Know Your Own Psychology

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/

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: 

✨ 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

💜

In this episode, Dr Laura dives into body image, exploring why talking about our bodies can feel so loaded and how negative body image impacts our emotions, self-esteem, and daily life. Drawing on her personal reflections growing up in the 80s and early 2000s, she highlights the cultural pressures that shape our perceptions. 

Key Takeaways: 

 • What body image really is, both clinically and in everyday life

 • How negative body image can create shame and limit life experiences

 • Reflections on societal influences from childhood to now

 • Practical steps to start feeling more at home in your body

Listen now for a compassionate, relatable guide to understanding and improving your relationship with your body.

You can join Dr Laura's mailing list at www.drlaurawilliams.com/getpsyched 

By her bestselling book 'What to Do When You Feel Broken' at the link https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-When-Feel-Broken-Relationships/dp/183782262X/

In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Hannah Wallace — TEDx speaker, writer, disability advocate and host of the Finding Grace podcast — for a deeply human conversation about meeting life’s hardest moments with honesty, hope and courage.

Hannah’s story is extraordinary. Diagnosed with Ehlers–Danlos and now living with Parkinson’s, she has had to rebuild her life again and again. And yet what shines through in her is not just resilience, but a profound sense of grace, humour and grounded strength.

We talk about:

 • What it means to live in a body that doesn’t follow the rules

 • How to keep hold of identity when life forces you to change

 • The role of spirituality, self-trust and community in healing

 • Grief, acceptance and finding meaning through uncertainty

 • How to navigate the medical system when you feel unheard

 • Why slowing down can be its own kind of power

Hannah has become known for her ability to tell the truth about suffering while holding onto hope — a rare combination that makes this episode so moving, uplifting and real.

If you’ve ever faced a diagnosis, a life change, or a season where everything felt hard, this conversation is for you.

Listen, subscribe and leave a review if this episode speaks to you. It helps more people find the show and helps us keep these important conversations going.

You can find Hannah here:

https://www.instagram.com/thehannahwallace/

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/finding-grace/id1441430338

https://substack.com/@hannahwallace

Today’s episode is a short, thought-provoking reflection on the endings we all move through — the ones we choose, the ones that happen to us, and the ones that change us in ways we never expected.

In just 15 focused minutes, we explore:

 • why endings stir up such strong emotional responses

 • how to understand the difference between anticipated and sudden endings

 • what happens internally when relationships, roles, or chapters come to a close

 • why we resist endings, even when they lead to growth

 • how to navigate the grief, relief, confusion, or uncertainty that endings often bring

 • the quiet power in allowing yourself to feel what’s true, rather than what you “should” feel

This is a gentle, grounding listen designed to meet you exactly where you are. Whether you’re moving through a loss, a transition, or simply noticing the small endings in daily life, I hope this episode helps you make sense of what’s unfolding.

If you’d like to stay connected, you can sign up at drlaurawilliams.com/getpsyched — that’s g-e-t-p-s-y-c-h-e-d. And if the podcast supports you, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a huge difference.

As ever, I’m holding you in mind.

— Dr Laura 

🎙️ Episode 34: A Session on High Performance Careers - with Steph McTighe

In this episode, Dr Laura sits down with her long-time friend Steph McTighe, a specialist in dispute resolution, litigation, and arbitration, to explore what it really takes to thrive — and survive — in a high-performance career.

Steph shares her journey from studying politics to qualifying in English law, and the pressures, expectations, and cultural norms that shape life in the legal profession. Together, Laura and Steph unpack how class, culture, and background influence our sense of belonging and self-worth at work — and what happens when those unspoken pressures lead to burnout.

After stepping away from law in 2015, Steph rebuilt her confidence, found her way back to the profession, and learned to balance ambition with wellbeing. Their conversation shines a light on the quiet cost of high standards, the importance of setting boundaries, and why self-advocacy matters in every career.

If you’ve ever wondered how your upbringing, identity, or inner expectations shape your professional life — this episode will hold a mirror up to your experience.

In this episode:

 • The hidden pressures of high-performance careers

 • How class and culture shape our work psychology

 • Burnout, recovery, and finding your way back

 • The power of boundaries and self-advocacy

 • Why we need to stop equating worth with productivity

💡 Mentioned:

 • Law firm CMS

 • Coach Jennifer Needle

 • Dr Laura’s reflections on resilience and psychology at work

Book Recommendations

Strong Female Character - Fern Brady https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strong-Female-Character-Sunday-Bestseller/dp/1914240472/

Women Everywhere - Gillian Anderson & Jennifer Nader https://www.amazon.co.uk/We-uplifting-manual-seeking-happiness/dp/0008241937/

Podcast Recommendations

How to Fail - Elizabeth Day https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-to-fail-with-elizabeth-day/id1407451189

🩵 Holding you in mind,

Dr Laura

#careerpsychology #highperformance #burnout #class #resilience #selfawareness

🎧 Episode: Lightening the Load Know Your Own Psychology Podcast with Dr Laura Williams. Ever feel like your brain has 50 tabs open — and you’re the only one who knows which ones are about to crash? That invisible weight of remembering, planning, and keeping life moving is what psychologists call mental load — and it can quietly drain your energy, focus, and emotional wellbeing. In this episode, Dr Laura explores what the mental load really is, how it shows up in everyday life, and how we can start to lighten it. Because understanding the mental load isn’t just about getting things done — it’s about caring for the person who’s doing them all. 💡 In this episode: • What “mental load” actually means (and how to recognise it in your own life) • Why it often falls unevenly across relationships, households, and workplaces • The hidden emotional toll of carrying so much invisible responsibility • Three ways to start lightening the mental load today: 1. Make it visible 2. Create boundaries 3. Remember that everything changes eventually. 🪶 Takeaway If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly thinking ahead, keeping track, or holding it all together — this episode is for you. You deserve moments of ease, and small shifts can make a real difference. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. And if the episode resonates, share it with someone else who might need a little lightening, too. Holding you in mind, Dr Laura 💜 🎧 Follow Know Your Own Psychology 📲 Instagram @drlaurawilliams 🔗 More resources: linktr.ee/drlaurawilliams

In the latest episode of my podcast, What to Do When You Feel Broken: The Book Edition, I take you behind the scenes of my book-writing journey, from winning the Hay House Writers Workshop competition to navigating procrastination and receiving endorsements from Mel Robbins and my former professor, Rory O’Connor. I share insights into the publication process, promoting the book, and the heartfelt reviews it has received. I delve into what’s inside the book, including my deeply personal story of losing my husband, the trauma that shaped me, and the real-life stories of four clients who found healing. I also share tips from my writing practice on how to get a book done and close the episode with a special reading. Plus, don’t miss the chance to grab the e-book version, currently on promotional price in the UK for just £1.55.

Kindle E-book version available at the following link for just £1.55 https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-When-Feel-Broken-Relationships-ebook/dp/B0D4K2554C/

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses topics related to suicide and suicidal ideation.

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Laura Williams, clinical psychologist and trauma expert, sits down with Steven Cranston, widely known as The Soul Man, a respected medium who bridges the gap between the physical and spiritual worlds. Together, they explore the profound themes of ethical practice in both psychology and mediumship, the transformative power of kindness in the face of adversity, and what it takes to navigate life’s most challenging moments. Steven shares his personal insights on finding hope and meaning during times of despair, while Dr. Laura offers practical strategies to foster resilience and healing. This deeply moving conversation invites listeners to reflect on how to approach life’s hardest times with compassion and courage. Tune in for an inspiring dialogue that blends professional expertise, spiritual wisdom, and real-life stories of survival and growth. You can find Steven's book here on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Between-Two-Worlds-Approach-Mediumship/dp/B0BGKQH18G/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2EEF7TLLBVWRV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._EHX7rvDjRAh5hkxEyBe5FAAyu_BNpLKpfIjm2MEuwjsgZ8YPQZ_BzJghn_Pjq8RByQb8iKLzqY7FE5f-OqY5i6wPDwdcB1tBQ_sD95l3nZm-BQVdMiCGCfTce7WmoEsEJsc1r9ZutwAsl4nMyWB2BnXunP9_X4sEKeH1t0PRXha3yZkNcc3ruqOb0Hj93vtHDfYGVaObvzZ7DVUwCWmFSR_Rakfkt_qTUHAsmfiqSY.bX0QU4o7pg5_QnG5fnWxXdnZPW58wr-gIzXeiYhROFU&dib_tag=se&keywords=in+between+two+world&qid=1743065563&sprefix=in+between+two+world%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-1

Buy my book here: https://hayhs.com/wtdwyfb_pp_pb_az

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