Tools and Techniques to Tackle Eco-Anxiety

Module overview

In this module, you will explore several practical techniques and tools that can help you address eco-anxiety in educational and group-based settings. These tools are designed for use by educators, facilitators and professionals who may not have specialised therapeutic training. All techniques presented can be used in both small and larger groups, and they focus on emotional awareness, resilience-building and constructive engagement.

Learning goals

By the end of this module, you will:

Eco-emotional wheel

• Understand how the eco-emotional wheel helps improve emotional intelligence and self-awareness

• Learn to identify, name and communicate emotions linked to environmental concerns

• Strengthen empathy and emotional regulation skills

• Explore how the tool can transform eco-anxiety into constructive environmental action

Active hope technique

• Learn the core principles behind Joanna Macy’s “Active Hope” approach

• Understand how to work with overwhelming emotions such as fear, despair and paralysis

• Explore how to reconnect with yourself, others and the wider ecological context

• Develop a grounded, realistic and motivating sense of hope for the future

What you will be able to do

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Eco-emotional wheel

• Use the eco-emotional wheel to support emotional understanding and expression

• Help individuals or groups recognise eco-anxiety and other environmental emotions

• Facilitate discussions that improve communication around climate-related feelings

• Support resilience and positive action by turning emotions into motivation

• Contribute to reducing the mental health impacts associated with climate distress

Active hope technique

• Guide individuals or groups through the basic steps of the Active Hope practice

• Help participants acknowledge and process difficult emotions related to global challenges

• Support the transition from overwhelm and despair toward constructive engagement

• Build resilience and motivation through a deeper sense of interconnectedness

• Encourage meaningful, sustainable action rooted in values and emotional clarity