There is so much happening in the world today that can leave us
feeling desperate with despair.
As a child, driving up to Kruger, we had to pull over every couple of hours to wipe the bugs off our windscreen. On our last trip, in 1,500 kilometres, one single bug hit it. I have watched not only insect numbers decrease but insect-eating birds and frogs too. Butterflies used to cross the road from east to west in their thousands and now I only see a few.
Watching the loss of biodiversity happening alongside the increasing denial can leave us feeling desperate and weighed down with despair.
To make matters worse despair is not easily tolerated and so when we express it those around can feel uncomfortable, even make us wrong or try to make us feel better by saying it’s not that bad.
After two decades of providing therapy, I have seen how holding our pain, anger and grief can lead to remarkable changes previously not imagined.
What Do I mean when I say holding
When I talk about holding despair or grief, I mean staying with it, together, rather than rushing to fix it or make it better. It's listening so that what you feel can land and be heard. When grief is held like this, it no longer needs to repeat, and something new can emerge.
About me
For two decades I worked as an senior environmental campaigner and then manager. Over the decades I noticed the level of disconnection between people and the environment. I was drawn as a result toward therapy and have now been in private practice for nearly two decades. As I bridge this time between both places and living a climate-aware life I'm opening a free group to listen to those who feel a grief and despair about what is happening to our planet and to us the people who will be affected. What if holding our despair could open a door for something new?
This group is for anyone carrying grief, despair or anger about what is happening to our climate and the living world, whether you are witnessing it in your own life or working to protect it.
Also as those specifically working in this area when we have our despair held we resource ourselves to continue working.
When our despair is held, we are resourced to keep going: in our lives, in our work, and in caring for others.
I hold hope when despair is held.
We are facing unprecedented times, we can’t rely on old methodologies, we need processes that keep emerging as we move forward rather than ones that are pre-mapped solutions.
The group is a space you can come into at any time. I'll be there to listen on set days each week, and my wish is that, over time, we respond to one another so a community of care can grow.
How the group will work
Twice a month we'll meet on Zoom: once in small groups of two or three, and once together as a whole group for deeper work.
If you are looking for more support below is a link to work one to one with me and for those working in climate organisations there is alos a link to my training.
Strong feelings, including anger, are welcome here, and I'll hold the space so they can be expressed safely.
The group is free. If you'd like to, you can make a donation towards the costs of running it.
If you'd like support beyond the group, I offer one-to-one sessions, and supervision and training for those working with others in this field.
If you're in crisis, please contact a local support line or someone close to you.
My pricing is connected to my world view around sustainability, privilege and poverty. I desire for everyone to be able to access part of my business no matter their income. And when my business is flourishing and I have capacity I offer discounted and free places to those without income. I choose a way of being in the world where those that reach out a hand where there was normally absence may now find one in my world.
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