Managing Climate Anxiety: How Counselors Can Help
Lately, many of us are feeling anxious about the changing climate. Recent flooding in Asheville, NC, and fires in Los Angeles have left many on edge. Living in Flagstaff, AZ, I feel it too—fire season is scary.
Climate change is a big problem, and it’s understandable that it causes anxiety. But how can we deal with it? In this post, I’ll share strategies for mental health professionals, clients, and anyone dealing with this issue.
You might need support in addition to this information. If you want to connect with a counselor please reach out.
What Is Climate Anxiety?
Climate anxiety, also known as eco-anxiety or climate grief, is the fear and sadness we feel when thinking about the environment’s destruction. These emotions can range from fear to hopelessness. The issue is bigger than just one person—it’s a global problem. People in vulnerable communities are often hit hardest by climate change, making it even more important to address.
This issue is widespread and growing, so understanding and managing climate anxiety is crucial. It affects everyone—so it’s time we take action.
I’ve found a few resources that have helped me better understand climate anxiety and how to deal with it. These include:
An article in Psychology Today by Abigail Fagan
A webinar by Ryan Reese, PhD, and Debbie Sturm, PhD
A podcast featuring Sara Jaquette Ray, author of A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety
These sources offer insights and tactics that can help.
What Can We Do About It?
Climate change feels overwhelming, and no one person can fix it. However, in the U.S., we’re often told the solution lies in individual action. While individual actions are important, it can feel like they’re not enough.
In the past, we’ve been bombarded with facts about climate change to encourage us to act. But this approach often backfires. It can leave us feeling hopeless, unsure of how to make a difference, and lead to inaction.
Sara Jaquette Ray, a professor at Cal-Poly Humboldt, has studied how this despair affects people. Her students reported more mental health struggles as they learned about climate change in her classes. She calls this feeling "immobilization."
Ray’s solution is called "collective efficacy." It’s the idea that we are stronger together. She compares it to being in a choir: when you need a break, the rest of the group carries the song. Research shows that working with others to solve a problem helps reduce anxiety.
Ray also encourages us to focus on the love we have for the environment. By thinking of climate action as a way to gain something, rather than give something up, we can stay motivated. Small actions, like reducing waste or planting trees, add up and help.
Finally, Ray advises us to avoid being too hard on ourselves. We can’t always be perfect, and that’s okay. It’s important to pace ourselves and take breaks when needed.
Key Takeaways From Abigail Fagan
In her Psychology Today article, "Worrying for the World," Abigail Fagan talks about how crucial it is to acknowledge our feelings about climate change—whether that’s fear, hopelessness, or anxiety. By recognizing these emotions, we can begin to work through them.
Fagan also points out that many therapists haven’t been trained to deal with climate anxiety. Traditional therapies, like CBT, often focus on changing irrational thoughts, but many worries about the climate are based in possible reality. So, what can we do to manage climate anxiety?
Here are some tips from Fagan:
Validate your feelings: Don’t brush aside your emotions.
Seek community support: Joining support groups can help you feel heard and connected.
Spend time in nature: This can provide perspective and relief.
Get involved in activism: Taking action helps reduce feelings of helplessness.
Build resilience: Practice coping skills, mindfulness, and actively prepare for disasters.
Live by your values: Therapies like ACT can help you act according to your values, even when the world feels overwhelming.
Suggestions From Ryan Reese and Debbie Sturm
In their recent webinar, Ryan Reese, PhD, and Debbie Sturm, PhD, discussed how mental health professionals can support clients facing climate anxiety. They suggest a practice called "climate-aware counseling." Here are some ideas they shared:
Be trauma-informed: Understand the emotional impact of climate change on clients.
Acknowledge community vulnerabilities: Climate change adds to the trauma some communities already face.
Promote "active hope": Taking action can help you feel more hopeful.
Healing through community: Joining local events and campaigns helps build connections.
Being part of a community can reduce feelings of isolation and make the work feel more manageable.
By focusing on small actions, seeking support, and practicing self-compassion, we can manage climate anxiety and take steps toward a resilient future. If you need additional support and want to connect with a counselor, reach out to us here.
