Pirate's Cove

I wonder how much this costs?

Finding healing in the face of climate change: Amherst therapist helps people cope with ‘eco-grief’ as changing landscapes take a toll on mental health

Growing up in Putney, Vermont, Sadie Forsythe loved that every winter brought a foot or two of snow.

“We didn’t see the ground for months,” said Forsythe, an Amherst-based therapist whose certification includes climate psychology, a discipline that helps to address eco-grief.

Eco-grief refers to profound sadness, anxiety and despair related to witnessing or learning about environmental destruction, climate change impacts and the loss of ecosystems, species and landscapes. One of the ways Forsythe offers her services is through climate cafes.

They forget to add “worrying about fake issues irrationally”.

“They’re structured, one-off opportunities held at places like local libraries or environmental centers,” she said. “They’re led by two facilitators and require no commitment for participants beyond the two-hour session.”

Those who attend often report feeling more connected, but Forsythe noted that, “all therapy can feel worse before it feels better, because you’re digging into hard stuff. Yet it can help you metabolize (feelings) and think differently.”

I should start a side hustle where I offer therapy where I advise the Warmists to give up their own fossil fueled travel, eat bugs, only buy 2nd hand clothes, and move into a tiny home. For a price, of course

She noted that many people say they need to talk about (eco-grief) but aren’t doing so in their families and workplaces. “There are cultural barriers to talking about hard things,” she said. “People worry about burdening their spouse or grandchild or whoever they’re trying to protect from difficult feelings.”

They worry about others judging them as wackadoodles.

One response to climate despair is “deepening our connection to nature, and savoring it. The more we invest and connect, the more energy we’ll have to respond.”

Clients arrive in Forsythe’s office with varying concerns, “but (eco-grief) comes up for nearly everyone,” she said. “Concerns about weather, droughts and floods can be tucked into worries like affordability and relationship strain.”

They’ve been indoctrinated to freak out over the weather. They should take up a nice hobby.