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
Personal Sustainability Blog
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
Overcoming Your Psychological “Code Debt”
Building on my post about “psychological operating systems,” I want to discuss the related concept of “code debt” as a metaphor for old patterns and mindsets that can hold us back. In the computing and technology world, “code debt” (and the related concept of technical debt) refers to a buildup of old programs, patches and… Continue reading Overcoming Your Psychological “Code Debt”
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
Groundhog Day as a Time of Inspiration
This article was originally posted by Dr. Thomas Doherty in 2017. “Ground Hog Day” is always on February 2. The forecast is cloudy for the Pacific Northwest tomorrow, so likely to be challenging for people or other mammals to see their shadow! Think about the time around Groundhog Day as opportunity to celebrate that you made it… Continue reading Groundhog Day as a Time of Inspiration
How to Think about the End of the Year
Celebrating the end of the year and New Years’ is arbitrary. You could think of January 1st as just another day. But, you can also leverage this transition for self-reflection and a way to mark time. This is a symbolic opportunity and a real fact: You have just lived through a whole and precious year… Continue reading How to Think about the End of the Year
Your Psychological “Operating System”
I’ve done counseling and coaching with many people in the tech sector. Over time, I’ve developed a number of technology and computing analogies to help these folks get a handle on their thought processes and better understand why they act the way they do, especially in their personal relationships. But, this is not just for… Continue reading Your Psychological “Operating System”
May Day and the Beginning of Summer
May 1st, “May Day” is a world-wide holiday celebrating events in history and culture. It is a marker of the seasons, and a touchstone for many political traditions including the International labor movement, the old Soviet Union, and Cold War-era US patriotic observances. In the context of your personal health and sustainability, the beginning of May… Continue reading May Day and the Beginning of Summer