Environmental identity-based therapies for climate distress: applying cognitive behavioural approaches

Abstract

Abstract This paper describes an interdisciplinary integration of the concept of environmental identity into cognitive behavioural approaches to facilitate psychotherapy interventions for climate distress. Environmental identity encompasses one’s sense of self in relation to the natural world and other species, and is an important sub-identity analogous to gender, sexual and other forms of self and social identity recognized in psychotherapy. We provide a background on the construct of environmental identity as developed in social and environmental psychology and share culturally responsive methods for mental health practitioners and the public to evoke and explore their own environmental identity. We then discuss steps to create environmental identity-based therapy interventions using cognitive and behavioural approaches for climate distress. We highlight the potential for acceptance and commitment therapy to foster mindfulness and values-based action, dialectical behaviour therapy to support emotional regulation, and radically open dialectical behaviour therapy to mitigate perfectionism and over-controlled coping styles. We also describe a composite case study of environmental identity-based cognitive behavioural therapy for an LGBTQ+ client. Key learning aims (1) The paper presents new opportunities and techniques for adapting cognitive behavioural interventions in a climate conscious manner, with insights and observations from the authors based on clinical practice, which informs research into psychotherapy best practices in the context of environmental and climate issues. (2) Readers will become familiar with the empirical basis of environmental identity drawn from theory and research in social and environmental psychology; how environmental experiences and values intersect with other forms of personal and social identity addressed in mental health practice; and culturally responsive ways to elicit environmental identity on the part of practitioners and those they serve. (3) Readers are guided through examples of environmental identity-based cognitive and behavioural interventions including (1) promoting values-based action using acceptance and commitment therapy, (2) addressing emotional dysregulation using dialectical behaviour therapy, and (3) modifying over-controlled or perfectionistic coping styles using radically open dialectical behaviour therapy. (4) A composite case study provides an example of environmental identity-based cognitive behavioural therapy for a 20-year-old LGBTQ+ person experiencing climate distress.