Happy Earth Month! – a month of intentionally demonstrating support for environmental protection! The most significant part of Earth Month is Earth Day, which began on April 22, 1970 and is globally coordinated by EarthDay.org. Earth Day is recognized by one billion people in over 193 countries.
Recently, COSRT invited me to offer a self-access class dedicated to eco-informed relational and sex therapy practices. In honour of Earth Month and Earth Day, I wanted to draw attention to the class and highlight a few key parts of its content, which follows in this blog.
Brief Introduction to Eco-Informed Relational Therapy and the Benefits of Eco-Informed Practices
Gregory Bateson, one of the foundational leaders in the fields of anthropology and family and ecological systems cautioned that there is danger in seeing ourselves as separate from our environment and in trying to dominate and dissect the natural world (Bateson, 1972). Yet sadly, this is exactly what many humans have done and continue to do. While it may not be surprising that much of humanity persists in denying that our fate is not linked to the health of our ecosystem, it is mysterious that relational and sex therapists, as systemic thinkers, at times display such limited recognition of this interrelatedness. Indeed, as the growing effects of climate change become more globally common and relatedly undeniable you may have noticed more and more people are reporting an increase in what some call, “climate anxiety” or “eco-anxiety?”
Findings from Hickman et al. (2021) from their recent research survey involving ten thousand participants aged 16 to 25 across ten countries revealed that 45% of respondents are worried about the climate negatively affecting their daily lives. Indeed, reports of biophobia, climate fears and guilt, nature deficit disorder, as well as, climate anxiety and depression appear to be growing.
Drawing on our systemic roots, as relational therapists we need to embrace our interconnectedness with the greater whole of the planetary system and adopt ways of being that stem from this awareness in order to support our clients in what may be eco-related concerns and interests (Blumer et al., 2012; Laszloffy, 2009; Laszloffy & Twist, 2019; 2021). The benefits of eco-informed practices include, but are not limited to: improvements in self-esteem and mood (Barton & Pretty, 2010), as well as improved symptoms of depression and anxiety, better impulse control, and lowered blood pressure (Buzzell & Chalquist, 2009).
Eco-Informed Relational Therapy Assessment Considerations
In the context of relational and psychosexual therapy practices, one way to attend to eco-related areas is to tap into people’s experiences with nature by creating space for conversations around experiences with biophilia and/or ecosexuality practices. Another way to explore intergenerational systemic patterns around ecology and ecological practices is to eco-focused genograms (Blumer et al., 2012; DeMaria et al. 2017; Laszloffy & Twist, 2021). An example of some eco-genogram questions can include some of those offered by Blumer et al. (2012, p. 85-86) and Twist et al. (2019, p. 115-116)—a sample of which follows below:
- Do you and your family participate in outdoor activities (i.e., hiking, camping, picking up trash together, botany, etc.)?
- Do [ecological sustainability] practices impact unity or cohesion within your family? Describe how.
- What is your definition of ecological sustainability? Has it influenced you now or in the past? Why or why not?
- How has your family-of-origin impacted your decision to be or not to be sustainable?
- How, if at all, do you see your family’s sustainability as connected to ecological sustainability?”
- How do changes in our environment (e.g., weather, natural disasters, animal extinction, etc.) influence the growth of humans in general, and your growth specifically?
- Do you ever feel connection with the earth/nature? Is it like an attachment relationship – as in feeling a sense of kinship or familial connection to nature/earth?
- Does experiencing solitude in nature/environment bring about more or less awareness in you?
- What is it like to share nature with yourself? With others?
- Are you more or less lonely outdoors or indoors? Elaborate.
- Is there a connection between care for the earth and care for others?
- Is there a connection between caring for the earth and disconnecting from technology? Is love of technology hindering our love of nature? Can you be attached to the earth and technology (at different times, at the same time) or are these attachment relationships mutually exclusive?
In honouring Earth Month and Earth Day, I hope you will give thought and consideration to what has been shared here. I also, again, encourage you to access the Self-Access Class offered via COSRT when it is made available, which will include a discussion of the benefits of an eco-informed approach, eco-assessments, and more.
Dr Markie Twist, PhD is an award-winning sexuality educator, sexologist, relationship therapist, author,and international speaker and the Editor-in-Chief of the journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy. To learn more about Dr. Markie Twist visit their website: https://drmarkie.com/