Psychology for a Safe Climate: Distress and Awareness in the face of the Climate Reality

In today's world, the urgency of addressing climate change is undeniable. As a clinical psychologist and a health care practitioner working in Melbourne, I can see the heaviness and impact of this on people's emotions. People sometimes talk about climate anxiety, eco-distress, climate despair, environmental anguish or angst. But what does it mean to be a climate-aware psychologist, how does this differ from a mental health approach and how do we integrate this climate awareness into our work?

Let's explore the Support Model developed by Psychology for a Safe Climate over the past 10 years as a framework for understanding and embodying climate awareness effectively. Psychology for a Safe Climate (PSC) is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2010 in Melbourne, Australia, to foster emotional engagement with climate change. PSC was founded in response to the lack of individual and community commitment to address the climate emergency.

The support model explores five areas that can enhance our capacity to be with our distressing climate-related emotions, without feeling overwhelmed, burnt out or alone.

Purpose: Finding Meaning in Climate Action

At the core of being climate-aware is having a clear sense of purpose in our actions. Understanding the significance of our contributions to addressing climate change fuels our motivation and commitment. Whether we're educators, therapists and counselors, healthcare professionals, policymakers, or business leaders, recognizing the impact of our small efforts on the environment and future generations is essential for fostering presence in our endeavors. It helps us to continue, and to find sense among what may otherwise feel like chaos.

Emotions: Navigating Climate Anxiety, Anger and Hope

Emotions play a significant role in our response to climate change. Acknowledging and regulating our emotions—whether it's anxiety, anger, grief, or hope—allows us to stay grounded and to be authentic with ourselves about the pain that facing the crisis may bring up. To sustain ourselves, we need spaces to express and know our changing feelings. Because this is so important, there's a newly set up online forum to explore and share in these emotions with others, called the Climate Feelings Space.

Find it here: https://www.climatefeelings.space/

Expressing emotions together with others can be hugely powerful, and this is also something supported by individual therapy. Being able to meet with a psychologist can create a space to dive deep into the emotions that are felt in relation to the loss and ambiguities we experience with the changing climate. By cultivating emotional intelligence and resilience, we can effectively navigate the complexities of climate-related challenges and engage authentically with others in our efforts.

Connection: Building Relationships for Climate Action

Human connection lies at the heart of effective climate action. When we can share our feelings together, we are still in pain, but we no longer suffer alone. Cultivating empathy, compassion, and a sense of belonging fosters collaboration and collective engagement. As climate-aware practitioners, we recognize the interconnectedness of all living beings and ecosystems, fostering a deep sense of connection with nature and each other - and this is part of what is so painful about the climate reality, but also a source of deep resilience. By building strong relationships and partnerships, we amplify our impact and create a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Context: Understanding the Intersections of Climate Change

Climate change is not just an environmental issue—it intersects with social, economic, and political factors. Being mindful of the broader context in which we operate helps us navigate the complexities of climate action with sensitivity and awareness. By understanding the social dynamics, cultural norms, and historical influences shaping climate change, we can develop more effective strategies for addressing its root causes and impacts. As an individual person and practitioner, my work is very small - and I need to let go of my capacity to shift the weight of this changing climate, while retaining the momentum to do what is possible in my context.

Resilience: Thriving in the Face of Climate Challenges

Building resilience is essential to adapt, feel the range of emotions and yet still thrive in the face of climate-related challenges. Developing coping strategies, problem-solving skills, and a growth mindset equips us to navigate uncertainty and change with resilience and agility. By cultivating personal and organizational resilience, we can sustain our commitment to climate action over the long term, foster a sense of capacity to face the changes and inspire others to do the same.

Incorporating the support model into my professional psychology practice based in Melbourne allows me to embody climate awareness in my work, wherever it is part of the content a client wishes to focus on. While this is very small, creating spaces for climate feelings is one way of contributing meaningfully to addressing climate change and resilience within our communities.

By embracing our purpose, feeling deep emotions, fostering connection, understanding context, and building resilience, we can become effective agents of change in sustaining a safe world for future generations.