Climate in Therapy

What happens when a group of international climate researchers are pushed to speak openly about their emotions? This scientifically unexplored terrain reveals an urgent need to bring Climate in Therapy.

In a bland hotel conference room, seven climate scientists sit in a circle as a therapist places an empty chair between them and poses a simple question: imagine a child from 2050 – what would you say to them? Climate in Therapy, inspired by Gestalt methods, peels back the mask of objectivity to confront emotions scientists are often expected to suppress. Fears for the planet, frustration with political inertia, and shame that leads some to hide their profession slowly resurface as trust deepens. This film-experiment reveals an urgent need not only to care for the world, but also for those who devote their lives to protecting it in an era of cascading crises.

– Saulė Savanevičiūtė

TALK

After the film, we will engage in a conversation led by Coen Völker, reflecting on these emotions and on Active Hope. Active Hope is a conversational method developed by Joanna Macy that creates space for climate-related emotions through gratitude, and then helps translate longing into small steps toward a more hopeful future. Coen Völker works as a healthcare psychologist, mindfulness trainer, and climate psychologist. He has written books on anxiety after cancer and supports people dealing with future-oriented fears such as cancer anxiety, climate anxiety, eco-worry, and eco-grief. He is a therapist with Extinction Rebellion and a member of Milieudefensie and the Climate Psychology Foundation.

Can’t make it to this screening?

InScience 2026 continues from 11–15 March at Visum Mundi, Wageningen. Discover the full InScience Satellite programme here to find out when this film screens in Wageningen.