'Environ-mentalization'

I suggest a term "environ-mentalisation" (Sibbett, 2015) -  an ecological development of the concept of mentalisation as proposed by Fonagy et al (Fonagy, Gergely, Jurist & Target, 2002). Fonagy has defined mentalization as an imaginative process by which we interpret and can understand other people's mental states, feelings, thoughts etc. (Fonagy & Allison, 2012). Fonagy has researched mentalization and attachment theory and applications in therapy. 

Environ-mentalisation. It is suggested that humans need to cultivate our environ-mentalization - our imaginative capacity to interpret and understand our environment and its states, the needs of Nature, the Earth and its living systems - and our inter-dependent relationship with it. This can develop our caring attachment with the rest of Nature, thus urging action that makes this attachment with our home the Earth more secure and sustainable. It can promote a more caring reciprocal relationship with and for the rest of Nature.

What is our attachment style with the Earth, with Nature?
One measure that can be used to gauge this is the Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS) (Mayer & McPherson Frantz, 2004). Another measure is the Environmental Distress Scale (EDS) (Higginbotham, Connor,  Albrecht et al, 2007).

Eco-practice is a core strand of my practice in Art Psychotherapy, Counselling / Psychotherapy, supervision and training. It features celebrating and fostering nature and eco-creativity and it involves working creatively with and for Nature. This aligns with Ecotherapy principles and theories.  My approach to integrating eco-practice into art therapy features Earth-based practice, a key aim being to nurture health, eco-creativity, Nature and our reciprocal caring relationship with the rest of nature. This is underpinned by and committed to 'earth caring' values. Regarding art psychotherapy, I have said how I sometime think of this as "eARTherapy"  (Sibbett, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2016).

In counselling / psychotherapy, key components of my eco-practice / Earth-based practice include:

• working with and for the rest of nature: not just for sustainability, but for regneration;

• commitment to earth-caring values;

• Earthing our practice, the curriculum and research;

• fostering 'environ-mentalization' (Sibbett, 2015);

• infusing our practice with creative intelligence and "ecological intelligence" (McCallum, 2008).

In art psychotherapy, it also includes:

• fostering eco-creativity and health,

• co-creating a "therapeutic tetrad": practitioner, client, art, nature.