Compassion-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) to protect and nurture community care providers

Abstract

Purpose This case study describes pilot implementation of Nalanda Institute’s Compassion-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) with community care providers in New York City (NYC) to protect them from stress and trauma impacts and nurture their capacity to deliver skillful, compassionate care. Design/methodology/approach The Academy for Community Behavioral Health in NYC offered CBRT at no cost to a diverse cohort of 28 nonprofit care providers. This virtual eight-week course met weekly for 2 hours over Zoom, with formal and informal meditation practice between sessions. A mixed methods pre/post survey assessed changes in meditation practice, work-related stress and mindfulness and compassion. A final survey invited participant feedback on course experiences and course outcomes. Findings This case study suggests that a virtual eight-week CBRT course can be both feasible and effective for community care providers, even in their demanding roles. Most participants who started the course completed it (77%). CBRT helped participants establish a regular meditation practice and led to improvements on indicators of work-related stress, mindfulness and compassion. Participants linked these changes to an increased sense of hopefulness, agency and resilience for navigating stress and trauma in their work. They also found valued peer support in the course. Originality/value This case study offers one model for sharing effective but underused contemplative healing tools with care providers who encounter significant stress and trauma. It can inform efforts by funders, organizational leaders, managers, direct care staff and researchers to better protect these critical helpers.