Easing Eco-Anxiety is a six-week support group for people with feelings about climate change. Join Registered Psychotherapist Cordelia Huxtable and artist Marjan Verstappen as we weave together therapeutic conversation, ecopsychology and the creativity of painting. Inspired by the The Work That Reconnects, this series will support you to honour your pain for the world, express gratitude and explore new ways forward.

At the end of our time together you’ll experience empathy and validation from others in your community. You’ll have a deeper knowledge of artistic materials and watercolour painting techniques. Concurrently, you’ll process your climate crisis feelings and develop coping strategies for continued emotional resilience.

Is this for me?

Eco-anxiety, eco-grief, solastalgia; these are all words to describe the immense psychological challenge of trying to keep our eyes and hearts wide open to ecological catastrophe facing us. This can manifest as feelings of anxiety, grief, fear, numbness or lack of feeling, burn-out, helplessness and loneliness. Connection to your community, your emotions and your creativity is a powerful antidote to eco-anxiety.

I’m not an activist. Is this course for me?
Most definitely! You don’t have to be involved in front-line climate activism to have feelings about climate change and experience numbness, overwhelm or helplessness. This is a very human response to a planetary wide disaster, and our course is the place to work through and share some of those feelings.

I’m not an artist. Is this course for me? Absolutely! We welcome a wide variety of art levels, from beginner to experienced. The techniques taught will help everyone access their creativity, using mindful painting as a medium to ‘un-numb’, an antidote to burnout and overwhelm.

COURSE FACILITATORS

Marjan and Cordelia are sisters, born in Aotearoa New Zealand. We made Canada our home in 2014 and now live and work in Parkdale, Toronto.

Cordelia Huxtable (M.Psyc, G. Dip. Psyc, BAHons) is a Registered Psychotherapist practising relational, trauma-informed and climate-aware psychotherapy. She helps people form a deeper relationship with themselves, each other and their environment.

Marjan Verstappen (MFA, BFA) is a visual artist and art educator. She facilitates workshops that are focused on developing drawing skills as a meditative practice, something that she is dedicated to in her own artistic work. In her teaching, she loves to share her enthusiasm for the beauty in everyday life, and strives to help her students discover it through their art. She can be found leading community arts experiences for STEPS Initiative, Arts Etobicoke, Toronto Alzheimer’s Society, and Workman Arts.