Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change: A Clinician's Guide

by Leslie Davenport, Lise Van Susteren (Foreword)

Although the environmental and physical effects of climate change have long been recognised, little attention has been given to the profound negative impact on mental health. Leslie Davenport presents comprehensive theory, strategies and resources for addressing key clinical themes specific to the psychological impact of climate change.She explores the psychological underpinnings that have contributed to the current global crisis, and offers robust therapeutic interventions for dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, trauma and other clinical mental health conditions resulting from environmental damage and disaster. She emphasizes the importance of developing resilience and shows how to utilise the many benefits of guided imagery and mindful presence techniques, and carry out interventions that draw on expert research into ecopsychology, wisdom traditions, earth-based indigenous practices and positive psychology. The strategies in this book will cultivate transformative, person-centred ways of being, resulting in regenerative lifestyles that benefit both the individual and the planet.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Climate Change, Environment, Sustainability

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 19, 2017

About the author

Leslie Davenport is a climate psychology educator and consultant with offices in Tacoma, WA and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Climate psychology trainings and consultations bring a relevant understanding of complex human behavior to the environmental sustainability efforts of organizations exploring the intersectionality of climate, economics, education, social justice, and policy. Personalized approaches include effective tools for building resiliency and leveraging the full range of our human capacities toward the resolving the deep challenges of our times.

Reviews

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is technically a clinician's guide, it is the best thing that I have come across that has helped me cope with my ever-increasing climate anxiety and climate grief. If anyone else is struggling with coming to terms with the state and direction of the world we find ourselves in and what to do about it, THIS is the book for you. It brings hope to a scary subject, and I sincerely hope more people read it and benefit from it as I have.

[dormarch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though this is a clinicians guide I have found that this book has helped me as a person who is struggling with the climate crisis.

I realise the validation in my emotional response as I had began to wonder if I was overreacting or mistaken somehow about the situation because I seemed alone in my despair. Equally as importantly in learning to approach my own emotions better I have also learnt to talk to the people around me in a way that isn't overwhelming for both me and the person I am talking to; me and my ma have been able to have a conversation where she didn't shut down, we discussed our distress but also made a point to talk about our hopes - it was the first time I ever saw anyone else around me cry over the climate crisis. I felt less alone and, honestly, less like I was losing my sense of reality.

[thalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ended up being very important for my own wellness and for my care work practices. The meditations in it have been very useful for processing COVID, and the informed, calm optimism was a kind reprieve from my persistent nihilism and cynicism.

[Brenna Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though it is a clinician's guide, this was very insightful and helpful for me, a conservation educator and activist. The methods are specific and backed by research. This is a very helpful read for anyone in the fields of environmental sciences, conservation, emergency response, or any type of counseling.

[Stacy Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great read, with concrete tools and activities. This could be helpful for clinicians and anyone else as well