Sue Heap

I am an integrative psychotherapist working in private practice. I also supervise trainee therapists as well as qualified practitioners. I have been active in the climate protest movement since 2018. I was part of the XR Wellbeing team, coordinated support hubs during actions from 2019-2022 and delivered training to volunteers who wanted to join the Wellbeing team. I am less active now although still take part in some events bringing attention to the climate crisis. I attended a retreat at The Centre for Alternative Technology in 2019 which was based on the work of Joanna Macey and her book 'Active Hope'. I have attended grief workshops and also a Fresk event. I am part of a group of XR grandparents and elders who offer support to each other and to younger activists. I am also a member of a small CPA group who meet monthly on zoom for peervision as climate aware therapists, and we also occasionally meet in person for walks in nature. I find that working in private practice I rarely hear clients mention climate as a source of stress and anxiety, and this surprisesme. However with the current increase in extreme weather events and the beginnings of more adequate media coverage I believe that this will change. Working with those who already are fully aware of the climate crisis feels very important now. I want to offer support to climate activists and people suffering from the grief that comes with the realisation of the possibility that humans have wrought such terrible destruction on the earth that it may not sustain future life for most creatures now living on it.