CBT in a Time of Climate and Biodiversity Crises
The climate and ecological crises pose a threat to humanity, and to ecosystems. The United Nations has declared that ‘Climate Change is the defining crisis of our time, but we are far from powerless to act.’ There is undisputed evidence for climate change and its physical and mental health consequences.
Feeling overwhelmed by climate change and distressing eco-emotions is increasingly common and has been described as eco-anxiety or eco-distress. Practitioners working with eco-distress need to recognise that it is a non-pathological, understandable response to our reality, and as such, they may be similarly affected.
Being a practitioner in a time of climate and ecological breakdown therefore poses unique challenges. Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy and Science have important contributions to make to meet these challenges, with its expertise in research and evidence based therapy.
This special issue orients the reader to the implications planetary crises have for mental health and how we can respond. It explores how adapting our existing tools, and developing transdiagnostic approaches can empower people to turn towards the truth and distress of climate change, to find meaning and connection, and support a just transition to a safer world. We hope it will inspire more engagement, action and advances in theoretical and empirical work.
Podcast episode: In the most recent episode of the BABCP podcast Let's Talk about CBT - Research Matters, managing editor Steph Curnow interviews Liz Marks about the special issue on climate change in the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist. Listen here.
Editorial
Practising CBT amid the climate and ecological crises
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- The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist / Volume 17 / 2024
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- 30 October 2024, e27
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Invited Paper
My climate journey: one cognitive behavioural psychotherapist’s account, and a commentary linking to the scientific and practice literature
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- 30 October 2024, e28
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Empirically Grounded Clinical Guidance Paper
Environmental identity-based therapies for climate distress: applying cognitive behavioural approaches
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- 30 October 2024, e29
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Invited Paper
‘The Work That Reconnects’: a groupwork methodology for enhancing adaptive responses to the climate and ecological crisis
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Original Research
Extreme weather, climate change, climate action and uncertainty distress: an exploratory study using network analysis
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- 30 October 2024, e31
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Invited Paper
‘When they’re saying what is completely opposite to what you morally believe’: (in)action on climate change by State authorities and powerful bodies drives moral injury and eco-distress in UK young people
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- The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist / Volume 17 / 2024
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- 30 October 2024, e32
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Original Research
What happens in Climate Cafés? Exploring responses to the psychological burdens of climate change in seven UK women
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- 30 October 2024, e33
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Review Paper
Compassion-focused approaches to understanding the mental health of climate scientists
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- 30 October 2024, e34
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Empirically Grounded Clinical Guidance Paper
Acceptance and commitment therapy as an approach for working with climate distress
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- 30 October 2024, e35
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