Are We Okay?
A bi-weekly gathering to find community in this challenging time on Earth
What is Are We Okay (AWO)?
Lately, many of us are finding it harder to catch our breath. There is so much going on. From the heartbreak of ongoing ecological changes to intensifying political unrest and humanitarian crises, we often feel numb, overwhelmed, grief-stricken, or alone. We want to act, to make a difference, but we don't know where to start. These crises all intersect, and we experience them emotionally - sometimes similarly and sometimes in our own unique ways. Join us in gently turning toward these feelings, rather than away. Are We Okay (AWO) is a gentle, nonjudgmental space to be yourself. A regular gathering where you can speak from the heart—or stay quiet and just listen. No one gives advice or suggests "action." The group is simply a place to share what is on your heart and mind. All are welcome. Research suggests that while most people feel alone with their feelings, the vast majority of us are concerned about current events, past harms, and uncertain futures. You aren't alone. Talking about these feelings in a safe, nonjudgmental group helps us bear them. Sharing with friends and neighbors makes our community more resilient in times of change and challenge. AWO is co-facilitated by two licensed therapists, Emma Nelson, Ph.D. and Audrey McDougal, LCSW, and one writer and wilderness guide, Trebbe Johnson. Emma and Audrey are trained Climate Cafe facilitators, the listening circle structure on which AWO is based. AWO is offered at The Phoenix, an indoor gathering space at Shelterbelt Farm. Parking is available on-site. Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are welcome. Herbal tea and hot water are provided. Unfortunately, the space is not wheelchair accessible at this time. AWO runs biweekly on Thursdays from 3:30pm-5:00pm for 8 adults, max. Registration remains open until 3:00pm on the day of the event. AWO is held with care, skill, and respect for the courage and vulnerability we all bring to group. As such, AWO is not free. The cost of AWO compensates the owners of the Phoenix and partly subsidizes the facilitators' time. *ON PAYMENT* When possible, please pay for AWO via check, cash or Venmo (@Emma-Nelson-11) to keep your money in our local economy. Select "PAY IN PERSON" at check-out. We also support our region's growing gift economy! Please consider "paying" with local and/or handmade goods proportional to the value of AWO.
Upcoming Gatherings
Our Team
Trebbe Johnson
Trebbe Johnson is the author of Fierce Consciousness: Surviving the Sorrows of Earth and Self, Radical Joy for Hard Times: Finding Meaning and Making Beauty in Earth’s Broken Places, and other books, as well as many articles and essays that explore the human bond with nature. She is the founder and former director of the global community Radical Joy for Hard Times, devoted to finding and making beauty in wounded places. Trebbe speaks four languages; has camped alone in the Arctic wilderness; studied classical Indian dance; and worked as an artist’s model, a street sweeper in an English village, and an award-winning multimedia producer. She has led contemplative journeys in a clear-cut forest, at Ground Zero in New York City, the Sahara Desert, and currently with military veterans. She lives in Ithaca, New York.
Audrey McDougal
Audrey McDougal is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, ecotherapist, and educator who partners with individuals, families, and communities to foster resilience. Deeply rooted in the Finger Lakes region of New York, home to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, she has also found "home" in Western Massachusetts and the San Francisco Bay Area. Audrey currently supports local farmers as a Family Consultant with NY FarmNet and serves on the Board of Directors for Teen Day Ithaca. As a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Reiki practitioner, and Climate Cafe facilitator, Audrey integrates mental health support with ecological and spiritual awareness. She is passionate about honoring ancestral wisdom, deepening connections to the more-than-human world, and finding the divine in the everyday.
Emma Nelson
Emma is a clinical psychologist working at the intersection of psychological well-being and the collective crises of our time. She serves on the board of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America (CPA-NA) and sees individuals and groups for polycrisis-aware therapy through Milkweed Psychology, PLLC. She has offered climate cafes internationally through CPA-NA and continues to deliver presentations and workshops on climate psychology throughout the Finger Lakes region.