Imagining the future of clinical psychology in the climate and ecological emergencies

The climate and ecological emergencies (CEE) are creating irreversible changes to our planet and life-sustaining systems. Threats are being experienced by individuals on the mental, physical and community health levels. Although psychologists have long had the skills-set necessary to conceptualise and support interventions for the challenges we face, it is only in recent years that psychological professional bodies are acknowledging the CEE. Therefore, there is no clear vision for the role of clinical psychology in the CEE. This study sought to create a vision of how clinical psychology can engage with the CEE as a means to mitigate and adapt to its deleterious impacts on mental health. Story completion methodology was used to create such visions. Forty-nine practitioner psychologists and climate activists completed online individual stories, and 28 individuals participated in co-creating stories, a novel application of story completion methodology. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the individual written stories and transcribed group stories. The possible roles for clinical psychology were developed across three main themes. 1. Acknowledgment is the First Step; here clinical psychology could acknowledge the root causes of the CEE and emotional responses to them. 2. Engagement in the CEE is Part of Creating a Role; here clinical psychology could develop a nature-based understanding of mental health, as well as supporting others to overcome cognitive defences and engage in the CEE. 3. Going Forth in Unison; here clinical psychology could work alongside changing societies to support people in living more simply, to develop community and nature-based practice, to support their own and others’ climate activism, to become political and work towards social justice, to work in collaboration and to support people in developing their imaginative capabilities. These results offer ideas for the changing role of clinical psychology in the face of ever-increasing CEE.