Parenting is hard; parenting in turbulent times is harder. If you sometimes feel worried or frightened about the state of the climate and the world, you are not alone. Join fellow parents and facilitators from the Climate Psychology Alliance and Moms Clean Air Force on September 20th for a lunchtime talking circle, where you’ll share space with others who are navigating the experience of parenting during times of intense uncertainty and disruption. This talking circle will offer participants the chance to share reflections on their own experience of what it’s like to be a parent right now, as well as to listen mindfully to others’ experiences. This is not a support group or therapy group, but simply a chance to be reminded that we’re not alone.
The circle is free, but advance registration is required, and space will be limited to 20 participants per circle. Please plan to be able to attend for the full hour if at all possible.
Date and Times:
Tuesday, September 20, from 12:00pm-1:00pm (EDT)
Tuesday, September 20, from 12:00pm-1:00pm (PDT)
Facilitators: Jenni Silverstein, Elizabeth Bechard, Rebecca Weston, Kelsey Hudson
- Elizabeth Bechard is a coach, Senior Policy Analyst for Moms Clean Air Force, and the author of Parenting in a Changing Climate: Tools for Cultivating Resilience, Taking Action, and Practice Hope in the Face of Climate Change. She is also the mother of 6-year-old twins.
- Jenni Silverstein, LCSW is a child trauma therapist and early childhood mental health specialist in private practice in Sonoma County CA, and she is editor of the Climate Psychology Alliance - North America newsletter. Jenni is committed to helping create trauma responsive and resilient communities for young children impacted by the climate crisis through clinical work, workshops, trainings, activism and writing.
- Kelsey Hudson, PhD is a practicing child/adolescent clinical psychologist whose research, clinical, scholarly, and advocacy work focuses on the mental health impacts of climate change. Through the CPA-NA, she leads the Youth Subcommittee and serves as a member of the Steering Committee.
- Rebecca Weston, LCSW and JD lives in the metro-New York area and is a practicing clinician and Co-President of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America. In this capacity, Rebecca organizes and provides support for climate aware mental health clinicians. She speaks frequently about the mental health impacts of the climate crisis, the varied ways in which climate mental issues are interwoven with systems of inequity, the psychological underpinnings of climate denial and the need to open compassionate space for people to engage their emotions and step forward into action.