Setting up for practice with eco-conscious clients

ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses a panoply of practical ways to make the work of therapists more ecologically sustainable. It points out that with growing eco-anxiety worldwide, the need for sensitivity to ecological dynamics is increasing. Drawing on the psychological literature, the chapter identifies pragmatic steps therapists can take, such as integrating plants into therapeutic settings. It also touches upon one specific outcome of the COVID-19 crisis the vast increase in videoconferencing, which has also been used in therapy. With the rise of eco-anxiety, therapists can anticipate seeing an increase of clients concerned about the state of the environment. Eco-anxiety is, put simply, "a specific form of anxiety relating to stress or distress caused by environmental changes and our knowledge of them". Some symptoms include panic attacks, insomnia, obsessive thinking, appetite changes, and anxiety about the future of the planet. The chapter covers ways that therapists (and anyone who works in an office) can make their settings more eco-sensitive to meet the needs of their clients and the planet. It concludes with suggestions for maintaining an eco-conscious practice during a pandemic. The chapter discusses the importance of both the office environment and the crucial role of nature in design. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)