parts: 1. Compassion Discussion (~20 minutes): A Compassion Trainer (CT), typically a trained counsellor or therapist, will lead a brief discussion on the session's compassion-related theme, drawing upon participants' life experiences and wisdom. Weekly themes will include: What is Compassion, Creating Safeness, and the Three Flows of Compassion (compassion for others, receiving compassion from others, self-compassion). 2. Compassion Through Art (~2 hours): Participants will engage in experiential art-making activities focused on the compassion-related theme of the day (e.g., compassion for others, self-compassion etc.). This section will be facilitated by the lead arts-based specialist, supported by the CT, who will participate in art activities alongside the clients and provide extra support as needed. A range of art materials (e.g., paints, crayons, magazines for collage) will be provided for participants to create compassion-related artworks. The ambience will be enhanced with participant-selected music and informal storytelling. The CTs will create a safe, non-judgmental space for creativity and emotional expression. 3. Reflection and Sharing (~40 minutes): Participants will be invited by the CTs to share the stories and inspirations behind their artworks, reflecting on how the day’s compassion theme manifests in their lives. The session will conclude with a compassion-based practice, such as soothing rhythm breathing, to help activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Key aspects of the ABC program that may enhance its effectiveness include: The non-threatening, inclusive group atmosphere aims to put participants at ease and foster a sense of common humanity. The use of art as an engaging, non-verbal means to explore compassion, potentially bypassing some of the barriers to compassion that may arise in more didactic, discussion-based formats. The multisensory experience of artmaking, music and storytelling may facilitate embodied learning and help shift participants out of threat-based emotional systems. The emphasis on cultural safety and sensitivity, with the involvement of local Aboriginal artists and health workers, and the centring of participants' own stories, symbols and understandings of compassion. In summary, the ABC program aims to provide a culturally attuned, experiential pathway for developing compassion skills in the aftermath of disaster-related trauma. By engaging the soothing, creative, and affiliative processes of artmaking within a supportive group environment, it is hypothesised that ABC may help to counteract the threat-based processes associated with PTSD, planting the seeds for greater self-compassion, compassion for others and social-emotional well-being. Nature-Based Compassion (NBC Program) The NBC program is a novel five-session program integrating compassion science principles with nature-based experiences to address the often-fractured relationship with the natural world following a climate-related disaster. It draws upon the growing evidence base for the mental health benefits of nature connection (Lumber et al., 2017; Richardson et al., 2020) and the potential of nature-based programs for treating PTSD (Poulsen et al., 2016). Participants will receive an NBC handbook, and each session of the NBC program will consist of three parts: 1. Compassion Discussion (~20 minutes): Like the ABC program, a CT will lead a brief discussion on the session's compassion theme, with a specific focus on how it relates to experiences in nature. This discussion will be inclusive of diverse perspectives, recognising that while some participants may have a strong affinity with nature, others may have different or less direct relationships with the natural world due to various cultural, personal, or environmental factors. 2. Compassion Through Nature Connection (~2 hours): Participants will engage in guided nature-based practices in local outdoor settings, facilitated by a trained nature-based specialist and supported by a CT. Practices are designed to be adaptable and respect participants' diverse experiences and connections with nature. The practices may include: - Mindfulness and sensory awareness exercises to cultivate present moment focus and embodied connection with the natural world. - Nature-based reflections and meaning-making activities, such as exploring metaphors and symbols in nature that resonate with one's life story and challenges. - Guided self-compassion practices in nature, such as soothing rhythm breathing, compassionate self-talk, and imagining receiving compassion from a tree, the sky, or the Earth itself. 3. Reflection and Sharing (~40 minutes): Participants will be invited to share their experiences, insights, and any meaningful moments of connection with nature and compassion by the CTs. The session will close with a compassion-based practice and an invitation to explore nature connection practices between sessions. Key aspects of the NBC program that may enhance its effectiveness include: The immersive, multisensory experience of being in nature, which may help to down-regulate the threat system and activate the soothing system. The use of nature-based metaphors, symbols, and meaning-making to explore compassion in a gentle, non-threatening way, potentially bypassing cognitive barriers (Poulsen et al., 2016). The combination of mindful awareness and self-compassion practices, which may synergistically enhance the ability to be present with and respond kindly to difficult emotions and traumatic memories. The rebuilding of a positive, nurturing relationship with the natural world, which may have been damaged or disrupted by the climate-related disaster. This could help to restore a sense of interconnectedness, awe, and existential meaning. The inclusion of culturally resonant elements for those who find meaning in nature connection and place-based healing, while also allowing space for participants who may resonate more with other elements