Thomas appeared on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s daily Think Out Loud program. Listeners shared personal stories about their emotional challenges coping with Oregon’s changing climate and finding a sense of hope about climate change. Thomas stressed the importance of creating welcoming spaces for people to talk about their thoughts and feelings about environmental issues and learning to work together with others who have different approaches to the climate crisis. Thanks to Julie Sabitier, Rob Manning and Dave Miller at OPB for the invitation. Here’s a show description from OPB:
Wildfires, extreme heat and other weather events, like the ice storm this past February, have Oregonians thinking about climate change in a much more personal way. We talk with clinical psychologist Thomas Doherty, who helps people cope with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues brought on by the climate crisis. In 2008 and 2009, Doherty served on the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on the Interface Between Psychology and Global Climate Change. He says in the intervening years, he’s had more and more clients come to him looking for help with difficult feelings related to the warming climate and changes in the natural world.
