The Choice Space

Dr Lee David
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

The Choice Space is a podcast for busy people who want to pause, reset and make wise choices — without overhauling their lives to get there. Hosted by Dr Lee David — GP, CBT therapist and author — each episode offers practical tools, expert insights and evidence-based strategies to support your mental wellbeing, energy and focus. From burnout and boundaries to healthy habits, menopause and inner critics, this is your space to reflect and move forward — one small, meaningful step at a time.

  1. Getting Unstuck From the Success Trap

    5D AGO

    Getting Unstuck From the Success Trap

    In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David speaks with Nic Malcomson, integrative psychotherapist, about the success trap – the pattern where strengths that once helped us thrive can gradually become rigid and exhausting. The conversation explores how early success, positive feedback and high standards can shape identity over time. When life becomes more demanding or circumstances change, the same qualities that once worked well can begin to create pressure, self-doubt and a fear of slipping. Lee and Nic discuss how this can show up in different ways – from ongoing over-striving and perfectionism to a deeper sense of feeling stuck after a setback. They reflect on the link between performance and self-worth, and how difficult it can be when identity becomes tied to always coping, achieving or getting things right. The episode also explores Nic’s idea of fallible flourishing – a more compassionate and realistic way of thinking about growth, motivation and thriving. Together, they consider the value of naming the pattern, recognising the role of environment and finding space for being human rather than endlessly performing. This is a thoughtful conversation about pressure, identity and self-worth, offering a kinder and more sustainable way to think about success. Key moments 00:00 Why naming it matters 00:29 Introducing the success trap 01:30 Nic’s own experience 04:27 How identity develops 06:37 Burnout and breakdown 07:03 Chronic, acute and stuck patterns 11:01 Why setbacks can help 13:37 Ideal lived self and feared self 19:08 The importance of normalising 26:54 Under, over and optimal motivation 31:49 Fallibility and connection 33:18 Environment and supportive change About the guest Nic Malcomson is an integrative psychotherapist who has delivered more than 5,000 therapy sessions for doctors through NHS Practitioner Health and in his private practice, Eudemedics: Well-being for Doctors. He developed the Fallible Flourishing Model, which explores how early experiences of success can later create psychological traps around performance, identity and self-worth, and how these patterns can shift towards more sustainable flourishing.  You can connect with Nic on LinkedIn or through his website: www.eudemedics.com  About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn.  You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here:  https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

    39 min
  2. Balancing Body and Mind in Menopause

    APR 1

    Balancing Body and Mind in Menopause

    In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David speaks with GP and menopause specialist Dr Carys Sonnenberg about the complex ways menopause can affect emotional wellbeing, physical health and everyday life. Menopause is often described in terms of hormones alone, yet the experience is rarely that simple. In this conversation, Lee and Carys explore how hormonal changes interact with sleep, stress, lifestyle habits and wider life pressures. Many women find themselves navigating fluctuating moods, disrupted sleep and changes in concentration at the same time as managing work, family responsibilities and other demands. The discussion highlights how menopause is highly individual. Some women experience few symptoms, while others notice significant changes in mood, anxiety or energy. Understanding these differences can help create a more compassionate and personalised approach to care. They also explore practical ways of supporting wellbeing during this time – including the role of lifestyle medicine, cognitive behavioural strategies, nutrition and hormone treatment where appropriate. Rather than focusing on a single solution, the conversation reflects on how multiple approaches can work together to support women through the menopause transition. This is a thoughtful conversation about complexity, choice and self-understanding during a significant stage of life. Key moments 00:00 Emotional symptoms in menopause 02:22 Mood changes and mental health 04:01 The six pillars of lifestyle 09:10 Habits, coping and awareness 12:21 Hormones and brain chemistry 20:27 CBT approaches for menopause 28:35 Hot flushes and thoughts 32:28 Breathing and stress regulation 37:37 Nutrition and neurotransmitters 41:01 A small wellbeing choice About the guest Dr Carys Sonnenberg is an NHS GP and British Menopause Society menopause specialist. She founded Rowena Health, an online service providing holistic menopause care for women. She is trained in CBT and nutrigenomics and is co-author of Women’s Health Made Easy, due to be published in 2026. Carys is also a member of the Primary Care Women’s Health Society wider committee and contributes to education through national conferences and webinars. You can contact her via her website, or on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram: @drcaryssonnenberg About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn.  You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here:  https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

    44 min
  3. Choosing Good Enough in Family Life

    MAR 25

    Choosing Good Enough in Family Life

    Modern family life can leave parents feeling pulled in all directions – trying to support their children, manage daily pressures and make the right decisions in a world full of advice, expectations and opinions about getting it right. In that context, the idea of being a good enough parent can feel both reassuring and like an important reset. In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David is joined by clinical psychologist and author Dr Tara Porter to explore what good enough parenting really means, and why it matters for children’s mental health and family wellbeing. They discuss how modern parenting has become increasingly outcome-focused, with pressure around education, activities, behaviour and getting things right. Tara reflects on how these pressures can make parenting feel like something to optimise or perfect – and how aiming for the messy middle instead can help families find more flexibility, balance and connection. The conversation also explores relationship-based parenting, including the importance of showing up, staying present and allowing for rupture and repair. Rather than aiming to be endlessly calm or perfect, Tara highlights the value of authenticity, emotional competence and adjusting as children grow and change. They also discuss the idea of being firm and kind – holding boundaries in a way that is guided by values rather than control. From phones and screens to everyday family life, the episode looks at how parents can stay connected while still offering structure, guidance and care. This is a thoughtful conversation about easing pressure, focusing on what matters and finding a more compassionate, realistic way to parent. Key moments 00:21 Good enough parenting 02:16 Where the idea comes from 03:33 Pressure, culture and modern life 06:39 The messy middle 13:13 Relationship-based parenting 19:26 Rupture and repair 29:46 Being firm and kind 32:04 Values and boundaries 36:13 Emotional competence 42:18 Lead with relationship About the guest Dr Tara Porter is a clinical psychologist and author with 28 years’ NHS experience working with children, adolescents and families, specialising in eating disorders. She now works privately in London, with a particular focus on the adolescent and young adult years. Tara has a strong interest in mental health in schools, contributing to the Anna Freud Centre’s Schools in Mind project, writing for TES and teaching in schools. She is also an Associate Tutor at UCL and the author of several books including You Don’t Understand Me and Good Enough: A Framework for Modern Parenting. Connect with Tara via LinkedIn or Instagram @drtaraporterpsychologist About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn.  You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here:  https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

    44 min
  4. Strength Through Challenge in the Mountains

    MAR 18

    Strength Through Challenge in the Mountains

    Spending time in the mountains can offer something rare in modern life – space to think, to feel and to see our lives from a wider perspective. For many, the outdoors provides not only challenge and adventure but also regulation, clarity and meaning. In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David is joined by adventurer and Mind Over Mountains founder Alex Staniforth to explore how time outdoors can shape resilience, perspective and everyday choices. They discuss how early experiences of illness, bullying and feeling different can shape self-belief, and how discovering the mountains offered Alex a sense of safety, possibility and purpose. The conversation explores how stepping beyond familiar limits – outdoors or in daily life – can build confidence and coping capacity. The episode reflects on Alex’s experiences on Everest and the lasting impact of the Nepal earthquake, including making sense of trauma and finding meaning through helping others. Rather than viewing resilience as toughness alone, the discussion highlights values, connection and self-compassion in sustaining wellbeing. They also explore nature’s role in mental health – widening perspective, supporting presence and creating opportunities for connection. Alex shares how this led to Mind Over Mountains, combining outdoor activity with psychological support to help people build lasting tools for wellbeing. This is a grounded conversation about finding strength through challenge, living in line with what matters and using small, intentional choices to support resilience and wellbeing. Key moments 00:33 Challenge, perspective and resilience 03:18 Early experiences and self-belief 07:29 Finding safety and possibility in the mountains 11:50 Values, purpose and challenge 15:15 Connection, solitude and restoring energy 20:14 Creating space through the outdoors 23:07 Everest, survival and the Nepal earthquake 27:12 Trauma, meaning and long-term recovery 35:59 Nature as therapy and Mind Over Mountains 39:14 Nature's impact on wellbeing and connection 42:14 Supporting mental health with time outdoors  About the guest Alex Staniforth is a record-breaking adventurer, ultra-runner, speaker and founder of the mental health charity Mind Over Mountains. By 19, he had survived two Mount Everest disasters, and has lived with epilepsy, mental ill health, a stammer and bullying since childhood. He is the fastest person to climb all 446 mountains in England and Wales under human power and is the author of Icefall and Another Peak. Connect with Alex:  Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram @alexstaniforth_ Mind Over Mountains  About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn.  You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here:  https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

    46 min
  5. The Emotional Power of Literature and Stories

    MAR 11

    The Emotional Power of Literature and Stories

    In a world of constant notifications and competing demands on our attention, many of us feel too busy to read. Yet books and stories offer something increasingly rare – a quiet, immersive space where we can reflect, feel and make sense of our experiences. In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David is joined by Dr Charley Baker, Associate Professor of mental health at the University of Nottingham, to explore how literature helps us understand psychological distress, identity and experiences that do not fit neatly into clinical language. They discuss reading as an active process that can restore energy, broaden perspective and deepen empathy. Stories allow us to encounter complex emotions, stigma and trauma from the inside, in a space that feels safer and more intimate than other media. The conversation explores how literature can help us find language for difficult experiences, challenge preconceptions and strengthen connection – with others and ourselves. They reflect on the role of fiction in clinical understanding, the value of poetry and shorter forms when concentration is low, and how sharing books can become an act of care that strengthens relationships. Rather than presenting reading as something we should do, this episode invites a gentler approach – noticing what draws us in, allowing ourselves to stop when a book does not connect, and recognising that stories can meet different needs at different times. This is a grounded conversation about how literature can support understanding, connection and emotional wellbeing. Key moments 00:57 Why reading offers a different kind of space in a fast-paced world 02:18 Charley’s journey into literature, mental health and the health humanities 04:18 How stories build empathy and broaden perspective 06:03 Immersion, representation and feeling understood through fiction 10:58 Literature and understanding self-harm 15:11 Finding language for trauma and complex experiences 17:19 Choice Pause – opening space for creativity and curiosity 19:57 Reading as nourishment and active recharge 23:32 Sharing books as connection and enacted kindness 31:07 Listening to our needs and finding our own relationship with reading 33:48 Audiobooks and new ways of accessing stories 39:44 Permission to stop reading what doesn’t connect  About the guest Dr Charley Baker is an associate professor of mental health at the University of Nottingham. Her work explores literature, mental health and the health humanities, focusing on how stories support understanding of distress and lived experience. Her clinical interests include domestic abuse, violence against women and girls, self-harm, suicide and OCD, and how narrative approaches can support people experiencing distress. Instagram: @CharleyBakerTheBookPusher About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn.  You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here:  https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

    41 min
  6. Reframing What It Means To Be Selfish

    MAR 4

    Reframing What It Means To Be Selfish

    For many people, the word selfish is linked with guilt and a sense of having done something wrong. It’s often understood as putting yourself first at the expense of others, which can lead to a habit of placing your own needs last. In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David is joined by Suzy Reading, psychologist and author of How to Be Selfish, to offer a different perspective. Suzy reframes selfishness as allowing your needs, feelings and limits to matter, rather than being overridden by everyone else’s. Together, they explore why many caring people label themselves as selfish for resting, setting boundaries, expressing emotions or asking for support. Guilt is examined as a signal of values and care, not proof that something is wrong, and how quickly self-criticism can take hold when expectations feel relentless. They discuss how selflessness is often learned early, shaped by family roles, cultural messages and ideas about being “good”, particularly for women and parents. Lee and Suzy reflect on how neglecting our needs can lead to exhaustion and burnout, and why attending to ourselves supports healthier relationships. The episode also explores boundaries as practical ways of taking responsibility for wellbeing. Suzy shares simple tools drawn from psychology, movement and nervous system regulation, alongside a Choice Pause to help listeners check in during moments of pressure. This is a reflective conversation about developing a kinder relationship with yourself and letting go of the idea that worth is earned through self-sacrifice. Key moments 00:00 Why selfishness is associated with guilt 04:09 Reframing selfishness as allowing your needs to matter 05:27 Selflessness, identity and putting yourself last 07:09 Guilt as a signal of care and values 09:32 Depletion, exhaustion and burnout 11:43 Where fear of selfishness comes from 13:24 Parenting and modelling emotional honesty 16:06 What boundaries are and how they work 18:38 Requests, agreements and responsibility 26:06 A simple grounding practice 31:49 Noticing nourishment and awe 37:27 Kind self-talk About the guest Suzy Reading is a chartered psychologist and self-care and self-advocacy expert with three decades of experience across psychology, yoga and personal training. She supports people to develop sustainable habits and heal their relationship with self. Suzy is the author of The Little Book of Self-Care, The Self-Care Revolution, Self-Care for Tough Times and her latest book, How to Be Selfish. You can connect with Suzy on LinkedIn and Instagram - @suzyreading About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn.  You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here:  https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

    44 min
  7. Creating Space Around Body Image

    FEB 25

    Creating Space Around Body Image

    Concerns about our bodies are common and part of being human. For some people, they remain occasional worries. For others, they begin to take up more attention, influence mood and shape everyday choices about food, movement, relationships and confidence. In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David is joined by Joanna Silver, a psychologist specialising in eating disorders and body image difficulties, to explore why appearance-related distress can become so persistent – and what can genuinely help. They discuss body image as something that exists on a continuum, from everyday dissatisfaction to more intense distress that narrows attention and reduces quality of life. Joanna explains how self-worth can become overly linked to weight or shape, why comparison often increases distress, and how cultural messages, family language and social media all shape how we relate to our bodies. Rather than framing body image as something to fix or eliminate, the conversation approaches it as a relationship – one that can soften and become more balanced over time. They explore why change is rarely linear, how shame thrives when concerns stay hidden, and why curiosity and kindness are often more helpful than self-criticism. The episode also includes a Choice Pause – a short, guided moment to help create space from comparison and reconnect with what matters in the present moment. This is a compassionate, practical discussion about understanding body image distress and finding steadier ways to care for our bodies, even on difficult days. Key moments 00:39 Why body image concerns are common and when they become more distressing 03:50 When self-worth becomes tied to appearance 07:12 How family, culture and language shape body image 09:16 Comparison, social media and increased distress 11:26 Signs body image concerns may be affecting daily life 15:27 Shame, secrecy and the value of talking 19:31 The Choice Pause creating space from comparison 22:04 Relating to body image as a relationship 28:47 Shifting focus from appearance to function 35:15 Body distress as a signal 40:34 Small steps towards a kinder relationship with the body  About the Guest Joanna Silver is a Counselling Psychologist who specialises in working with people affected by Eating Disorders, Body Dysmorphic Disorder and body image problems.  She works as the Lead Psychological Therapist at Orri, a treatment centre for people with Eating Disorders.  I am passionate about bringing compassionate, evidence-based conversations about mental health and body image into the public space.   You can connect with Joanna via Linked in Beat eating disorders charity About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn.  You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here:  https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

    43 min
  8. Finding Connection Through Singing

    FEB 18

    Finding Connection Through Singing

    There’s something quietly powerful about singing alongside other people. Music is known to support emotional wellbeing, and singing in a group brings breath, sound and attention together in a shared space. Shared voices and shared rhythm can create a sense of connection and ease, even when life feels busy or full. In this episode, Dr Lee David speaks with Glen Harvey – musician and long-standing choir leader with Rock Choir – about what he has observed over many years of bringing people together to sing, and why community choirs often become meaningful spaces for wellbeing and connection. They explore how singing supports both body and mind through breath, posture and movement, and how it can help people feel more present and settled without needing to analyse or fix anything. Glen shares why people from very different backgrounds are drawn to choir, and how a sense of belonging often develops naturally when the focus is on the shared experience rather than performance. The conversation also touches on the thoughts that can sometimes hold people back, such as self-criticism or worry about getting things wrong, and how community singing gently shifts attention away from judgement and towards being in the moment together. Highlights & Key Moments 00:00 Singing as a shared experience 02:08 Glen’s journey into choir leading 03:49 Why singing together feels different from singing alone 05:16 Stress, breath and the physical effects of singing 08:04 Posture, breathing and confidence 10:22 Thoughts that can hold people back from singing 13:10 Letting go of perfection in performance 18:40 The Choice Pause – settling with sound 22:13 Attention, anxiety and staying present 26:03 Music as a way of quietening a busy mind 27:00 Why people come to choir 29:37 Inclusivity, kindness and feeling safe in groups 33:21 A simple music-based takeaway About the Guest Glen Harvey is a versatile musician and choir leader with advanced skills as a vocalist, pianist and guitarist. He trained at the Academy of Contemporary Music and first became known as a semi-finalist on Pop Idol in 2003. He's been leading Rock Choirs for over 16 years, spreading harmonies and laughter across Hampshire, Berkshire, Northern Ireland and soon the Republic of Ireland.  A master of turning strangers into friends and choirs into families, he’s sung everywhere from Abbey Road to Wembley, for audiences of up to 20,000 people, from royalty to George Clooney. At home in Farnham with his wife Lisa and their three children, Glen swaps his microphone for gardening gloves, gym gear or a dinner menu. Whether on stage or in the garden, he’s all about growing joy – one song, one laugh, one memory at a time. Connect with Glen: Instagram @glenharveymusic Find out more about Rock Choir via their website About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn.  You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here:  https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

    39 min
See All (27)

Ratings & Reviews

About

The Choice Space is a podcast for busy people who want to pause, reset and make wise choices — without overhauling their lives to get there. Hosted by Dr Lee David — GP, CBT therapist and author — each episode offers practical tools, expert insights and evidence-based strategies to support your mental wellbeing, energy and focus. From burnout and boundaries to healthy habits, menopause and inner critics, this is your space to reflect and move forward — one small, meaningful step at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Lee David
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Choice Space
  • Show Website
    The Choice Space

You Might Also Like