VR for Hope implements a structured five-session protocol delivered over one week. This one-week intervention consists of one daily exercise utilizing the "River and the Leaf" metaphorical VR scenario and brief audio-guided sessions to enhance hope, well-being and mentalization through a blend of in-person and remote activities.

VR for Hope implements a structured five-session protocol delivered over one week, centered on an immersive metaphorical virtual scenario titled "The River and the Leaf." Each exercise is linked to a specific symbolic element of the digital environment. In every session, participants first explore the virtual scenario and then complete a brief 10-minute guided exercise delivered through a prerecorded audio track, focusing on a particular symbolic element of the environment. Session 1 is conducted in person using immersive virtual reality; after experiencing the VR scenario, participants are guided to identify their achieved goals and their personal resources. Sessions 2-5 are completed remotely via smartphone and lead participants through different metaphorical elements of the virtual experience (e.g., the serene river, the sinking and resurfacing leaf, and the rose garden) to reflect on personal experiences, obstacles, personal resources, mentalization, and future achievements.

The Adult Hope Scale (AHS) (Snyder et al., 1991; Italian version translated by Alfieri et al., 2023) is a 12-item measure assessing dispositional hope in adults. The construct of hope is based on two core components: the ability to sustain motivation and determination to achieve meaningful goals (agency) and the capacity to identify pathways and strategies to overcome obstacles along the way (pathways). The scale consists of statements rated on a 4-Likert scale that assess both cognitive and affective aspects of hope. Total scores range from 8 to 32, where higher scores reflect a greater level of hope.

The Certainty about Mental States Questionnaire (CAMSQ) (Müller et al., 2023; Italian version currently under validation by De Salve et al.) is a self-report measure of perceived mentalizing, defined as the ability to interpret one's own and others' mental states. The questionnaire consists of 20 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 7 (always). The instrument assesses two dimensions of mentalizing: certainty about one's own mental states and certainty about others' mental states. The scale was translated into Italian using a back-translation procedure, approved by the original German authors, and uploaded to the Open Science Framework (OSF). Higher scores reflect a greater level of perceived mentalizing.

The Flourishing Scale (FS) developed by Ryan and Deci (2001; Italian version Di Fabio, 2010), aims to investigate the elements that make up psychological well-being, including relationships, self-esteem, life purpose, and optimism. It consists of 8 items, and each is positively worded, and responses are measured on a 7-step Likert scale, where 1 means "strongly disagree" and 7 means "strongly agree." The score range is from 8 to 56 and higher scores reflect a greater level of flourishing.

The Personality Inventory for DSM-5 - Brief Form (PID-5-BF) (Italian version by Fossati et al., 2017) is a self-report questionnaire developed to assess functioning across five personality domains: Negative Affectivity, Detachment, Antagonism, Disinhibition, and Psychoticism. The instrument consists of 25 items rated on a four-point scale ranging from 0 (Very False or Often False) to 3 (Very True or Often True). Higher average scores in each of the 5 domains indicate higher levels of the specific pathological personality trait.