A climate scientist walks into a therapist's office and says, "I can't do it anymore!" What you say next, will make all the difference whether they walk right back out or feel understood and welcomed into a safe enough space to explore burnout, trauma, moral injury, existential dread and other pressures that would make someone come to such a crucial threshold.
How to meet such a vulnerable and desperate opening from an expert on climate change who may or may not have much understanding or practice in spheres of the psyche? How to meet technical professionals - scientists, engineers, planners, sustainability professionals, nature resource managers, community leaders, engagement specialists, educators and so on - who probably know more than you do about climate change and who may have worked in this space for decades?
This online, interactive session will help you understand the range and contexts of the climate frontline workforce, and offer opportunities to learn together how to effectively support this particular clientele.
Meet the host
Dr. Susanne Moser (she/her) is Director and Principal Researcher of Susanne Moser Research & Consulting, a Research Scholar in the School of Environmental Studies at Antioch University New England. A geographer by training (Ph.D. 1997, Clark University), Susi works nationally and internationally as an independent scholar and consultant from a base in western Massachusetts, the ancestral and unceded homelands of the Nipmuc and Pocumtuc.
Her work with government agencies, non-profits, foundations, other researchers and consultants focuses on adaptation to climate change, science-policy interactions, effective climate change communication, and on psycho-social resilience in the face of the traumatic and transformative challenges associated with climate change. She is the Founder of the Adaptive Mind Project, a capacity building and restorative professional development initiative to develop the psychosocial skills needed for these times.
Dr. Moser is also the editor of two award-winning edited volumes, one on successful adaptation to climate change; the other on how to communicate climate change. She has served on scientific advisory boards for Future Earth, the International Science Council, the US National Research Council and has contributed to the IPCC and US national climate assessments. You can learn more about her at https://www.susannemoser.com.
2 Hours of Continuing Education Credits are available for an additional fee of $10!
Add the $10 CE credit to your ticket at the link below.
REGISTER HERE!
Climate Psychology Alliance - North America is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Climate Psychology Alliance - North America maintains responsibility for this program and its content."
Information on CE’s: Attendance at the actual zoom event is required.
Email barbaraeasterlin@climatepsychology.us for CE questions or to sign up for CE’s.
Learning Objectives: By the end of this Professional Development Session, participants will be able to:
Name key characteristics of STEM professionals’ work environment and socialization around emotional expression;
Describe and normalize STEM professionals’ emotional experience of climate change;
Reflect on their own degree of reckoning with the existential threats that climate change poses; and
Apply various useful frameworks offered during the session to their clinical support of STEM professionals.
References/readings:
Gilford, D., S. Moser, B. DePodwin, R. Moulton, and S. Watson (2019), The emotional toll of climate change on science professionals, Eos, 100, published 12/6/19. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019EO137460
Moser, S.C. (2020). Fostering the adaptive mind: Supporting ourselves and each other. In: All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, eds. A. E. Johnson and K.Wilkinson, pp. 270-278, New York: One World Press.
Head, L., and T. Harada (2017). Keeping the heart a long way away from the heart: The emotional labour of climate scientists. Emotion, Space & Society, 24 (August): 34-41. Retrieved from:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1755458617301251?via%3Dihub
Climate Critical Earth (2024). The Climate Burn Out Report. Retrieved from: https://www.climatecritical.earth/report
Instructional Level: Introductory
Continuing Education: CPA-NA is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CPA-NA maintains responsibility for this program and its content. While the APA-approved sponsorship allows CPA-NA to offer continuing education (CE) programs for psychologists, MFT’s, Social Workers, and other licensed mental health clinicians in most states, however, it’s essential to confirm with your state’s licensing board whether they accept CE credits earned from APA-approved sponsors.
CE Credits: Participants in this course, “The Climate Emotions Mandala Project: A Creative Call to Action”, are eligible for 1.5 hour of APA sponsored CE’s
CE Requirements: As an accredited and approved provider of CE, CPA-NA requires learners who want CE credit to:
Verify that you have attended the complete program. While this workshop may be recorded, viewing the recording will not qualify you for a CE certificate. You must attend the live event.
∙ -Complete the CE program evaluation.
∙ -Pass the CE quiz with a minimum score of 80%.
A link to the attendance verification form, post-program evaluation, and CE quiz will be provided to you at the end of the course. Once completed, your CE certificate will be sent to you within 30 days unless there is urgency. Please email barbaraeasterlin@climatepsychology.us if you require your CE certificate sooner.
Cancellations: Please email info@climatepsychology.us for refund requests up to 24 hours before event. Cancellations received within 24 hours or during the presentation will not be refunded.
Grievances: All grievances must be in writing and sent to info@climatepsychology.us and will be responded to within 14 business days.
ADA accommodations: Closed captioning can be provided upon request.
Conflict of interest statement: There is no known commercial support for this program and no known conflicts of interests for this workshop.
Note: We acknowledge that Paypal is not a perfect payment system. If you wish to use an alternative payment method to purchase tickets please email hatieparmeter@climatepsychology.us.