What is Climate Psychology?

Many people find it hard to think or talk about climate change, let alone to experience how they feel about it. We probably all know at some level that we can’t continue “business as usual” and yet it can be overwhelming to engage or really connect with reality and face what’s happening.

So climate psychology helps us to understand what’s going on in us and in society (particularly in the so-called Global North), and provides a bridge towards engaging with reality:

• our emotions – individual and collective - much of which are unacknowledged & unconscious

• the social & mental processes that have contributed to the ecological and climate crisis

• and our responses and processes of adaptation to it.

Climate psychology can help by:

• recognizing the complexity within and outside of us; we inhabit many interwoven systems and there is no one simple fix;

• building deeper understanding about why some people can’t or won’t engage, which helps us to foster and maintain good relationships, even during difficult times;

• building understanding of the dynamics of different groups and segments of societies so that we work with and not against differences;

• helping us to find new and less divisive language to cope with our many human predicaments;

• guides us as we build cultures of care and support for individuals and groups; cultures which are essential to building resilience;

• offering tried and tested frameworks and tools to engage, communicate and support people effectively;

• developing strategies for transformation and adaptation to cope with the consequences of the climate and ecological crisis.

By integrating these various ideas, along with evidence-based research, Linda can help you, your team, your community or your organisation to find new ways of engaging on climate change to help you in your journey towards acceptance and adaptation.