What is it?
CPA Therapeutic Support is the provision of up to three free sessions with a psychological professional on CPA's Therapeutic Support Directory. This is for anyone over the age of 18 who is experiencing eco-related distress, including that arising from eco-activism or work in the climate field. We also support people who have been arrested or imprisoned for climate activism.
The link to the Directory is further down the page.
What is it not?
CPA Therapeutic Support is not the same as ongoing counselling or psychotherapy. Although it will draw on the therapeutic or coaching modules of the particular Therapeutic Practitioner, its aim is to specifically address emotional issues arising from the climate and ecological crisis. While these issues may be related to and affect other aspects of your life, the time limited nature of the offering will not allow these to be addressed in any detail.
What is eco-related distress?
When we think about the climate and ecological crisis overwhelming feelings may arise such as shock, disorientation, fear or powerlessness, a sense of panic and disbelief. We can feel angry, guilty, ashamed or grief stricken. All these feelings are increasingly normal as more and more people awaken to the reality of the climate emergency.
Who can it benefit?
Below are some of the broad categories of people who have sought Therapeutic Support through CPA:
- Anyone who is feeling emotionally affected by the reality of the climate and ecological crisis. These may be parents, grandparents, students, young people, and include people from minority and under-represented backgrounds such as people of colour, with disabilities, or disadvantaged in other ways;
- Climate activists feeling overwhelmed, despairing or burned out, and/or who might have experienced arrest and/or imprisonment;
- Anyone working within the climate field who is struggling to manage their emotions arising from being exposed to unmanageable facts and the limitations of their work.
We operate dedicated lists of TS Practitioners who have experience and special interest in working with climate activists, arrestees and prisoners and BiPoC TS Practitioners who work particularly with people from the BIPoC community.
We also offer dedicated support to people under 18. If you are not sure if Therapeutic Support is for you or you fall within one of the specialist groups do
Who is offering Therapeutic Support?
Therapeutic Support is offered by CPA members. All TS Practitioners are trained and qualified psychological professionals. We also require them to be registered and have professional indemnity insurance. TS Practitioners engage with their own eco-related distress, and most will have participated in workshops and training in climate aware practice. More information about individual TS Practitioners is available on the TS Directory.
Please note that CPA is not operating a counselling service or endorsing / promoting individual TS Practitioners. CPA has no financial involvement with and takes no responsibility for the working practices of individual TS Practitioners. In offering this Directory, CPA merely aims to facilitate contact between climate aware practitioners and those who need short term support.
What next?
If you would like Therapeutic Support, browse the TS Directory and contact a suitable Practitioner. You may need to contact more than one Practitioner to find someone with availability, but please do persevere.
The link to the Directory is here.
If you are looking for more ongoing support we have a number of Practitioners who offer this free or at low cost. Contact us for more details.
If you would like assistance or have any questions at all you can contact
Please note that CPA Therapeutic Support is not an emergency service. If you have concerns about your own or others' mental health, contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or your GP.
[If you are not looking for Therapeutic Support right now, but you are looking for information, feel free to browse the rest of our website. You might try the Podcasts, or any of the many other resources we offer. Wherever you are on your climate journey, we hope you will find something helpful here.]
Provision in US and Canada
There is a Climate Therapist Directory available through the CPA North America site. Please note that free sessions are not part of the North America offering at this time.