Know Your Own Psychology

Dr Laura Williams
  • 5.0 (3)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join Dr Laura Williams, Clinical Psychologist, on a journey to know you own psychology better, influence all the areas of your life and achieve more meaning, freedom and purpose. Doctor Williams has over over 17 years experience working within applied psychology. After losing her husband suddenly in 2018, she embarked on a new way of living and working. Today she is a private therapist, digital course creator, mum to 5 and a bestselling author. Doctor Williams has previously worked in specialist services in the NHS and in various Scottish prisons. Recently she contributed to both ITV and Channel 4 documentaries on the subject of morbid obesity. Doctor Williams specialises in trauma. If you want to raise your self-awareness and understand your own psychological story, then this is the podcast for you. Find out more at www.drlaurawilliams.com.

  1. FEB 11

    Episode 46. No Contact - No Problem? The Complexity of Family Estrangement

    Family estrangement is often talked about online as a simple, binary choice — stay or go, cut contact or don’t. But in real life, it’s rarely that straightforward. In this episode, Dr Laura explores the psychological complexity of family estrangement, moving beyond polarised debates to consider what no contact actually means, the different forms it can take, and how people can make decisions that prioritise emotional and psychological safety. This episode looks at:  • Why “no contact” language often misses important nuance  • Alternatives such as low contact, structured contact, and time-limited distance  • What to consider before changing family contact  • The emotional aftermath of estrangement, including grief, doubt, and relief  • Why there is no morally superior choice — only what’s right for you Whether you’re considering changing family contact, living with estrangement, or trying to understand someone else’s decision, this episode offers a compassionate, grounded perspective.

    13 min

  2. FEB 4

    Episode 45: Starting Before You're Ready with Jon Prince

    Know Your Own Psychology

    54 min

  3. JAN 28

    Episode 44. When the World Feels Unsafe: Making Sense of Collective Trauma and Psychological Safety

    In this timely episode, Dr Laura explores the psychological impact of the events unfolding in Minneapolis and why people across the world may be feeling destabilised, overwhelmed, or emotionally reactive. Drawing on the concept of collective trauma, she explains how repeated exposure to threat erodes psychological safety, how this shows up in our nervous systems, and what actually helps in times of global unrest. This episode offers validation, clarity, and gentle guidance on caring for yourself while remaining compassionate and engaged.   Buy my book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-When-Feel-Broken-Relationships/dp/183782262X/ Follow me on... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorlaurawilliams/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlawilliams/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doctorlaurawilliams   Take my FREE Quiz 'How Well Do You Know Your Own Psychology' https://drlauraquiz.scoreapp.com

    13 min

  4. JAN 21

    Episode 43. Burnout: Is Your Nervous System Overloaded? A Session with Dr Claire Plumbly

    In this episode, I’m joined by fellow clinical psychologist Dr Claire Plumley to talk about burnout — what it really is, how it shows up, and why so many of us miss the early warning signs. Claire is the bestselling author of Burnout: How to Manage Your Nervous System Before It Manages You and the founder of Plum Psychology. Together, we explore how chronic stress affects the nervous system, how to recognise when “busy” is tipping into burnout, and practical ways to protect your wellbeing before things reach crisis point. If you’ve been feeling constantly switched on, exhausted, or emotionally stretched, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and grounded psychological insight.

    54 min

  5. JAN 14

    Episode 42. Medication Matters: An Honest Conversation about Stigma and Mental Health Medication

    Why do so many of us feel shame or self-judgement for taking medication—especially when we wouldn’t think twice about treating a physical illness? In this episode, Dr Laura explores the stigma around medication for mental health, where it comes from, and how it quietly seeps into our self-talk. Drawing on clinical experience, cultural narratives, and personal reflection, this is an honest and compassionate conversation about why medication can feel so loaded—and why it doesn’t need to be. We talk about:  • Why medication is often framed as a “failure” rather than support  • The myths we absorb about strength, coping, and self-reliance  • How stigma shows up internally, even when we’re outwardly supportive of others  • Why needing medication doesn’t mean you’ve given up—or fallen short  • Making space for nuance, choice, and self-compassion This episode is not about telling anyone what they should do. It’s about understanding the psychology behind judgement—and softening it. If this conversation resonates, you’re not alone.   About the host:  Dr Laura is a Clinical Psychologist, bestselling author of What to Do When You Feel Broken, and the voice behind the Know Your Own Psychology podcast. You can buy your copy of Dr Laura's book here And for an exclusive 10% off the current website price on Hairburst products visit www.hairburst.com and use code DOCTORLAURA at checkout.

    18 min

  6. JAN 7

    Episode 41: Real Resilience for the Year Ahead

    Resilience is often described as “pushing through” or “bouncing back” — but for many people, that idea feels exhausting and unrealistic. In this episode, Dr Laura explores what resilience actually looks like in real life and why struggling, feeling tired, or feeling changed by difficult experiences does not mean you’re lacking resilience. You’ll hear:  • why resilience isn’t about coping perfectly or staying positive  • how resilience is built through adaptation, not erasing what you’ve been through  • three practical ways to strengthen your resilience without burning out:  • allowing yourself to make mistakes  • being realistic about consistency  • noticing how your thinking shifts under pressure This episode is a compassionate reframe for anyone who feels worn down by life, uncertain about their capacity to cope, or tired of being told to “just be stronger”. Dr Laura also shares a short resilience quiz to help you understand how your coping systems are doing right now — not as a test, but as a starting point. You can do the quiz at this link - https://drlauraresilience.scoreapp.com And for an exclusive 10% off the current website price on Hairburst products visit www.hairburst.com and use code DOCTORLAURA at checkout.  As always, holding you in mind. Dr Laura

    15 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    Episode 40. Calm at Christmas: A Mindfulness Meditation

    Calm at Christmas: A Mindfulness Meditation    Christmas can be a complicated time. For some, it’s joyful and connective. For others, it can feel overwhelming, lonely, emotionally charged, or quietly painful.And for many people, it’s all of those things at once. This episode of Know Your Own Psychology is a gentle mindfulness meditation for the Christmas period, created to help you slow down, ground yourself, and find a moment of calm amid the busyness, expectations, and emotional weight that the holidays can bring. This episode is for anyone who feels:  • emotionally stretched or overstimulated  • disconnected from themselves during the holiday period  • stressed by family dynamics, grief, or pressure  • in need of grounding, reassurance, and psychological safety   You don’t need to “fix” anything while listening. There’s nothing to achieve. This is simply an invitation to pause, breathe, and be with yourself — just as you are. Whether you’re listening on Christmas Day, in the days leading up to it, or during the quieter moments afterwards, this meditation offers space for emotional wellbeing, regulation, and self-compassion.   In this episode, you’ll find:   • A short, accessible mindfulness meditation  • Gentle grounding to support your nervous system  • Psychological reassurance during a high-pressure season  • Support for coping at Christmas without forcing positivity  • A calm, compassionate pause in the middle of the holidays     This episode may be helpful if you’re searching for:  Christmas mindfulness meditation, calm at Christmas, holiday stress support, emotional wellbeing at Christmas, grounding meditation, mindfulness for stress, psychology podcast, mental health during the holidays, coping at Christmas, gentle meditation, CALM meditation, holiday overwhelm, festive stress relief.     You’re very welcome here. And you don’t have to carry Christmas alone. Dr Laura Williams  Clinical Psychologist & Author of What to Do When You Feel Broken    Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-When-Feel-Broken-Relationships/dp/183782262X/

    13 min

  8. 12/16/2025

    Episode 39. Body Image, Shame and Feeling Good In the Skin You're In (Part 2).

    Body Image, Shame, and Feeling Good in the Skin You’re In Body image struggles are not about vanity — they are about safety, belonging, and the stories we learn to tell ourselves about our worth.  In this bitesize 20 minute episode, clinical psychologist Dr Laura Williams explores the emotional and psychological roots of body image, how shame becomes intertwined with how we see ourselves, and what it can actually mean to feel more at ease in the skin you’re in — without pressure to love or fix your body. This is a compassionate, psychology-led conversation about understanding your body image rather than fighting it, and about creating safety and self-respect from the inside out.  You’ll hear:  Why body image is rarely about appearance alone How shame shapes our relationship with our bodies Why self-criticism doesn’t lead to change Gentle, realistic ways to feel more settled in your body  ✨ Free accompanying workbook To support this episode, you can download the free body image workbook here: 👉 www.drlaurawilliams.com/bodyimage This episode is for you if you feel stuck in self-judgement, disconnected from your body, or tired of battling yourself — and want a kinder, steadier way forward. Holding you in mind, Dr Laura 💜

    22 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Join Dr Laura Williams, Clinical Psychologist, on a journey to know you own psychology better, influence all the areas of your life and achieve more meaning, freedom and purpose. Doctor Williams has over over 17 years experience working within applied psychology. After losing her husband suddenly in 2018, she embarked on a new way of living and working. Today she is a private therapist, digital course creator, mum to 5 and a bestselling author. Doctor Williams has previously worked in specialist services in the NHS and in various Scottish prisons. Recently she contributed to both ITV and Channel 4 documentaries on the subject of morbid obesity. Doctor Williams specialises in trauma. If you want to raise your self-awareness and understand your own psychological story, then this is the podcast for you. Find out more at www.drlaurawilliams.com.

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