City Research Online

Abstract

The climate crisis is happening, and yet the majority still struggle to accept its reality and its anthropogenic roots. As research on climate crisis evolves, it has been called a mental health emergency; talking therapists are the front line of support. This qualitative study explores experiences of the climate crisis, both personally and professionally, in U.K based talking therapists. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach was employed; semi-structured interviews with object elicitation were used to collect data from six qualified talking therapists, which included practitioner psychologists and integrative counsellors, who had experience of working therapeutically with climate distress. Transcribed interviews were analysed in line with IPA protocols. Four Group Experiential Themes emerged: alone at the heart of the climate crisis; vulnerability in the face of existential threat; the strain of climate awareness; and adapting to the climate crisis as talking therapists. These findings are discussed in relation to current research and theories, and implications for Counselling Psychology are discussed.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography R Medicine
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences > Psychology School of Health & Medical Sciences > School of Health & Medical Sciences Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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