Climate Cafe 

Sunday, October 20, 2-3:30PM 

Free to attend 

One of the biggest challenges of the climate crisis is knowing what to do with the complex set of emotions regarding the planetary emergency.  Where is it safe to talk about the fear, outrage, and grief? The idea is that the more comfortable we become with these difficult feelings, the more able we are to cope with our situation. Climate Cafes offer a structured space for informal open, respectful discussion of emotional responses and reactions related to the climate.

The Climate Cafe is a facilitated, welcoming space for people concerned about the climate and ecological crises, and their impacts on the global, local, and individual levels. We call it a Cafe because we aim for an informal and open discussion (and participants are welcome to bring a beverage to enjoy during the meeting). This is not a lecture, nor is it a therapy group. Each participant will be welcome to speak or not to speak as they feel comfortable.  The Climate Cafe fills an important and often unmet need: a safe space for people to speak about their emotions stemming from the climate and ecological crises (CEC). Many people have been deeply concerned for decades about the climate and ecological crises, and some are just beginning to feel concerned as we experience more direct impacts in our area and as the news of climate-related disasters continues to increase. Many fall somewhere in between. Everyone is welcome, no matter where they fall on that continuum.

Climate Cafes focus on feelings rather than action. We recognize the importance of taking action to bring about a better future, and many local groups exist for this purpose. This group exists to fulfill a different need, that of building emotional resilience in the face of uncertain times. We also believe that, in the words of the Climate Psychology Alliance, “the more we recognize and tolerate feelings arising from the climate crisis, the easier it will be to connect with others, act in collaboration, and envision a just and equitable solution.”  The facilitators will provide resources for anyone who would like to learn more about ways to work with climate emotions, as well as local opportunities for action, after the event.

Facilitators:

Sadie Forsythe, LICSW, is a climate-aware therapist based in Amherst, MA, offering individual therapy and monthly climate cafes, as well as consultation for organizations looking to add a psychological lense to their climate work. Sadie is a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America, Group Facilitators Hub and Climate Cafe Facilitator Training committees. She holds a Certificate in Climate Psychology through The California Institute of Integral Studies.

Hannah Harvester is a Conway-based artist and educator who has been facilitating eco grief and climate anxiety support circles since 2023. She is a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America.

Both Sadie and Hannah have completed Climate Cafe trainings led by Climate Psychology Alliance of North America, and hope to bring more and more local opportunities for individuals to come together to share and process climate-related emotions.

REGISTER HERE