Viewing entries tagged
eco-anxiety

Eco-anxiety: what's in a name?

Eco-anxiety: what's in a name?

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] 

Mindfulness and Sustainability - Making the Connections

Mindfulness and Sustainability - Making the Connections

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]

Eco-anxiety: an introductory workshop - 16 August 2023 now booking

Eco-anxiety: an introductory workshop - 16 August 2023 now booking

by Bill Sheate

Online 90-minute workshop 16 August 2023, 6.00-7.30pm

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]

Why CBH? What can Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy offer you?

Why CBH? What can Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy offer you?

by Bill Sheate

It’s Mental Health Awareness week (15-21 May 2023) and the spotlight is on ‘anxiety’.

How can CBH help you with anxiety whatever walk of life you are in?

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]

It's World Mental Health Day

It's World Mental Health Day

Today - Monday 10 October 2022 - is World Mental Health Day.

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]

It's warm out there…..

It's warm out there…..

by Bill Sheate

But surely its HOT - there's a heatwave emergency?

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]

Labelling issues - the pros and cons

Labelling issues - the pros and cons

by Bill Sheate

The ‘stickiness’ of labels…..

When we’re looking at anxiety or low mood, low self-worth or depression there is a wide range of so-called ‘disorders’ that can be found when searching the internet to try to self-diagnose, as many people will do. DSM 5 - the American Psychological Association (APA) diagnostic reference manual - lists a very long list of disorders and this list has grown with each update to the DSM over the decades, as more issues become classified or re-classified.

For some, getting a diagnosis of a specific disorder is key for opening up treatment and resolution, for example it may confirm something they have long wondered about. But for others, labelling something as a disorder can be a barrier to resolution……… [Read more]

Eco-anxiety: an introductory workshop - now booking

Eco-anxiety: an introductory workshop - now booking

by Bill Sheate

Online 90-minute workshop 13 December 2022 6.00-7.30pm

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 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]

New Tuesday Bloomsbury clinic

New Tuesday Bloomsbury clinic

by Bill Sheate

My Bloomsbury clinic moves to Tuesday from 3 May 2022

From 3 May 2022 my Bloomsbury clinic in Museum Street, WC1A will move to Tuesday afternoons and evenings (rather than Friday mornings). Clinic times will be from 2.00-9.00pm every Tuesday.

This provides me with additional appointment slots to see individual clients in-person (and online via Zoom) and also more space to offer group therapy, e.g. for eco-anxiety (small groups of 3-4 people) over a series of 4-5 sessions). More information on this coming shortly…… [Read more]

Celebrating uncertainty.......

Celebrating uncertainty.......

by Bill Sheate

…...because it is what it is.

Anxiety is typically future focused - a fear that something bad is going to happen and I won't be able to cope. And so we worry - as a coping strategy, believing (unconsciously) that all that over-thinking will somehow solve our anxiety, find the answer - except that it won't. It prolongs the thinking to try to avoid anxiety, but the struggle means we engage ever more in thinking about the very thing we are anxious about and so maintain the cycle…….[Read more]

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day

by Bill Sheate

Today - Thursday 10 October 2019 - is World Mental Health Day.

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]

Eco-anxiety - an interactive workshop

Eco-anxiety - an interactive workshop

by Bill Sheate

Eco-anxiety workshop now booking……

Do you have a feeling of hopelessness about the world’s willingness and ability to tackle climate change and biodiversity extinction? Do you feel helpless yourself in your own actions? Do you fear for future generations? Is this anxiety or sadness affecting other aspects of your life, your motivation to do things, to interact with friends and family?

Then you may well be suffering from eco-anxiety - a fear that something bad is going to happen, not just to you, but to the world and that you (and the world) won’t be able to cope. Or, more succinctly, a ‘chronic fear of environmental doom’.

This interactive workshop provides an opportunity ……[Read more]