In a public park, a passerby talks with the author at a small booth that says "Climate Anxiety Counseling, five cents."

The Climate Anxiety Counseling booth debuted at the city bus station in Providence, RI. Since then, I’ve set it up at county fairs, farmers’ markets and film festivals; at sustainability, clean energy, and environmental justice conferences and events; and in partnership with Health Equity Zones. I’ve listened to people with Works on Water in New York City and with Communities First at convenings in Providence, Detroit and Durham, NC. And with my enthusiastic support, other people have also set up Climate Anxiety Counseling booths in small towns (Sheffield, MA; West Hartford, CT), small cities (Decatur, AL; Northampton, MA), and big cities (Salt Lake City, UT). I’d be glad to help you set one up, if you want.

Climate Anxiety Counseling: What it is and why I do it

For over ten years, I’ve been setting up the Climate Anxiety Counseling Booth in public places. People tell me how the climate crisis and their place within it are making them feel, and we talk through ways to let those feelings guide them into connection and action.

I started “doing the booth” because I felt frantic and alone with my climate anxieties. Over 1200 conversations later, I know I’m not alone at all. There are many of us. We can work together to respond to this crisis.

Two older white women sitting at their version of the Climate Anxiety Counseling booth. Signs say "Climate Anxiety Counseling" and "Empowerment." A third person is standing and talking with them, their back to the camera.