Training and talks for organisations
Supporting young people with climate resilience
An advanced training program for mental health professionals working with young people
What is Supporting young people with climate resilience?
Young people are strongly affected by the deepening climate and social crises. Many hold powerful feelings about what they see happening in the world and what it might mean for their future. These feelings often stay hidden because young people do not always feel able to talk openly to the adults in their lives. They may be used to being dismissed or may worry that adults will not understand or know how to help.
This training offers a clear and compassionate framework for understanding climate distress and for helping young people grow climate resilience in the middle of these urgent times. My work draws on current neurobiological research on attachment, trauma, recovery and resilience and is grounded in relational care, mindful awareness and an understanding of the wider social and global context that young people are living in.
The programme can be delivered as a one or two day training. The longer format allows space for deeper reflection, skills practice and time to explore how the ideas can be integrated into existing professional approaches. Each course is shaped around the needs of the team I am working with.
What you’ll learn
understand why warm, regulated adult relationships are essential for building resilience in the face of climate and social crisis
Participants will:
gain a working knowledge of evolved neurobiology and why this is central to understanding climate emotions and resilience
develop a clear understanding of climate distress and how it affects young people in different contexts
learn and practise deep listening, warm accompaniment and ways of creating emotional safety for young people
explore how to develop climate resilience in young people using practical tools that can be applied immediately in therapeutic and pastoral settings
consider strategies for creating a culture of care across their organisation so that young people feel supported by the wider system around them
reflect on their own emotional responses to climate concerns and develop sustainable ways of caring for their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of their colleagues
explore the core domains of climate resilience including empathy, the capacity for meaningful action, participation and informed choice
“Superb content and trainer. Refreshingly honest, the authenticity of Jo’s message, delivered with a spirit and commitment congruent with her obvious belief in the importance of the learning, was very clear. More times than I would like, I come away from a CPD event wondering how does this presentation actually help me with my clients? Not so here, this training did not shy away from the very basic ideas of listening and relationship, and the delivery was emphatically honest and real.”
Feedback from training recipient
Who it’s for
This course is suitable for counsellors and therapists who work with young people. It is also relevant to student support services in schools, colleges and universities; and to professionals who want to feel more confident supporting young people affected by climate distress within the wider mental health challenges they face.
How it’s delivered
This course can be delivered as a one- or two-day in-person training, blending research input with reflective practice and practical skill development. Across the training, participants engage with theory, group discussion and creative reflection, alongside opportunities to practise warm listening, accompanying and co-regulation in pairs.
The programme explores frameworks for climate resilience, strategies for supporting young people and their caregivers, and ways to integrate climate-aware approaches into existing models of practice.
Each training is responsive to the needs of the group, with extended programmes offering more time for application to real cases, shared enquiry and embedding skills into organisational culture.
About your trainer
I’m Jo McAndrews, a trainer and facilitator with over 30 years’ experience in education, family support and community work. My approach is grounded in psychology and trauma-informed practice, and shaped by many years of listening to what helps people feel safe enough to learn and grow together.
I work with teams across education, health and the voluntary sector to help build understanding and confidence in how we relate to one another. My sessions are engaging, reflective and restorative, helping people leave with both practical tools and a renewed sense of purpose in their work.
This work matters deeply to me. I bring warmth, curiosity and care to every organisation I work with.
Costs
My fees for training include preparation discussions and bespoke design, digital presentation handouts and post event debrief. Travel costs and overnight accommodation where needed will be added to this.
Please click the link below to learn more about costs for teams and organisations.
Let’s discuss your training needs
If you would like a chat about this course, or to discuss how I can meet your team or organisation’s needs, please use this form to get in touch