Ecopsychology

by Selene Vega

Santa Cruz CAMFT Newsletter, July/Aug 1994, Therapists for Social Responsibility column

One of the major interests of the members of our Therapists for Social Responsibility group is the burgeoning field of ecopsychology. Our concern for the earth and its creatures and our responses to the many ways they are threatened continually emerge in our meetings as we talk about our experiences and those of our clients. Sometimes this takes the form of despair, as we look at the enormity of the problems and feel overwhelmed by the situation our planet and its inhabitants face. The challenge for us, and one of the underlying themes of our group, is to find our way through that despair to empowerment so that we can take action in the world to change things. The actions we make may be as literal as letter-writing or as subtle as bringing our vision of the possible future into all the work we do, with clients or in other areas of our lives.

On the cover of the first issue of The Ecopsychology newsletter is a series of definitions for the term ecopsychology:

1. The emerging synthesis of ecology and psychology.
2. The skillful application of ecological insights to the practice of psychotherapy.
3. The discovery of our emotional bond with the planet.
4. Defining `sanity' as if the whole world mattered.

I would add another, the other side of number 2: The skillful application of psychological insights to the practice of ecology. As therapists, we have gained some understanding of where human behavior originates and how to change it. We certainly don't have all the answers, but with our experience and knowledge we are in a position to see the shifts in thinking and action that need to happen if our world is to thrive, and to have some ideas of how to make that happen. This may seem a daunting task, but if we combine our individual expertise and creativity and work together, the synergy may propel us past the barriers we perceive as individuals approaching the vastness of the problems.

Involvement in ecopsychology does not necessarily involve a huge time commitment. Although meetings and workshops exist and can inspire us and provide a sense of community around our work in this area, simply talking about the issues with friends and colleagues can be a powerful way to begin.

Books

The Voice of the Earth: An Exploration of Ecopsychology, Theodore Roszak. Touchstone Books.

Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age, Joanna Macy. New Society Publishers.

World as Lover, World as Self, Joanna Macy. Parallax Press.

Ecopsychology: Restoring the Earth, Healing the Mind, Edited by Theodore Roszak, Mary E. Gomes, and Allen D. Kanner. Sierra Club Books .

For further Ecopsychology resources, go to Ecopsychology Resources