PSC Climate Cafes for CANA and the climate movement

PSC is pleased to facilitate this series of online Climate Cafes over three Tuesday lunchtimes through November and December. These Cafes are offered especially for members of CANA, and those in the wider climate movement. The Cafes will coincide with COP29 and its aftermath, for those needing extra support before/during/after.

At our Cafe there is no guest speaker, no advice given, no call for action. Instead, you’ll find a supportive, facilitated conversational space for people to gather and share thoughts and feelings in response to the climate crisis. Here you can voice concerns that may not be welcomed or echoed elsewhere in your daily life. You’re invited to share with interested others how you’re really feeling at this challenging time. 

There may be laughter, there may be tears. There may be fear, there may be anger. Whatever you’re feeling is okay and valued. And it’s fine just to listen. Sharing, listening and being quiet together are all part of our Cafe.

Climate Cafes are designed to be a drop in space for regular practice. Much like a yoga class, or visit to the gym, regular attendance supports people to strengthen and maintain the emotional muscle needed for personal and collective resilience. PSC Cafes are grounded in climate aware and trauma-informed best practices. 

Dates & times:  

Tuesday afternoons 12pm - 1.30pm Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time

Fortnightly from 5th November to 3rd December 

• Nov 5
• Nov 19
• Dec 3

The Cafes run over Zoom. The zoom link will be emailed to participants, 5 days before the Cafe, and again on the day. To sign up for a session that works for you, please click "Get tickets" & then select the date you want to attend.

We want everybody working hard in the climate movement to be able to access the support they need, so registration for these special Cafes is free. Psychology for a Safe Climate is a non-for-profit and a majority volunteer organisation - please consider donating if you're able to, at the same time that you register. Donations of any amount are appreciated, and donations over $2 are tax deductible within Australia. It's through donations from people like you that we are able to continue this work.

Facilitators

Christie Wilson 

Christie is a psychotherapist (MGT), climate activist, and facilitator working therapeutically with people at the front line of the climate emergency. She offers individual therapy (somatic and trauma-informed) and develops and facilitates workshops to explore the cultural and psychological experience of engaging with climate change and related ecological issues. Christie is a clinical member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, Psychology for a Safe Climate, Climate Psychology Alliance, Climate Wellbeing Network, and Fellow of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society.

Chloe Watfern

Chloe Watfern is a maker, researcher, and facilitator with a longstanding interest in ecological emotions, climate distress, and human-nature connections. She is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Black Dog Institute, where she leads research on climate change, mental health, and the arts. She is also a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Ecological Emotions Research Lab at the University of Sydney.

Further Info

Psychology for a Safe Climate (PSC) is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2010 in Melbourne, Australia, to foster emotional engagement with climate change. PSC was founded in response to the lack of individual and community commitment to address the climate emergency. Our purpose is to support people in facing the reality of the climate emergency. We aim to build people’s capacity to respond constructively to climate change by promoting and strengthening mental health and wellbeing. We engage with those working on climate change, the caring professions, and the broader community.

If you're looking for further support or resources, you'll find some here and also, at our Climate Feelings Space. If you're based in Australia and needing further one-on-one help, you can reach out to someone in our Climate Aware Practitioner directory.