I wanted to share this webinar that I presented recently at Antioch University New England on coping with climate change and other environmental issues. This was presented to conservation professionals from zoos, aquariums, universities, government organizations, and nonprofits. But, it’s also applicable to everyone and shares some insights and techniques that I use when working… Continue reading Webinar: Practical Strategies for Coping with the Emotional Toll of Conservation Work
Category: Ecopsychology
Climate Change and Grief – A Dual Process Approach
As the damage and economic losses from climate change grow, so too do the emotional impacts of climate change. When an entire island like Puerto Rico is threatened to be uninhabitable or an entire town like Paradise, CA is burned to the ground with a loss of 86 lives, impacts of climate change become much… Continue reading Climate Change and Grief – A Dual Process Approach
Thomas Doherty on The Openist | Podcast of Democracy Café / Socrates Café
From the Openist Podcast: How can you sculpt a life that’s as healthy as it is sustainable? How do you meet the challenge of finding a meaningful balance in your relationship with nature and technology? Dr. Thomas Doherty, a licensed psychologist in Oregon, has some profound insights on these questions that are as timely as… Continue reading Thomas Doherty on The Openist | Podcast of Democracy Café / Socrates Café
The Best of the Personal Sustainability Blog 2018
As 2018 comes to a close, it’s a good idea to … (stop, take a breath) … pause and reflect on the things that matter most. That may seem counter-intuitive if you’re rushing around for that last gift, but doing so can make the holidays more meaningful and enjoyable—no matter what is happening around you.… Continue reading The Best of the Personal Sustainability Blog 2018
Cultivating a Globally Sustainable Self
In this post, I want to introduce and briefly describe a somewhat challenging concept: The idea that “cultivating a globally sustainable self” is an important yet often overlooked part of creating stronger, more resilient human systems. Where does this “Globally Sustainable Self” concept come from? In working with colleagues across academic disciplines, geographic areas… Continue reading Cultivating a Globally Sustainable Self
Thomas Doherty interview at APA PsycIQ
Source: Thomas Doherty works at the Intersection of Psychology and Environmental Science Delia O’Hara | June 7, 2018 Clinical psychologist Thomas Doherty has coined a term — “climate hostages” — to describe people who feel the urgency of the climate change crisis but must cope with denial of the phenomenon among segments of the population. Practicing with a… Continue reading Thomas Doherty interview at APA PsycIQ
Groupfeel vs. Groupthink
In this post, I am speaking from the perspective of industrial and organizational psychology (i.e., I/O psychology, or how people think and perform in professional groups and work place settings). At times, I formally wear an I/O hat, such as when doing talks or team building. But, work place issues also come up quite often… Continue reading Groupfeel vs. Groupthink
Why You Love the Earth
Why do you love the Earth? With the 48th anniversary of “Earth Day” coming up Sunday, April 22, this is a timely question. Some people feel very much a part of the Earth as they experience an interconnectedness with nature. Others are more neutral on the subject, while some even have negative views of nature.… Continue reading Why You Love the Earth
Nature-based Stress Reduction
Nature-based stress reduction is a term I coined a number of years ago. It brings together two separate but very complementary strands of thought about (1) the benefits of mindfulness and (2) the experience of nature and the natural world. There is a well-established school of thought around the benefits of mindfulness that includes the… Continue reading Nature-based Stress Reduction
Climate Change as a Psychologist’s Personal and Professional Life Focus
Although I’ve been aware of climate change for many years, it wasn’t until I was invited to join an American Psychological Association Climate Change Task Force about ten years ago that I formally got involved in working to understand how climate change affects people. I was the only clinical psychologist in group, and I worked… Continue reading Climate Change as a Psychologist’s Personal and Professional Life Focus