About Veganism
Veganism : "A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude - as far as is possible and practicable - all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment.”
- The Vegan Society, UK, 1979
All vegans follow a plant-based diet, however, not all people who follow a plant-based diet are necessarily vegan. People follow plant-based diets for a variety of reasons, including: animal welfare, health, environmental impact, human rights, well-being and moral or spiritual beliefs.
Vegans, on the other hand, follow the vegan lifestyle (which includes a plant-based diet) largely for ethical, moral and animal rights’ reasons. Veganism is a lifestyle that aims to avoid all use and exploitation of animals for any and all purposes. While it often starts with what we put on our plates, it does not end there.
Speciesism : Treating members from one species as morally more important than those from another species; prejudice or discrimination based on species. Speciesism is grounded in an overriding assumption of human superiority.
Veganism is in essence a social justice stance against speciesism. For that reason, it is not just about what we eat, but also what products we use, what clothes we wear, what entertainment options we support, the societal activities we support, and how we generally co-exist with other species on this planet.
It is my belief that a vegan lifestyle supports a state of *Rewilded Being* as it embodies behaviours and mindsets that can generate connection, relationality, ecological humility & respect, personal awareness & accountability, compassion and kindness. This way of being stands to benefit not only our own health and well-being, but also that of others (from both our own and other species), Nature and the Planet.
Assisting people on their vegan journeys is one of my absolute passion projects. I have been doing this work since 2016 when I created The Vegan Psychologist brand.
My offerings:
New Vegans & the “Vegan-Curious”
Taking the first steps towards a vegan lifestyle can be a daunting experience. With this in mind, I’ve created a Vegan Basics workshop where we discuss the vegan lifestyle and its applications in far greater detail. I have also created The Vegan Psychologist’s 5-Step Go Vegan! Guide to take the initial overwhelm out of the process so you can fully enjoy the adventure of stepping into this lifestyle of compassion and connection. To request a Free Copy, you can email me at
Mental Health Support to Vegans
Being Vegan in a world that is still largely non-vegan and based on carnism brings with it its own set of challenges, both intra- and inter-personally. As a vegan myself, I am personally familiar with these challenges. Combining my personal knowledge of living a vegan life with my knowledge on mental health matters, I aim to assist other vegans to navigate these challenges effectively while looking after their own well-being and relationships. My Vegan Being workshop explores veganism and being vegan through the lens of Psychology for those that are already living a vegan lifestyle. While based in psychology theory and research, the goal is to practically assist vegans in obtaining the necessary skills to manage not only their own mental and emotional experiences, but also navigate the world and relationships around them.
For those seeking more personalised offerings, one-on-one consultations / psychotherapy are offered to assist with a person’s unique presenting challenges or diagnosis. This service is also available to couples whose vegan lifestyle (one or both partners) may be leading to relational disconnect or conflict, parenting difficulties, problematic extended family relationships etc.
“But why would vegans need to consult with psychologists or other health care professionals who are also vegan themselves? Surely their ability to assist would not be determined by their diet?”
This is a question I frequently hear from people. As mentioned, although vegans follow a plant-based diet free from animal products/derivatives, being vegan does not actually refer to a diet. A vegan lifestyle and ideology brings with it a very particular lived experience that includes unique relational and psychological challenges which are often not understood by health care professionals who don't share the same lifestyle. For example, vystopia.
Vystopia : “The existential crisis experienced by vegans which arises out of an awareness of the trance-like collusion with a dystopian world. It’s the awareness of the greed, ubiquitous animal exploitation and speciesism in a modern dystopia”.
- Clare Mann
Vystopia can lead to grief and feelings of anger, frustration, anxiety, social alienation, loneliness, despair, hopelessness and overwhelm. It is basically a very particular existential form of depression that vegans are vulnerable to.
Apart from the unique lived experience, there are also a lot of misconceptions about a vegan lifestyle and the associated diet that can (unfortunately) often be perpetuated within the medical or health field and jeopardise optimal health care for the person. For this reason, it is not uncommon for vegans to seek out GPs, psychologists, dietitians etc. who are also vegan.