About
Dr. Thomas
Doherty

Dr. Thomas Doherty is an award-winning clinical and environmental psychologist based in Portland, Oregon.

He is internationally recognized for his research on the mental health benefits of nature and the psychological impacts of global climate change.

He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, a Past President of the Society for Environmental, Population and Conservation Psychology, and was founding Editor-in-Chief of the academic journal Ecopsychology. His paper “The Psychological Impacts of Global Climate Change,” co-authored by Susan Clayton, has been cited over 1400 times.

Thomas Doherty co-hosts the Climate Change and Happiness podcast with Finnish emotions scholar Panu Pihkala.

His 2025 book, Surviving Climate Anxiety: A Guide to Coping, Healing, and Thriving, is a practical guide for the public to cope with climate and environmental threats and find meaning, motivation and authentic happiness.

Thomas grew up in Buffalo New York, USA in an Irish and Polish Catholic family. He was the first person in his family to attend college. He completed undergraduate studies at Columbia University in New York and University Collage Galway Ireland, and doctoral studies at Antioch New England Graduate School

He comes to his work as someone who respects keen observation of the world and reverence about Earth and the mysteries of Nature, and as a lover of outdoor adventure, a father, a citizen, a therapist, and a realist.