The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy What is Eco Anxiety? An Interview with Dr. Thomas Doherty
What is Eco Anxiety? An Interview with Dr. Thomas Doherty
Curt and Katie interview Dr. Thomas Doherty about Eco Anxiety. We look at the history of eco anxiety, what therapists should know about the environment, the concept of environmental identity, and how we can support clients with Eco Anxiety in therapy. We look at ways to bring these topics up with our clients as well as empower them to take action.
An Interview with Dr. Thomas J. Doherty
Thomas is a clinical and environmental psychologist based in Portland, Oregon, USA. His multiple publications on nature and mental health include the groundbreaking paper “The Psychological Impacts of Global Climate Change,” co-authored by Susan Clayton, cited over 700 times. Thomas is a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), Past President of the Society for Environmental, Population and Conservation Psychology, and Founding Editor of the academic journal Ecopsychology. Thomas was a member of the APA’s first Task Force on Global Climate Change and founded one of the first environmentally-focused certificate programs for mental health counselors in the US at Lewis & Clark Graduate School. Thomas is originally from Buffalo, New York.
In this podcast episode we talk about what therapists should know about Eco Anxiety
In preparation for Earth Day, we wanted to understand more about Eco Anxiety and what therapists can do to support our clients and the planet.
What is Eco Anxiety?
- The history of Eco Anxiety, including worry about the use of chemicals, climate change
- The importance of words, personal experiences, how the client sees the world
- The diagnoses that align with this area, the types of impacts on clients
What Should Therapists Know About the Environment?
- Resources related to climate change
- How to explore Environmental Identity
- Understand our own Environmental Identity
- The 3 basic psychological impacts from the environment (disaster, chronic, or ambient)
- The benefits of nature and how people in all environments can access them
What is your Environmental Identity?
- Relationship to the natural world
- Significant experiences in the outdoors
- The nuance of bringing these ideas up in Urban areas
- What “nature” means to each of us
How Can We Support Clients with Eco Anxiety in Therapy?
- Understanding the basics on the environment and climate change
- Building capacity to be with these issues
- Reeling in the anxiety, imagination
- Understanding the waves of emotions and completing the anxiety cycle
- Giving clients permission to talk about the environment and how to open up the conversations
- Coping strategies specific to Eco Anxiety
- Suggestions for activism and what clients can do to improve the environment
- Helping clients to identify if they are doing enough
- Where to find resources on environmental efforts
- How therapists can employ climate awareness in their practices
Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:
We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance! Dr. Thomas Doherty's Practice Sustainable Self
Climate Change and Happiness Podcast
Dr. Thomas Doherty’s Consultation and Training Program on the Environment
The Psychological Impacts of Global Climate Change by Thomas J. Doherty and Susan Clayton
NY Times: Climate Change Enters the Therapy Room
Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:
What’s New in the DSM-5-TR with Dr. Michael B. First
What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy part 1
What You Should Know About Walk and Talk Therapy part 2 (Law and Ethics)