Many of our clients come to us with a deep sense of concern, overwhelm, grief or anxiety about our changing climate. Clearly, this is a serious topic, for us and for them, and we naturally want to do our best to support them through their process - both for their own sense of well-being, as well as for the wider world. It can often be challenging, however, to know how to support them. Is listening enough? Do we share resources, actions, or our own perspective on the issue? While there is no one right way, the default approach is often to match their tone, staying in that sense of seriousness and concern, steeped in a sense of gloom and doom. But what if we took a more playful approach? It might seem counter-intuitive, but integrating a lighter, less serious approach from time to time has numerous benefits for mental health and moving climate and sustainability work forward.

This highly interactive workshop, including small and larger group discussion and exploration, is designed less like a game of Trivial Pursuit and more like a trampoline. We’ll discuss some of the science behind playfulness and offer examples of playfulness in service of coaching and mental health, but really we’ll be using this workshop as a launchpad to explore what a more playful path could look like within the context of coaching. This might include reimagining our own relationship to climate change, and considering how we show up as coach in our conversations in general. Do we hold certain beliefs that keep us from being able to create a sense of lightness, joy or playfulness for Serious Business?