Blog
Viewing entries tagged
eco-anxiety
by Bill Sheate
I'm reminded today as I sit having my lunch in a park in central London on a warm sunny day of a blog post I did four years ago when we hit a new record maximum daytime temperature in the UK of 40 degrees C, in July 2022.
Looking back at that post - “It’s warm out there…” everything (other than the July specific details) is equally relevant as we experience high temperatures this month in June for a few days (23-25th)….[Read more]
by Bill Sheate
Just published in PLOS Mental Health is my new paper Re-framing eco-distress for self-efficacy and resilience building. The paper proposes a re-framing of eco-distress from being framed principally as a unique set of emotional responses to the climate crisis to being one of many factors contributing to and affected by the current public mental health crisis. The emphasis can then shift from a focus on so-called ‘climate emotions’ toward building greater self-efficacy and resilience skills more generally, especially among young people, so that they are better able to cope with the multiple factors contributing to declining public mental health, including climate and environmental change….. [Read more]
by Bill Sheate
As the 2024-25 academic year begins you may be embarking on your dream course, or maybe you have all sorts of expectations of what university life will be like. Give yourself time to settle in, make friends, socialise - your social network (and by that I mean in-real-life friends and colleagues!) will provide you with the base from which to celebrate the good stuff and cope with the problems in life.
Here are a few of the common issues many students find can end up occupying their time more than they would want ........ [Read more]
by Bill Sheate
Two of my popular and topical workshops are now available for booking (Summer/Autumn 2024) - spaces are limited, so booking well ahead is advised:
[Read more]
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]
by Bill Sheate
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
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.
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
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]
by Bill Sheate
This blog post brings together the four papers that were published out of Ute Thiermann’s PhD research on mindfulness and sustainability, under my supervision at Imperial College London, with access to the online papers/journals……[Read more]
by Bill Sheate
This introductory workshop provides an opportunity to share experience and begin to develop a deeper understanding about what eco-anxiety is, and how you can better manage and re-frame your approach to it. It acts as a standalone workshop but also offers the precursor preparation to subsequent individual one-to-one or small group therapy for eco-anxiety if desired.
Programme:
Introductions and overview
Context and issues
Sharing of experience
Understanding eco-anxiety and treatment options ……. [Read more]
by Bill Sheate
CBH draws on tried and trusted evidence-based techniques for managing stress and anxiety, for changing your approach to stressful situations and building greater psychological flexibility for long-term resilience. Below I’ve provided the links to just a few of my popular blog post topics, the things that often initiate people seeking out therapy or support. If something resonates for you don’t hesitate to get in touch to arrange an assessment and conceptualisation session - no obligation to further sessions. But it might just help you to understand better what is going on and why. Clients often find that first session can be so helpful and therapeutic in its own right…… [Read more]
Periodically, I post on my blog short articles on key aspects of stress and anxiety, and mental health and well-being, especially related to higher education. Below are just a few of the resources on this blog - clustered in one place so they’re easier to find - that you might find helpful: [Read more]
by Bill Sheate
The problem with the language of heatwaves is that it can cause more anxiety than necessary, when the actual purpose of heatwave planning and heat-health alerts is to encourage people to take preventive action, provide advice and mobilise support, especially for the most vulnerable, for whom prolonged high temperatures can be dangerous. But the language and the reporting invariably frames such weather in a highly negative way that creates unhelpful levels of anxiety among many, let alone those who may already experience eco-anxiety.
‘It's hot’ is a judgement……..[Read more]
