Profile

I graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 1983 –BA (hons) Applied Social Studies with Social Work. I worked in both mental health and children and family social work teams for several years in South London, qualifying as a Social Work Practice Educator supervising students in placements, and an Approved Mental Health Social Worker. I ran a Practice Learning Centre for 4 years arranging social work placements in the voluntary sector whilst teaching at the University of North London and South Bank University.

I then spent 20 years as an independent trainer, lecturer and consultant in London whilst running an independent Psychotherapy practice.

I worked as a Senior Lecturer at The University of East London on the Psychosocial Studies degree teaching counselling and mental health for 8 years and The University of Plymouth teaching on the MA Social Work for 3 years before joining the University of Bath in 2008.

I was awarded the Innovation in Learning & Teaching Award in 2010.

Research interests

• Climate Change
• Climate & Eco Crisis Psychology
• Children's communication
• Ecopsychology
• Relationship Based Social Work Practice
• Attachment Theory
• Social Work Theories & Methods
• Involvement of service users and Carers in Social Work Education
• The relationship between people and nature
• Effectiveness of different therapeutic modalities

Tedx talk (Bath)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yXDHazepUw

Facilitating discussions about Climate Crisis Psychology through CPA (Climate Psychology Alliance)

Psychotherapy Practice & Climate Psychology Research

https://www.carolinehickmantherapy.com

I am a PhD candidate in Education at the University of Bath researching children and young people’s relationships with nature and feelings about the climate and ecological crisis, both in the UK, Maldives, South Pacific and other communities already affected by rising sea levels.

I am on the Executive Committee of the Climate Psychology Alliance (CPA), a group contributing specialist psychological knowledge to the area of the climate and ecological crisis that humanity is facing. I am currently developing outreach programmes for CPA including therapeutic support for people struggling with eco anxiety, training and support for schools, medical, social and mental health services, and also a series of Podcasts entitled Climate Crisis Conversations: Catastrophe or Transformation. We are working closely with XR wellbeing and support groups as well as the Deep Adaptation Forum (Jem Bendell) to develop new innovative psychological support for people in the face of these changing and challenging times. I believe that Climate Psychology can help to illuminate the complex individual and cultural responses we are witnessing as the climate and eco crisis unfolds and play a part in getting people to ‘think the unthinkable’; to help people develop resilience, so that they can contribute to sustainable communities and prepare for transformational change; and to validate people’s complex emotional responses and experiences of helplessness, grief, anger, despair, guilt, shame and fear in response to the climate and ecological crisis. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yXDHazepUw

This talk looks at some of the psychological barriers to taking action on climate change and argues that whilst we need to develop and implement practical and technical solutions, they will not be enough on their own. If we are going to find sustainable solutions then we have to find a way to face the paradox that it is only through facing our vulnerability, painful truths, collective denial, grief and loss that we will be able to develop the emotionally informed and sustainable action that we need to take to save ourselves as well as the planet. These inner ‘untrodden paths’ through our defences and complex feelings about climate change might just hold some of the answers we need, and counter intuitively show us the way.