Pandemics and Emergencies: the role of psychotherapists in developing resilience – Jan Baker
Pandemics and Emergencies: the role of psychotherapists in developing resilience – Jan Baker
Monday, 15 November
This presentation begins with digestion of the impact of Covid on mental health and well-being, using the work of Camus’ ‘La Peste’ (The Plague) to draw parallels. Camus also used this as a metaphor; we can think of the pandemic as a forewarning of what is coming in terms of the impending ecological and climate emergency. The presentation will focus particularly on eco-anxiety and fear of breakdown (Winnicott) and seeks to explore psychoanalytic concepts which can be used to help build resilience. Some brief experiential work will be included and it is hoped that some participants will bring clinical examples of eco-anxiety in the consulting room so we can think together how and when to respond in order to help the client cope with these overwhelming feelings.
Jan Baker is a psychotherapist and counsellor, supervisor and organisational consultant. For many years she taught on the MSC in Counselling and Psychotherapy at Birkbeck College, where she developed a particular interest and expertise in working experientially and developing Group Relations Conferences. She is an active member of the Transition Town movement and the Climate Psychology Alliance, both of which seek to help people face difficult truths and to enable them to build resilience. She has also supported XR activities which highlight the perilous nature of our planet, and it has been instrumental in making the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill a reality. She believes strongly in the power of people working together to help build community, whilst recognising this is an ongoing and not an easy process.
