The transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily member 8 (TRPM8) is a cold-activated receptor whose expression in the peripheral nervous system supports the detection of environmental cold temperatures. Surprisingly, TRMP8 is also expressed in the lateral septum (LS), a basal ganglia region, even though the brain temperature varies little. The LS is an important hub for the regulation of motivated behaviors, integrating cortical information and controlling the activity of subcortical areas. We hypothesized that TRPM8 neurons from LS (LSTRPM8 neurons) are part of a volitional thermoregulatory circuit, orchestrating the mouse’s motivated reaction to thermal discomfort. We performed recordings of LSTRMP8 cell calcium activity using fiberphotometry and found that LSTRMP8 cells are preferentially active during thermal discomfort compared to room temperature. Thermoregulation takes places through autonomic or motived responses with LS being involved in the motivated responses only. We manipulated the activity of LSTRMP8 cells to test their function. Chemogenetic silencing of LSTRMP8 cells impaired motivated, but not autonomous responses to thermal discomfort, demonstrating the importance of these cells for volitional thermoregulation. We also tested the role of LSTRMP8 cells in orchestrating a choice between two motivated behaviors (thermal comfort vs. feeding) and found that silencing LSTRMP8 cells decreased the preference for thermal comfort in favor of feeding. Finally, we leveraged viral tracing tools to identify pre- and postsynaptic partners of LSTRMP8 cells and are currently performing optogenetic silencing of LSTRMP8 cell projections to other brain regions in order to identify the next step in this novel volitional thermoregulatory circuit.