Leslie Davenport, Climate Psychology Consultant, explores the deep connections between our emotional inner worlds and the ecosystems we’re part of, offering tools to navigate climate work with care, clarity, and resilience.

She invites us to understand that the climate crisis is not only an environmental emergency, but also a psychological and relational one: one that asks us to tend to grief, fear, courage, and connection as seriously as we tend to data and technology.

Through the #MyPieceForChange campaign, we invite people to share their unique contributions to collective transformation. This series exists to honor their stories, amplify their voices, and connect them with a wider community of like-minded peers. Today, we’re honored to introduce our Changeworker of the Week: Leslie Davenport whom we had the pleasure of interviewing for this special spotlight.

What’s your piece for change? 

I help others recognize how our inner landscapes (our thoughts, feelings, nervous system) and Earth’s landscapes thrive or suffer together, offering a compass for deep and integrated climate action. Action without self-care depletes us; self-care without action cannot last. Transformation is possible when both are woven together and we feel our true home as part of the living biosphere, while being held in community.

What inspired you to begin this work or stay committed to it?

My climate awakening came nearly two decades ago. I remember the urgency of wondering how I could possibly make a difference. By then I was a practicing therapist, and it struck me that so much of what I worked with every day -- denial, grief, difficult emotions, the courage to change -- was largely missing from how we talked about climate change. In those early days, terms like eco-anxiety, eco-grief, or climate psychology weren’t even known. That realization inspired me to step into a new role, bringing emotional insight and resiliency tools into schools, NGOs, therapeutic and community spaces. It’s a path that continues to inspire me, drawing me into collaborations across fields where psychology and climate meet.

What’s one hope or vision you hold for the future?

Climate change is not just a technological challenge, it is a profoundly human one. By awakening our often-underutilized capacities for intuition, empathy, emotional intelligence, deep knowing, and connection, we can bring more of our humanity into innovative solutions and open the path toward a regenerative future. These qualities are ready to blossom within us. And while I speak of the future, it begins here, now, with this very breath.

What support or connection are you currently looking for?

As awareness grows about the role of our thoughts, emotions, and perceptions in climate work, there’s still such a long way to go, and the needs are outpacing the psychological support. I’d love to work with more organizations involved in climate work and share practices that can strengthen resilience, connection, and impact.

What’s one thing about your field or topic you wish more people knew, considered, or acted on?

Many people feel powerless in the face of climate change, as if the scale of the crisis makes individual actions meaningless. Yet systemic transformation depends on every institution evolving, and every role--parent, farmer, teacher, engineer, artist, and more--contributing to the collective response. Renowned climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe reminds us that one of the most powerful actions we can take is simply to talk about climate change, focusing on shared values rather than just facts and data. These conversations can spark deeper understanding, build support for collective action, and inspire meaningful change. Together, our unique contributions weave the fabric of the transformation we urgently need. What’s one step you could take today to activate more of your piece for change?

Where can people learn more about your work or connect with you?

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Speaking Inquiries
• Climate Psychology Training

The Parayma community is rooted in authentic, supportive relationships. 

If Leslie’s story speaks to you, reach out, share reflections, or co-create new possibilities together.

🌿 Thank you, Leslie, for sharing your #PieceForChange and for helping us remember that true transformation holds both the Earth and our emotional selves with care.

Stay tuned for next week’s Changeworker feature, and if you’d like to be highlighted, join the campaign and tick the box to express your interest.