Understanding human behavior at the deepest levels is no longer an option. It’s an imperative.

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We know more than ever about the immense scale and magnitude of the challenges facing humanity on a finite planet. However, we also understand more about creativity, resilience, and problem-solving than ever before. At the intersection of neuroscience, behavioral sciences, clinical psychology, psychosocial research and public health, are insights uniquely suited for meeting our immense challenges. Insights we can be accessing, applying and scaling. No matter the challenge or context. Each of us has the ability to be a catalyst for exactly the kind of changes needed most today.

CONSULTING

I work with a range of organizations across sectors, applying proven psychosocial methods for engagement, brand strategy, research design, insights and messaging.
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SPEAKING

I present to groups internationally to share insights, challenge assumptions and provoke deeper thinking about how we can be more effective and inspired.
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TEACHING

I design deep dive courses, trainings, workshops, and capacity building for organizations, foundations, universities and the public.
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Understanding human behavior at the deepest levels is no longer an option. It’s an imperative.

We know more than ever about the immense scale and magnitude of the challenges facing humanity on a finite planet. However, we also understand more about creativity, resilience, and problem-solving than ever before. At the intersection of neuroscience, behavioral sciences, clinical psychology, psychosocial research and public health, are insights uniquely suited for meeting our immense challenges. Insights we can be accessing, applying and scaling. No matter the challenge or context. Each of us has the ability to be a catalyst for exactly the kind of changes needed most today.

CONSULTING

I work with a range of organizations across sectors, applying proven psychosocial methods for engagement, brand strategy, research design, insights and messaging.
READ MORE

CONSULTING

I work with a range of organizations across sectors, applying proven psychosocial methods for engagement, brand strategy, research design, insights and messaging.
READ MORE

SPEAKING

I present to groups internationally to share insights, challenge assumptions and provoke deeper thinking about how we can be more effective and inspired.
READ MORE

UPCOMING EVENTS

Climate One at The Commonwealth Club: WHAT THE 2030 CLIMATE DEADLINE REALLY MEANS
MON, FEBRUARY 24, 2020, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM PST
For years, scientists and politicians have been saying that the climate battle will be won or lost in the next decade. LEARN MORE

Conversations on the Edge: A Wildfire Story on a Changing Planet (Speaker)
AUGUST 28-30
If you are looking for another way to grow in a unique format different from the traditional workshop, please join us for an Esalen original series, Conversations on the Edge. LEARN MORE

2040 - a hybrid feature documentary

Award-winning director Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film) embarks on a journey to explore what the future could look like by the year 2040 if we simply embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet and shifted them rapidly into the mainstream. Renee's work was an inspiration for the film.

This is an excerpt from the interview with the filmmaker.

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

A New Therapy for an Age of ‘Climate Grief

CITYLAB

"An emerging cohort of therapists and artists are developing novel ways to help people process the anxiety and helplessness triggered by “climate grief.”"

READ THE ARTICLE

Caring About Climate Can Help You Get Laid

GIZMODO

"People on OKCupid are swiping right on climate action—or something? I’ve never used a dating app."

READ THE ARTICLE

Facing Your Emotions Around Climate Change

OMEGA

"Understanding, acknowledging, and creating space for each of what Dr. Renee Lertzman calls the "three As" is essential to ensuring successful outcomes when it comes to climate anxiety."

READ THE ARTICLE

Motivational Discussion with Damon and Dr. Renee Lertzman

2040

"Join 2040 director Damon Gameau and Environmental Psychologist, Dr Renee Lertzman, for a live, motivational discussion and Q&A to kick off the new year."

WATCH TTHE VIDEO

Psychologist says he fears for Greta Thunberg’s mental wellbeing

Metro News

"Swedish schoolgirl Greta inspired millions of people across 150 countries to take to the streets to demand action on climate change with her Global Strike 4 Climate last week"

READ THE ARTICLE

'Climate Despair' Is Making People Give Up on Life

By Mike Pearl; illustrated by Annie Zhao (Vice)

"It's super painful to be a human being right now at this point in history."

READ THE ARTICLE IN VICE

Renee generously offered her expertise to Living in the Future’s Past, a film exploring our role in the environment. Her work advances the power of invitation, rather than preaching, helping us get beyond the ideological traps that keep us stuck in old patterns of behavior. Her contributions made the film stronger.

Susan Kucera, director | Living in the Future’s Past

Renee is working at the forefront of exploring deeper levels of how people respond to environmental issues, and what this means for new ways of communicating with and engaging people. She brings great sensitivity and insight to her work on psychological dimensions of sustainability. It is a perspective and orientation that is urgently needed in environmental scholarship and research, and one that is often missing.

Paul Hawken | Executive Director, Project Drawdown

I have learned a great deal from Renee’s work on producing the landscape report on climate change engagement, which then inspired our new Climate Field Guide. It’s really helped me navigate this emerging space.

Bruce Lowry | Director of Policy and Advocacy, Skoll Global Threats Fund

Renee is rare combination of brilliant scientific researcher, strategic consultant and creative thinker. She brings a deep understanding of both climate science as well as human psychology to teams I've worked with her on. For the Alliance for Climate Education’s climate conversations campaign, she was an invaluable thinker, collaborator and trainer. I highly recommend working with her.

Jonah Sachs | CEO, Free Range Studios

I regard Renee’s work as one of the most significant voices today addressing our environmental challenges.

Elizabeth Thompson | Founding Director, The Buckminster Fuller Challenge