by Bill Sheate
From 1 June 2024 I am delighted to be joining the Bloomsbury Therapy Centre in Bristol House, 80a Southampton Row, London, WC1B 4BA, just a few minutes walk from Holborn tube station…… [Read more]
Viewing entries tagged
eco-anger
by Bill Sheate
Blog 2/2 A practical approach to treatment
In the first of these two extended blogs (Eco-anxiety: what’s in a name?), I noted the way we define emotional responses to environmental change makes a difference to how we might view ourselves and our approach to treatment. Perhaps in contrast to some other therapists, I approach eco-distress as a manifestation of anxiety, anger, sadness etc in a particular context, rather than as something that is exceptional, unusual etc. Some might even say treatment is not appropriate given anxiety and anger are quite rational responses to the climate emergency. While that may be true, it is problematic, and therefore worthy of ‘treatment,’ when the emotional responses lead to such distress that life loses its meaning, that there is no joy in life any more, and that everything that once seemed important has faded from perception…… [Read more]
by Bill Sheate
Blog 1/2
In this first of two blogs, I’m looking at the words we use to describe emotional responses to environmental and climate change, and why it might matter what we call it. In the follow-up blog I’ll look at my own approach to treating eco-anxiety.
Eco-anxiety or Eco-distress?
There is now ample evidence for the prevalence of eco-anxiety (often among young people in particular), with vigorous debate among academics as to our understanding of the relationship between observed emotional, behavioural and cognitive responses to the impacts of climate and environmental change more generally. Discussion ensues over terminology, categorisation and taxonomy of the psychology associated with climate change and what seems often to be a significant focus on ‘grief’……. [Read more]
by Bill Sheate
Presentation on Eco-anxiety: Values and Metacognitions
This evening (Tuesday 31 October 2023) I was delighted to speak at the British Psychological Society (BPS) in London on eco-anxiety and approaches to treatment. This was as part of a seminar on Psychology and Climate Change: what is to be done? …..[Read more]