Centre foR
conscious
awareness BRISBANE
Promoting Emotional Awareness for Mental Health
CCA Brisbane promotes the prevention and control of anxiety and depressive disorders through the development of emotional awareness and emotional self-regulation, using an integrated heart–mind–body approach.
Our principal method, Arka Dhyana Intuitive Meditation, is a structured practice that integrates breath, touch, sound and directed attention. These elements guide participants towards greater awareness of bodily sensations, feelings and emotional states, with the aim of developing a deeper understanding of internal experiences and emotional responses.
Our approach draws on research specific to Arka Dhyana, alongside broader scientific evidence concerning emotional regulation, mindful awareness and breath-based practices. Together, these evidence streams inform the design and ongoing evaluation of our health promotion programmes.
How Arka Dhyana Supports Emotional Awareness
Arka Dhyana brings together four interconnected elements to guide attention towards internal experiences.
Breath
Attention to breathing, including a progressively longer exhalation, forms part of the practice. Breath awareness provides a practical focus for attention and a way to explore the relationship between breathing, physiological responses and emotional states.
Touch and bodily awareness
The practice uses a progressive sequence of specified body touchpoints to guide attention towards bodily sensations. This encourages participants to notice internal bodily experiences and explore their relationship with feelings and emotions.
Sound and directed attention
Sound provides an attentional anchor during the practice. Together with breath and touch, it helps guide attention away from everyday distractions and towards bodily sensations, feelings and present internal experiences.
Feeling and emotional awareness
By bringing these elements together, participants are guided to explore their feelings, recognise emotional responses and develop a greater understanding of their internal experiences. This is the central pathway through which CCA Brisbane aims to support emotional awareness and the development of emotional self-regulation.
This pathway describes the rationale underpinning our health promotion activities. It is informed by Arka Dhyana-specific research and broader scientific literature on mechanisms relevant to mental health. It does not imply that every participant will experience the same outcomes or that the method has been established as a clinical treatment for anxiety or depressive disorders.
What Does the Research Say?
Research specific to Arka Dhyana
Research examining Arka Dhyana has explored changes in feeling consciousness, physiological responses and participants' experiences of the practice.
A 2016 doctoral study examined five Arka Dhyana training sessions delivered over six weeks to 31 participants. It reported a statistically significant pre- and post-training difference on the Feeling-Consciousness Scale. The author also noted that the scale was still developing and described the findings as tentative.
A 2018 publication examined the theory of six main levels of consciousness and reported on the Arka Dhyana and Feeling-Consciousness research, including the observed pre- and post-training change.
A 2021 experiential evaluation examined Arka Dhyana from the perspectives of HeartMath and the theory of six main levels of consciousness. The evaluation involved six participants and reported physiological and qualitative findings, including participant experiences associated with calm, acceptance and reduced agitation, stress or anxiety. The authors acknowledged limitations associated with the small sample.
These studies provide preliminary information about the method, participant experiences and measures used to explore changes during practice. They are relevant to the development of CCA Brisbane's approach, but they do not independently establish that Arka Dhyana prevents or clinically treats anxiety or depressive disorders.
Broader scientific evidence
CCA Brisbane also considers wider scientific research on the mechanisms relevant to its health promotion approach.
Breathing and physiological regulation
A 2018 systematic review by Zaccaro and colleagues examined the psychophysiological correlates of slow breathing across 15 studies. The review discussed associations between slow breathing, physiological regulation and psychological outcomes. This literature provides broader context for understanding the role of breath-based practices.
Emotional regulation and mental health
A 2017 systematic review by Sloan and colleagues examined emotion regulation as a mechanism relevant across several mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. This supports the relevance of emotional regulation as an area of mental health research.
Mindfulness-based interventions and symptoms of anxiety and depression
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis by Xu and colleagues examined second-generation mindfulness interventions for anxiety and depression. The review reported reductions in symptoms across the included studies, while also identifying considerations relating to study quality and risk of bias.
This broader research provides context for the mechanisms CCA Brisbane seeks to develop. Findings from other breathing or mindfulness-based interventions should not, however, be interpreted as direct evidence that Arka Dhyana produces the same effects.
Education, Ongoing Practice and Evaluation
CCA Brisbane supports its principal health promotion approach through structured education, ongoing meditation practice, research and programme evaluation.
Educational activities introduce participants to the method and its underlying concepts. Guided practice provides opportunities to explore breath, touch, sound and directed attention, while continued participation allows individuals to further develop familiarity with the practice and reflect on their experiences.
Research and programme evaluation are important to the ongoing development of this work. They provide opportunities to examine how programmes are delivered, document participant experiences and assess changes using appropriate measures.
Hatha Yoga and related activities may complement this approach through movement, breath and bodily awareness. They remain complementary to CCA Brisbane's principal Arka Dhyana pathway.
Our Commitment to Responsible Evidence
CCA Brisbane recognises the importance of distinguishing preliminary findings from established scientific conclusions.
The existing Arka Dhyana-specific research provides information about the method, participant experiences, Feeling-Consciousness measures and physiological responses. However, the available studies have limitations, including small participant samples and developing measures. They do not independently demonstrate that Arka Dhyana prevents or clinically treats anxiety or depressive disorders.
We therefore consider Arka Dhyana-specific findings alongside broader scientific evidence concerning emotional awareness, emotional regulation and breath-based practices. We aim to communicate research findings accurately, acknowledge uncertainty and continue developing our programmes through education, research and evaluation.
Our health promotion work is focused on supporting the development of emotional awareness and emotional self-regulation as mechanisms relevant to the prevention and control of anxiety and depressive disorders. Arka Dhyana Intuitive Meditation is a health promotion practice, not a substitute for professional mental health assessment or treatment.
References and Further Reading
Research specific to Arka Dhyana
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Lindhard, T., Hermann, C. & Edwards, S. D. (2021). An Experiential Evaluation of Arka Dhyana (Intuitive Meditation) from the Perspective of HeartMath and the Theory of the Six Main Levels of Consciousness. Preprint.
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Lindhard, T. (2016). Unlocking the Secrets of the Heart. Doctoral dissertation.
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Lindhard, T. (2018). The Theory of Six Main Levels of Consciousness: A Study of the Third Level.
Broader scientific evidence
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Zaccaro, A. et al. (2018). How Breath-Control Can Change Your Life: A Systematic Review on Psycho-Physiological Correlates of Slow Breathing. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
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Sloan, E. et al. (2017). Emotion Regulation as a Transdiagnostic Treatment Construct Across Anxiety, Depression, Substance, Eating and Borderline Personality Disorders: A Systematic Review. Clinical Psychology Review.
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Xu et al. (2026). Systematic review and meta-analysis of second-generation mindfulness interventions for anxiety and depression.