Climate Team
Dr. Patrick Kennedy-Williams, Founder
D.Clin.Psy (Oxon.) Clinical Psychologist
Hello I'm Patrick. I'm an HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist and a Chartered member of the British Psychological Society. I hold a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Oxford.
As a lifelong environmentalist, I have always cared deeply about our planet and its inhabitants. Soon after graduating, I began furthering my knowledge and understanding of environmental psychology. This led to a specific interest in climate change-related mental health and wellbeing, and we formed Climate Psychologists in 2018. I am passionate about helping people working in sustainability sustained, and supporting the green leaders of tomorrow.
Over the course of my career, I have participated actively in research, and I am currently involved in supporting research into the psychological aspects of climate change, as a supervisor of doctoral research projects. I am a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance and I sit on the advisory board of Climate Cares, Imperial College London.
I am available for speaking events and podcast/broadcast appearances. Please contact: tpayne@pfd.co.uk
I look forward to meeting you!
Qualifications: BA (Hons), MSc, DClinPsy (Oxon.). HCPC Registered Psychologist (PYL 33540)
Megan Kennedy-Woodard, Founder
B.A., MS.c, Pg.Cert.
Climate Coaching Psychologist
I want to help those working towards sustinability emotionally sustined. As a climate psychologists, in the context of the climate crisis, I not only ask, ‘How does this make you feel?’ but as importantly, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ My role is: ‘How can I support you to achieve your goals?’ My methods have a quick impact. I help you identify your external and internal motivators, beliefs, values and goals. We identify how you relate to others, your environment, your narratives and the effect these are having on you. As we start to unpick these elements, you can identify and decide how you want to show up for yourself and the planet. We develop this information to give you a clear strategy and plan of action, as well as a skills in developing your personal boundaries, an understanding of self-compassion, and the importance of self-care. I challenge you and hold you accountable, but you have my unwavering support all the way.
Coaching provides a flexibility that can be tailored to each client in a dynamic and explorative, goal-orientated way. This allows you to tease out all that is happening and puts you into a position of control over your actions and emotions.
I am available for speaking events and podcast/broadcast appearances. Please contact: tpayne@pfd.co.uk
Qualifications: I received my M.Sc in Psychology from The University of East London with a focus on childhood social dynamics. I went on to train at the University of Oxford, where I obtained my P.G. Cert. in Psychodynamic Studies and Advanced Coaching. I am also a qualified Simplicity Parenting Coach.
Melissa James, Environmental Psychologist and Programme Manager
BSc., MSc.
Hi! I’m Melissa, the newest member of the Climate Psychologists’ team - it’s great to meet you! Whilst studying for a BSc in Psychology and Counselling, I realised that it was possible to combine the skills I had acquired with my love of people and the planet. So, I set out researching psychological responses to climate change - namely, eco-anxiety (of course, I was a counselling graduate after all!).
I continue to be both impassioned and inspired by the ability of psychology to aid individuals and society suffering the mental health toll of an increasingly uncertain future. I recently finished reading for an MSc in Environmental Psychology at The University of Surrey, and continue working alongside some great academics in continuing to research eco-anxiety.
Since the most important thing any of us can do to help ourselves and the planet is lean into our skills and our passions, I am here, working alongside Patrick and Megan toward a world that feels empowered to turn its climate anxiety into climate action.
Justin James, Business Advisor and Strategist
With more than 25 years of global experience supporting businesses to thrive, Justin is known for his positive and playful approach to transforming cutting-edge brands and innovative ideas into practical, impactful actions. He has joined Climate Psychologists to develop and deliver scalable programmes to stream-line climate action so that we can ramp up our ability to help as many people, around the world find their climate empowerment.
Laura Palma, Lead Educational Consultant and Programme Director
BA, MA, B.Ed.
A trained educator, Laura has spent most of her career outside of the classroom designing global experiential education opportunities for youth across various travel, leadership, and event programs. More recently, Laura has lent her expertise in partnership and product development to educational technology initiatives specifically aimed at facilitating students’ career exploration and skill development. Her passion for enabling future-forward, action oriented, learning and growth opportunities for young people are at the heart of her work with Climate Psychologists.
Dr Louise Edgington, Educational Climate Psychologist
DEdPsy., MA., Q.T.S. (TeachFirst), MPhys.
MBPsS, HCPC reg. (PYL31134)
Hello! My name’s Louise, I am an HCPC registered educational psychologist, passionate about equipping children with the skills they will actually need for the future in order to live resilient and happy lives.
I have a long-standing interest in climate change, having completed my undergraduate and Masters in physics at the University of Oxford. The options of Climate and Atmospheric Physics gave me a solid grounding in understanding the science of climate change, while the Energy Studies option got me excited about the potential solutions. This led me onto an internship at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, where I learnt about the various real-world considerations in enacting the climate solutions.
This was the underpinning to my work as science teacher in London secondary schools. However, here, I also saw the crucial importance of wellbeing in learning – children need to feel safe and believe in their own capabilities in order to learn. This led me to retrain as an educational psychologist, at the Institute of Education.