Just a Minute with Dr Kumari

Dr Kumari Valentine
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Small moments can make a meaningful difference. Just a Minute with Dr Kumari brings psychological science into ordinary life through warm, thoughtful conversations, guided practices and simple ideas you can actually use. Hosted by clinical psychologist Dr Kumari Valentine, the podcast explores overthinking, deeper self-care, mindfulness, the nervous system, relational and childhood wounds, the inner critic, connection and the complicated realities of being imperfectly human. Each episode offers something to understand, something small to try and a question to take with you. You don’t need a perfect routine or an uninterrupted hour. Sometimes, meaningful change can begin with just a minute. Psychological science—with a little bit of magic.

  1. 2d ago

    Can Journaling Make Overthinking Worse?

    Journaling is often recommended  — but what if writing things down sometimes keeps us stuck? In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr Kumari Valentine explores the difference between processing and rumination, drawing on the work of James Pennebaker and Susan Nolen-Hoeksema. We look at how journaling can become “overthinking on paper” when we stay fused with our thoughts, analyse rather than name our emotions, or use the page as another place to criticise ourselves. You’ll learn how to notice whether your writing is actually helping something move — and how perspective, emotion and self-compassion can make journaling more useful. Try the free One-Minute Overthinking Check-In to help you recognise when your thinking is taking you somewhere — and when you’re simply going around again. It is available here: https://justaminutewithdrkumari.substack.com/p/why-do-we-overthink?r=5fseg6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

  2. Sep 26

    Why Do I Find It So Hard to Just Enjoy Things?

    Why is it so easy to replay an awkward conversation for hours — but so hard to stay with a lovely moment for more than a few seconds? In this lighter episode of Just a Minute, Dr Kumari explores the other side of rumination: our ability to linger on positive experiences. We look at the psychology of savouring, why we sometimes dampen joy before we've really felt it, and what positive emotions may be doing for our minds and bodies. This isn't about forcing yourself to “think positive” or ignoring difficult feelings. It's about noticing something much simpler: do the difficult moments get hours of your attention, while the good ones get seconds? You already know how to dwell. Perhaps it's worth becoming a little more careful about what you choose to dwell on. 🎧 Take a minute. Let something good linger.

  3. Sep 18

    Why Do We Replay Conversations in our Head?

    Why do some conversations continue in our minds long after they have ended? In this episode, Dr Kumari explores rumination as a relational process. We may replay conversations because we are searching for the understanding, reassurance or emotional validation that was missing from the original interaction—particularly when we struggle to validate our own feelings. Drawing on research by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Christopher Davis and Amanda Rose, this episode considers why people who ruminate may seek more support yet experience others as less supportive or more critical. It also explores co-rumination: how repeatedly analysing problems together can create genuine closeness while also increasing symptoms of depression and anxiety. You’ll learn: why emotionally unfinished conversations remain active in the mind the difference between reflection and rumination how to identify the validation you are still seeking when action, repair or a boundary may be needed a brief practice for stepping out of the replay and returning to yourself You do not have to prove that your emotion was justified before you are allowed to acknowledge it. 📄 Download the free Coming Back to Yourself resource here ✍️ Read an accompanying Substack piece. If this episode brings up significant distress, trauma or concerns about an unsafe relationship, consider seeking support from a suitably qualified professional.

  4. Sep 11

    Why Do I Overthink Everything?

    Why Do I Overthink Everything? Why does your mind replay conversations, search for certainty, and circle the same question without ever reaching an answer? In the first episode of our Overthinking Series, Dr Kumari explores why overthinking happens, the difference between productive reflection and rumination, and how repetitive thinking can become the mind’s attempt to protect us from uncertainty. It is important to acknowledge the pioneering work of clinical psychologist Professor Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, whose research explored rumination as one important, changeable pathway in understanding women’s greater vulnerability to depression. Plus, download the free One-Minute Overthinking Check-In to practise noticing the loop without judging yourself: https://justaminutewithdrkumari.substack.com/p/why-do-we-overthink?r=5fseg6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

  5. Sep 6

    Father's Day Bonus Episode

    Do I Still Want My Dad’s Approval? A Father’s Day bonus episode Why can our dad’s opinion still matter so much — even when we’re well and truly grown up? In this special Father’s Day episode of Just a Minute, Dr Kumari Valentine explores how our relationships with our fathers can shape the way we see ourselves, seek approval and respond to criticism. We look at the small messages we absorb in childhood — about achievement, emotions, being “good enough” and what we need to do to feel accepted — and how these can sometimes show up later as perfectionism, people-pleasing, self-criticism or overthinking. This isn’t an episode about blaming fathers. Some dads loved through words; others through providing, fixing, teaching, showing up or simply doing the best they could with what they themselves had been given. We can understand a father’s story and still acknowledge what we needed. And because this is Just a Minute, there’s a gentle one-minute practice at the heart of the episode: What did you most need to hear from your dad? And what might change if you began offering yourself a little more of that message now? Father’s Day can hold love, gratitude, grief, disappointment and complicated feelings — sometimes all at once. This episode makes room for all of them. 🎁 Free companion reflection: The Words I Needed to Hear A gentle two-page exercise to help you explore what you received, what you needed, and what you’d like to carry forward. https://justaminutewithdrkumari.substack.com/p/just-a-minute-bonus-episode-fathers?r=5fseg6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true And if needing other people’s approval tends to leave you replaying conversations, second-guessing yourself or wondering whether you’ve done enough, stay with me. We’ll be exploring overthinking — and what actually helps — throughout the next episodes of Just a Minute.   Small moments can make a meaningful difference. ❤️

  6. Aug 29

    Returning to Ourselves, Resetting, Why Just a Minute

    After quite a long pause, a new season of Just a Minute with Dr Kumari is here. We’ll be exploring overthinking, the invisible load, deeper self-care, the nervous system, our inner critics, relational wounds and the complicated realities of being human. Each episode will offer something to understand, something small to try and a question to take with you—because meaningful change doesn’t always require an uninterrupted hour or a perfect routine. Sometimes, it can begin with just a minute. Psychological science—with a little bit of magic. ✨ The free download I mentioned to help with Returning to yourselves is available here: https://tinyurl.com/ReturnToOurselves The 90 Card Card Deck is available [limited supplies]: https://www.kumarivalentine.com/shop

  7. Feb 14

    Deeper Self Care - Looking After Ourselves

    This Valentine’s Day, Just a Minute with Dr Kumari invites you to turn your attention inward and practice deep self-love. In this episode, I explore how to hold your inner child, vulnerable self, and past and future selves with compassion. I released my first digital journal and colouring book based on my self care cards: https://kumari.gumroad.com/l/nurture In this episode I talk about What deep self-care and self-love really mean How to acknowledge and soothe the parts of yourself often overlooked Practical journalling and colouring exercises from my new book, Nurture Your Inner Self Ways to show kindness to yourself, even if Valentine’s Day feels difficult or brings up challenging emotions Whether today is joyful, bittersweet, or hard, this episode offers a gentle, practical pause—a chance to breathe, reflect, and nurture the most important relationship you have: the one with yourself.

  8. 09/29/2025

    The Invisible Load

    In this episode we talk about overwhelm, stress, the invisible load of mothering and the role that progesterone can have on working memory.

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About

Small moments can make a meaningful difference. Just a Minute with Dr Kumari brings psychological science into ordinary life through warm, thoughtful conversations, guided practices and simple ideas you can actually use. Hosted by clinical psychologist Dr Kumari Valentine, the podcast explores overthinking, deeper self-care, mindfulness, the nervous system, relational and childhood wounds, the inner critic, connection and the complicated realities of being imperfectly human. Each episode offers something to understand, something small to try and a question to take with you. You don’t need a perfect routine or an uninterrupted hour. Sometimes, meaningful change can begin with just a minute. Psychological science—with a little bit of magic.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Kumari Valentine
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Just a Minute with Dr Kumari