How to Facilitate and Host a Climate Cafe: An Online, Experiential Workshop

The workshop will include:

-An explanation of the psycho-social principles on which climate cafes are based

-A short experiential climate cafe

-Suggestions of a toolkit of practical resources

-A discussion of practical aspects of organizing and facilitating

As the present and ongoing threat of the climate and environmental emergency becomes increasingly evident, we will need to find ways to process and bear the many complex and dysregulating emotional responses that emerge. Working with difficult emotions, rather than turning away, can facilitate learning new ways of being and foster capacities for engagement. Sharing thoughts, feelings, and experiences with others can additionally help build an essential sense of community, as well as greater emotional resilience.

While specifically not a clinical encounter, a climate cafe creates a simple, reflective, empathetic space where fears and uncertainties about the climate crisis can be safely expressed and held. There are no guest speakers or lectures at these cafes; advice and action are not the focus. Based on the model of death cafes, climate cafes have been utilized, increasingly, to help a variety of individuals and communities find ways to face and hold the unsettling realities of the planetary crisis.

This workshop will support participants in developing the confidence to facilitate their own climate cafe. It will include an explication of the psycho-social principles on which climate cafes are based, provide a short experiential climate café, suggest a toolkit of practical resources, and incorporate discussions on practical aspects of organizing and facilitating.

Janet A. Castellini, LCSW, LCADC, NCPsyA is a modern psychoanalyst in private practice. She worked in the field of energy and environment education for 27 years, developing programs ranging from school energy efficiency to student EV conversion and competition. She has been a trainer, writer, fundraiser, project developer, evaluator, and developer of networks and collaborative teams. She uses her psychological training to assist people to build inner strength to deal with climate change and the other major crises of our time.

Wendy Greenspun, Ph.D. is a psychologist/psychoanalyst practicing in New York City, and teaches in the Climate Aware Therapy Curriculum at CPA-NA. She has led workshops for students and activists on building emotional resilience in the face of climate distress, run climate cafes, and has presented and taught nationally and internationally on the climate crisis to mental health professionals and wider audiences.

This workshop will include experiential components in which participants will work in a group format to discuss their thoughts and feelings, facilitated by the workshop leader. Although the leader may be a licensed mental health professional, these group experiences are not therapy groups, and the facilitator will not engage in rendering any psychotherapeutic or healthcare advice, or advice of any kind for any individual or for their particular situation.

The Climate Psychology Alliance-North America does not provide medical, mental health or any other type of healthcare service. No diagnosis or treatment of, or advice regarding, any medical or mental health condition or illness of any participant can or will be offered. Participation in our workshops cannot substitute for, and is not an alternative to, medical or other healthcare diagnosis and treatment when a medical or mental health condition or illness is present. Participants are advised to seek diagnosis, treatment and advice regarding medical or mental health conditions or illnesses from physicians, psychotherapists and other licensed healthcare professionals.

By attending this event, I understand and agree to the limitations of the experiential components of workshops offered by the Climate Psychology Alliance-North America effective the date of this transaction.

REFUND POLICY

We understand that things come up and can’t always be anticipated. We will grant refunds requested 48 hours ahead of the event. We will not honor refunds after the event has started. If for any reason you are unable to attend, please let us know, since we often have a waiting list for these trainings, and this can allow us to open a slot for someone else.

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