Climate Change and Happiness

 

image credit | Zach Wear

S4 E3: On Gen Z Climate Emotions with Filmmakers Tehya Jennett and Maxfield Biggs

Thomas Doherty, Panu Pihkala

Season 4, Episode 3: On Gen Z Climate Emotions with Filmmakers Tehya Jennett and Maxfield Biggs

In this episode of Climate Change and Happiness hosts Thomas and Panu engaged with filmmakers Tehya Jennett and Maxfield Biggs from Stranded Astronaut Productions. Tehya and Maxfield shared their personal journeys related to climate emotions. They reflected, together with Panu and Thomas, on the impact of food choices on climate awareness and ethics, and the need for intergenerational dialogue. The conversation also highlighted the importance of creativity as a coping mechanism. Most recently, Maxfield and Tehya were part of the team that produced the Healing Lahaina documentary about the deadly Lahaina wildfire on Maui, premiering at the Hawai’i Int’l Film Festival. Tehya and Maxfield are also collaborating with Panu and Elin Kelsey to create new content on climate emotions. Join us in the quest of understanding how climate change is engaged with by young people.

Links

• Stranded Astronaut Productions

• Stranded Astronaut Productions on Instagram

• Tehya Jennett

• Maxfield Biggs

• Documentary Premiere, Healing Lahaina at the Hawai’i Int’l Film Festival

 

 

image credit|Hannah Smith

S4 E2: On the Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis with Sally Weintrobe 

Thomas Doherty, Panu Pihkala

Season 4, Episode 2: On the Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis with Sally Weintrobe 

Panu and Thomas had a warm chat with UK climate psychology theorist Sally Weintrobe,  author of The Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis and other books. Sally reflected on her childhood growing up in apartheid era South Africa and insights that led her to climate advocacy after years of providing psychoanalysis.  She, Panu and Thomas spent time grappling with concepts like disavowal, group silencing, “active not caring” and “emotional privilege.” Listen in to a great episode for therapists, and also anyone interested in how these often unconscious processes manifest in our lives. 

Sound Bites

"Indifference is a very, very active form of not caring."

"Privilege is to be spared all kinds of levels of suffering."

"Living our truth can be a dangerous place to be."

Links 

Sally Weintrobe

• The Psychological Roots of the Climate Crisis

• Book Launch

• Engaging With Climate Change edited volume 

• Recent keynote

Related CCH episodes

• Renee Lertzman

• Caroline Hickman

• Judith Anderson / Tree Staunton 

• Britt Wray

• Jennifer Uchendu

• Thomas and Panu on “Holding Space”

 

 

image credit | Robson Hatsukami Morgan

S4E1: On A Healthy Return from Your Holidays

Thomas Doherty, Panu Pihkala

Season 4, Episode 1: On A Healthy Return from Your Holidays

Thomas and Panu reflected on the often overlooked process of re-entry into life after a holiday or vacation. They considered Thomas’s idea of the “half-life” of restorative experiences. That is, how long the mental benfits of the experience enhance your normal or usual existence, such through increased perspective or calm, and how to extend these positive effects. They also recognized how technology and consumerism have infiltrated into seasonal breaks and holidays. And the shadow impacts of guilt regarding travel impacts on the environment, and emotional risks of returning from a holiday to face unsatisfying aspects of life. Mindfulness and intention are important for bringing the gifts and perspectives gained from a trip back into your everyday life, whether from a simple, local holiday or an ambitious journey. We hope this episode will be inspiring for listeners returning from seasonal holidays in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. 

Takeaways

• Returning from a holiday or vacation can bring a fresh perspective and newness to one's life and work.

• The half-life of experiences is often short, but there are ways to extend the positive effects and insights gained from a break.

• Mindfulness and intention are key in bringing the gifts and perspectives from a trip back into everyday life.

• Consumerism and the environmental impact of travel are important considerations when planning trips.

• Embracing the emotional aspect of returning from a holiday, including feelings of joy and sadness, can enrich the experience.

Links

• American Psychological Association Vacation Time Recharges US Workers, but Positive Effects Vanish Within Days, New Survey Finds

• The 2018 Study

• On post vacation fade out, see Shanna B. Tiayon 2023 How to Avoid Post-Vacation Stress

 

 

image credit | Hector Argüello Canals

S3 E26: Listening to Young Researchers

Thomas Doherty, Panu Pihkala

Season 3, Episode 26: Listening to Young Researchers

Thomas and Panu spoke with three graduate student researchers from the The Development, Environment, & Wellness Lab at Columbia University Teachers College in New York: Paritosh Joshi, Rian Maxwell-Williams, and Danny DeBonis. All three are deeply engaged in environmental psychology and justice issues. They discussed their personal backgrounds, environmental identities, and the values and goals for their research. Join us for an inspiring conversation! 

Sound Bites

• "Research should not only report findings objectively but also advocate for marginalized communities and contribute to tangible policy outcomes and interventions."

• "Having personal stories is essential in understanding the experiences of communities affected by climate change and environmental injustice."

• "Building resilience and studying the factors that lead individuals to become activists are crucial in addressing climate change and environmental issues."

Links

• The Development, Environment, & Wellness Lab  Lab, Columbia University 

• Publications and Team 

• Principal Investigator: Susan Bodnar

• See CCH episode with Susan Bodnar: Season 2, Episode 16: Our Emotional Attachment to Nature with Susan Bodnar

 

 

image credit | Markus Spiske

S3 E25: Being a Therapist in a Time of Climate Breakdown with Judith Anderson & Tree Staunton

Thomas Doherty, Panu Pihkala

Season 3, Episode 25: Being a Therapist in a Time of Climate Breakdown with Judith Anderson & Tree Staunton

Thomas and Panu spoke with Judith Anderson and Tree Staunton, therapists and co-editors (along with Jenny O’Gorman and Caroline Hickman) of the recent collection Being a Therapist in a Time of Climate Breakdown. The foursome explored their experiences of mental health, research and healing work in the context of climate change and the psychological impacts of climate distress. Tree and Judith shared their personal journeys towards climate awareness. The episode included an overview of the structure and themes of the book, which includes chapters on climate science, mental health impacts, first person accounts, systemic understandings, and techniques to address climate distress (including a contribution about climate sorrow from Panu).

Takeaways

• Therapists play a crucial role in addressing climate distress and supporting individuals dealing with the psychological impact of climate change.

• Training in environmental awareness and systemic thinking is essential for therapists to effectively address climate distress in therapy.

• Climate distress is not limited to anxiety and can manifest as confusion, fear, depression, guilt, and despair.

• Addressing climate distress requires a nuanced approach that goes beyond simply encouraging action and considers the complex emotions and defense mechanisms involved.

• Creating spaces for open dialogue and support, such as climate cafes and social dreaming, can help individuals process their climate distress.

Links

• Judith Anderson, Tree Staunton, Jenny O’Gorman, and Caroline Hickman (Eds, 2024) Being a Therapist in a Time of Climate Breakdown

• Book Launch Recording 18th April 2024

• Climate Psychology Alliance UK 

Transcript

[The Climate Change and Happiness Transcript is on holiday.]

 

 

image credit | Tyler Lagalo

S3 E24: For Teachers: An Existential Tool Kit

Thomas Doherty, Panu Pihkala

Season 3, Episode 24: For Teachers: An Existential Tool Kit

This episode is dedicated to teachers and educators of all kinds. Thomas and Panu discussed the new Existential Toolkit for Climate Justice Educators and the emotional, political, personal and pedagogical challenges faced by teachers in the context of climate change.  The conversation delved into the history of the Toolkit project, the lingering impact of COVID-19 on education, and the unacknowledged and inequitable impacts of climate and weather disasters on students, teachers and school systems, worldwide. Panu and Thomas reflected on their own schooling in Finland and the US,  their personal teaching experiences, and advice on how to remain creative and to cope with fatigue and burnout. 

Sound Bites

• "Teachers are under a lot of stress to give accurate information to their students about the state of the world, which can be quite troubling."

• "The existential toolkit fills the gap in providing emotional tools for teachers and educators dealing with difficult topics like climate change."

Links

• Jennifer Atkinson and Sarah Jaquette Ray (2024, Eds.) The Existential Toolkit for Climate Justice Educators: How to Teach in a Burning World

  • See selected Resources from the tool kit

• Elizabeth Haase and Kelsey Hudson (2024, Eds.) Climate Change and Youth Mental Health: Multidisciplinary Perspectives
  

See Previous Climate Change and Happiness Episodes

• Season 2, Episode 3: Coping on Campus with Sarah Jaquette Ray

• Season 1, Episode 16: Varieties of Hope with Guest Elin Kelsey

• Season 3, Episode 12: On Literature and Activism with Matthew Schneider-Mayerson

Transcript

[The Climate Change and Happiness Transcript is on holiday.]

 

 

image credit | kazuend

S3 E23: On EcoWellness and Psychedelic Therapy with Ryan Reese

Thomas Doherty, Panu Pihkala

Season 3, Episode 23: On EcoWellness and Psychedelic Therapy with Ryan Reese

Thomas and Panu spoke with Ryan Reese, a psychologist from Bend, Oregon USA about his work developing eco-wellness theory in counseling and his recent integration of psychedelic therapy and outdoor therapy. Ryan shared his personal journey and how experiences with nature and rivers (including fly fishing for Steelhead trout) played a role in his healing and growth. Ryan, Panu and Thomas highlighted the parallels between eco-therapy and psychedelic therapy, including the importance of creating a safe setting, adopting a mindset of self-transcendence and opening to the process of expanding one's consciousness. Their talk concluded with a recognition of how Thomas and Ryan’s social connection provided needed support during challenging times in Thomas’s earlier career. 

Takeaways

• Nature and the more-than-human-world can have a significant impact on holistic wellness, including stress reduction and restoration of focus and attention.

• Psychedelic therapy and eco-based work share similarities in promoting self-transcendence and expanding one's consciousness.

• Creating a safe and supportive environment is crucial in both outdoor facilitation and psychedelic therapy.

• Social connections and shared education are essential in addressing climate-related issues and maintaining positivity, hope, and optimism.

Links

• Ryan Reese (Academic Homepage)

• Eco Wellness Counseling (Practice)

• Ecowellness Background and Resources 

• Reese & Myers (2012) EcoWellness: The Missing Factor in Holistic Wellness Models

• Quest Therapeutics (psilocybin facilitation)

Transcript

[The Climate Change and Happiness Transcript is on holiday.]

 

 

image credit | Cate Bligh

S3 E22: On the Evolution of Outdoor Therapy with Will White

Thomas Doherty, Panu Pihkala

Season 3, Episode 22: On the Evolution of Outdoor Therapy with Will White

Thomas and Panu spoke with Will White, a long time outdoor and wilderness therapy practitioner, and a long time colleague of Thomas. They discussed the evolution of therapeutic camping and outdoor programs in the US dating to the 1800’s and current approaches (with parallels in places like Finland).They explored the role of emotions in outdoor therapy, including eco-anxiety and the impact of environmental change on treasured places. Their conversation highlighted the importance of slowing down and experiencing the pace of nature in a highly technological world. 

Links

• Will White at the White Mountain Adventure Institute

• Stories from the Field podcast

• Will White (2015) Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy

Transcript

[The Climate Change and Happiness Transcript is on holiday.]

 

 

image credit | Mason Kimbarovsky

S3 E21 “The Art of Survival” – Art and Climate Emotions

Thomas Doherty, Panu Pihkala

Season 3, Episode 21:“The Art of Survival” – Art and Climate Emotions

In this episode, Thomas and Panu discussed the role of art in their emotional coping with climate stress and other environmental problems. They explored the creative tensions between art and entertainment and being mindful when we chose to challenge ourselves with taking on complex or troubling movies, photographic images, writings, and music. They shared several examples (including the 2017 film First Reformed and post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor) and referenced their past podcast episodes with artists. Takeaways included the importance of being intentional about the nature and climate themed art you take in and not just being a passive consumer; and the need to unplug and engage in hands-on artistic experiences.

Notes / Links:

• Finnish distinction: “Arts”(taide) and “Entertainment” (viihde) 

• Alissa Wilkinson (2018). First Reformed, starring Ethan Hawke, is bruising, vital, and one of the year’s best films

• Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Band)

• Amanda Stronza (animal memorials)

• Announcing the 2024 Oregon Book Award Winners

• From Anna Nieminen: Sitting and Moving With Climate Emotions: 3 process phases, 3 music dance videos

• Past CCH Episodes

• Art Gives Ecological Grief a Body, with Daniela Molnar

• On Women, Fear and Nature with Erica Berry

• On Nature, Poetry and Creativity with Kim Stafford

• Composing During the Climate Crisis with Scott Ordway

Transcript

[The Climate Change and Happiness Transcript is on holiday.]

 

 

Image credit | Retrieved from youthvgov.org

SE E20: Behind the Scenes at the Montana Youth Climate Trial with Lise Van Susteren

Thomas Doherty, Panu Pihkala

Season 3, Episode 20: Behind the Scenes at the Montana Youth Climate Trial with Lise Van Susteren

Thomas and Panu talked with forensic psychiatrist Lise Van Susteren about her powerful experience as an expert witness at the historic Held v. Montana youth-sponsored climate trial in 2023. Lise spoke of her life and journey into politics and environmental and climate change advocacy, and her formative experience in the first cohort of Al Gore’s Climate Reality project. Lise, Thomas and Panu reflected on how mental health professions can begin to align their rhetoric about climate change and sustainability with their actions – such as addressing the carbon footprints of their own organizations and conferences. Join us for a behind the scenes view of the legal front on combating climate change. 

Links

• Lise Van Susteren 

• Richard Forbes (2023 June 26) In the nation’s first youth-led climate trial, a case for hope

• Climate Psychiatry Alliance

• Youth vs. Gov

• Thomas and Panu found it helpful to review the wide scope and many types of climate change litigation around the world.

Transcript

[The Climate Change and Happiness Transcript is on holiday.]