In our urgency to address the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon, many decisions have been made about what qualifies as essential for society and well-being. Over a month into the emergency, and with the 50th Earth Day, I reflect on the role of nature and the outdoors in our lives. How should we… Continue reading COVID-19: Access to Nature, Parks and Green Spaces Should be Essential
Category: Environmental Identity
Coping with COVID-19: Where your Feelings go, your Thoughts will Follow
Greetings, I wanted to send a brief message out to all my clients and readers. With COVID-19, we have been plunged into an unexpected and unprecedented global crisis. I hope you’re doing as well as you can in terms of your mind, your body, and your relationships. [To follow best public health practices, I’ve moved… Continue reading Coping with COVID-19: Where your Feelings go, your Thoughts will Follow
Are Your Kids Feeling Eco-Anxiety over Climate Change?
[image: Marinel Sheu | Eco Anxiety] I spoke with my friend and colleague Lisa Cohn about children and climate change recently, for an issue of PDX Parent. Lisa and her son Michael, age 11, are co-authors of the “Bash and Lucy” books and audiobooks. Some of Michael’s anxieties about climate change were prompted by the… Continue reading Are Your Kids Feeling Eco-Anxiety over Climate Change?
Sift News “Climate Change and Mental Health” Podcast
https://soundcloud.com/allturtlespodcast/sift-climate-change-and-mental-health The Sift News Therapy App created this helpful “Climate Change and Mental Health” podcast. It features interviews with myself, psychiatrist Dr. Lise Van Susteren, and Dr. Kyle Whyte of Michigan State University. If you are interested in climate change and coping, I recommend this podcast. [Side note: The interviews took place this summer after… Continue reading Sift News “Climate Change and Mental Health” Podcast
10 Activities for (Fun) Fall Maintenance for Mental Health and Wellbeing 2019
October 2019 – I am updating my Fall Season Wellbeing post from last year. Its lessons stand the test of time. They also remind me to practice what I preach. But, there are a few updates required. Last year, I gave advice about “handling the November [midterm] election” noting that it was a “politically fraught… Continue reading 10 Activities for (Fun) Fall Maintenance for Mental Health and Wellbeing 2019
Webinar: Practical Strategies for Coping with the Emotional Toll of Conservation Work
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
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
Voting and Coping: The Election, Climate Change, and Moving on Despite It All
The Election… A psychology client notes that he has had trouble finding any friends willing to attend an election night party. “They all have PTSD from Election Night 2016,” he says. Another client says he is trying to avoid getting caught up in the news running up to the election. We talk about the private… Continue reading Voting and Coping: The Election, Climate Change, and Moving on Despite It All