Know Your Own Psychology
Join Dr Laura Williams, Clinical Psychologist, on a journey to know your own psychology better, influence all areas of your life and achieve more meaning, freedom and purpose. With over 17 years of experience in applied psychology, she shares insights from her work in the NHS, Scottish prisons, and her personal journey after losing her husband. Dr Williams specializes in trauma and has contributed to ITV and Channel 4 documentaries. This podcast aims to raise self-awareness and help you understand your own psychological story.
Episodes
Episode 50: The Parent Trap: Five Ways We Get Stuck
The Parent Trap: Five Ways We Get Stuck Know Your Own Psychology Podcast | Dr Laura Williams Parenting is one of the hardest — and most meaningful — roles we’ll ever take on. And yet, there’s no manual. In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr Laura Williams explores five common parenting traps that many of us fall into, often without even realising it, and how we can gently step out of
Episode 49. Can AI Replace Therapy? A Psychologists Perspective
Can AI Replace Therapy? A Psychologist's Perspective
Know Your Own Psychology Podcast – Episode 49
Can AI replace therapy? It’s a question more people are asking as tools like ChatGPT become part of everyday life. Some are even turning to AI for emotional support, guidance, and self-reflection. But is that safe—or effective?
In this episode, clinical psychologist and bes
Episode 48: Are You For Real? The Power of Authenticity
Why does being authentic sometimes feel so uncomfortable?
In this episode, I’m exploring what it really means to be genuine with ourselves and with other people. Many of us move through the world performing versions of ourselves that feel safer, more acceptable, or less likely to be judged. But over time, that disconnection from who we really are can leave us feeling exhausted, anxious, o
Episode 47. Trauma: Myths, Misconceptions and the Truth About Healing
Trauma: Myths, Misconceptions and the Truth About Healing
In this episode of Know Your Own Psychology, I’m breaking down common myths about trauma therapy and explaining what responsible, ethical trauma treatment actually looks like.
As a clinical psychologist and trauma specialist, I see how much misinformation exists online — from promises of rapid trauma healing to the idea that
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 decisi
Episode 45: Starting Before You're Ready with Jon Prince
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 i
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 syst
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
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 abo
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
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 ourse
Episode 38. A Session with Angela Trainer - Psychotherapist, on Life, Cancer and Spirituality
Episode 37. Body Image, Shame and Feeling Good in the Skin You're In (Part 1)
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 i
Session 36: Meeting What's Hard with Grace - A Session with Hannah Wallace
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.
Session 35: The Psychology of Endings: What we learn when things come to an end...
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 endin
Episode 34. A Session on High Performance Careers with Steph McTighe
🎙️ 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
Episode 33. Lightening the Load
🎧 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 ep
Episode 32. What to Do When You Feel Broken: The Book Edition
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 h
Episode 31. A Session With Steven Cranston, The Soul Man
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
Episode 30. Stop Self-sabotage in it's Tracks
Episode 29: 'A Session With' Dr David Hamilton - Hay House Author and Kindness Expert
Episode 28. 'A Session With' Michelle Auton, Teacher and Hay House Author
Episode 27. Emotional Regulation & Distress Tolerance
In this weeks episode of the podcast I talk about techniques we can all use to build our tolerance to distress and ability to regulate our emotions. We talk about strategies that can be found within Dialectical Behavioural Therapy or DBT, developed by Marsha Lineman and about how the aim is to widen our window of tolerance over time. I also share some examples from my own life in which I
Episode 26. 'A Session With' Sophie McGown, Founder of Earsass
In this podcast I talk to Sophie McGown. Sophie is the founder of EARSASS – a product based business selling striking statement earrings that she set up through the pandemic. In this episode, we discuss creativity, psychological wellbeing and how a traumatic life event catapulted Sophie into the conversation around mental health. This episode is such a beautiful reminder of how we can use
Episode 25. 'A Session With' Simone Heng on the Power of Human Connection
In today's episode of the podcast I am talking to Simone Heng. Simone is a Hay House author and speaker who has delivered keynote speeches at SXSW, TedX, Harvard and the UN. We explore Simone's story of familial trauma and how human connection helped her to heal her from the patterns of her past. In her book, 'Let's Talk About Loneliness' Simone explores how the global pandemic in 20
Episode 24. Set Your Intentions For 2024
It's 2024! Come and set your intentions with me in this micro episode of under 20 minutes. I outline 8 key questions to ask yourself while planning your year ahead. No new year's resolutions here! In the 'Know Your Own Psychology' community we love a vulnerable share and that's what you get here. I talk family struggles, why I am not drinking till April and what I want more and less of th
Episode 23: Balance is an Illusion
In today's podcast episode I talk about all things balance. My own take is that balance is actually an illusion and that rather than striving for that elusive equilibrium, we should instead be thinking about our emotional balance and regulation. This is essentially a 'behind the scenes' look at how I manage the never ending juggle of all the areas and roles in my life and how you might co
Episode 22. 'A Session With' Laura Carey from Big Hearts Little Minds
In todays episode of the podcast I talk to Laura Carey from 'Big Hearts Little Minds'. Laura is such a generous and lovely human being who has supported me from the very beginning. We began as strangers and I am now so grateful I get to support other women like Laura in their work. You can literally feel Laura's passion for the work she does. Laura's not for profit organisation helps to t
Episode 21. 'A Session With' Stephen Clark
In this episode I am talking to Stephen Clark, co-founder of the Kilted Coaches. In it Stephen tells his story from his early life growing up in Glenrothes, Fife, joining the military at the aged of 16, becoming a PT and then training in NLP and life coaching. Today Stephen helps his clients to become fully themselves through his teachings and course the YOU-FULLY Academy. In this episode
Episode 20. 'A Session With' Marvin Andrews
Episode 19. Examining Our Eating Behaviour
In this episode I talk about all things eating. This is a topic which often generates lots of interest, not least because for many women and increasingly for men too, what we eat can be linked to how we feel about our weight, shape and body image. I discuss comfort eating, diets and the differences and similarities between restrictive vs overeating. I hope you enjoy it. If you need any su
Episode 18. Challenging Childhood Conditioning
In this weeks episode of the podcast I am talking about childhood conditioning. What it is and how to challenge it. I also share my thoughts on the process of incremental change and how this is 'lifetime work'. The episode is designed to be a mini therapeutic session with time for you to hit pause, reflect and answer some key questions. And don't forget send me a message for some accounta
Episode 17. 'An Episode With' Hannah Bardell, MP for Livingston
In this weeks podcast I am talking to Hannah Bardell, Member of Parliament for the Livingston constituency. Hannah is also one of my oldest friends and has been on quite a journey from a small-town in West Lothian to a prominent female politician. Along the way there have been highs and lows. Terrorist attacks on Parliament while she and her team were locked down inside, working fro
Episode 16. 'A Session with' Dr Wallace J Nichols on 'Blue Mind'.
In episode 16 of the podcast, I am talking to Dr Wallace J Nichols. Wallace is a marine biologist turned ‘blue mind’ advocate and author. In this episode, you are going to hear about how Wallace has dedicated his life to the healing power of water, how water helped him personally after a devastating fire ripped through his family home in 2020 and how ‘blue mind’ is something that we can a
Episode 15. 'A Session With' Kirsty Mulcahy, of Soberbuzz Scotland on alcohol use, how mums are influenced in their drinking decisions and the joy of being sober.
Today on the podcast I am talking to Kirsty Mulcahy, founder of Soberbuzz Scotland and SkyRose Coaching. Kirsty has went from party girl to alcoholic to living her best life alcohol free. Five years sober in December last year, Kirsty’s life mission is to show people that there is another way to live life to the fullest without wasting your weekends hungover and regretting
Episode 14. Five Things You Should Know BEFORE You Start Therapy
In the first episode of 2023, I talk to you about 5 things I believe everyone should know before they begin therapy. This felt like a timely episode, as I know many people are considering how they might make changes in their lives and therapy is often the place they start.
In this bitesize episode I discuss therapeutic alliance, how your therapist should be able to tell you the hard stuff
Episode 13. Kindness, Compassion and Why New Years Resolutions Rarely Last!
In this end of year review, I talk about kindness and compassion. Why it's good for us and the benefits we can see when we are kind to both self and others. I also discuss visibility and how a recent tweet I sent out into the world about THAT Netflix documentary (the Meghan and Harry one) got me thinking about negativity bias. Finally, I discuss why I believe new years resolutions are oft
Episode 12. Christmas Survival Guide
In this weeks episode of the podcast I talk about not just surviving the festive period, but thriving. In it, I cover things that deplete us in the areas of time, money and energy, getting intentional about how we want our Christmas to be and the relational dynamics that can trip us up and what to do about them. This is a nice short episode to make sure you star your December as you mean
Episode 11. Ask Me Anything
Episode 10. 'A Session With' Stephanie Milne, on women's health, birth trauma and infertility.
Today on the podcast I am talking to Stephanie Milne. Steph is a women's health physiotherapist who earlier this month opened her own private clinic to support women in West Lothian and the surrounding areas. She specialises in pre and post-natal care of women and offers support for menopause, continence, prolapse and pelvic heath. She is a certified Mummy MOT® practitioner and offers ful
Episode 9. 'A Session With' on Neurodiversity in Women
In today’s episode of the podcast I will be discussing neurodiversity with two expert clinicians in the area. Neurodiversity is so topical currently as more and more women are coming to recognise that the source of their mental health challenges have actually been undiagnosed neurodivergence. These women now in their 30’s and 40’s are becoming known as ‘the lost girls’ as typically their
Episode 8. Anxiety - Six Things Everyone Should Know
In today's episode of the podcast, I talk you through six things I believe everyone should know about anxiety. I also give some context as to how our ever increasing mental load and the external pressures we may be under can contribute to this. Here are some of the headlines. Anxiety is normal. The media portrayal of anxiety can often be unhelpful and finally treatment for anxiety mu
Episode 7 - Grief, Trauma & Me
In today's episode of the podcast I talk candidly about the loss of my husband, Matty, in 2018. His loss was sudden, traumatic and it changed my life's trajectory in an instant. In talking about my experience, I hope to model how we can overcome challenging events and use them to empower ourselves and others. I will discuss the difference between trauma and grief and how the stages o
Episode 6. 'A Session With' Josh Connolly
***Trigger Warning***
In this episode references are made to suicide. If you find any of the content difficult, please reach out and seek the appropriate support.
Samaritans - 116 123
Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87
*****************************************
In today's episode of the podcast I speak to Josh Connolly. Josh is a resilience coach and an
Episode 5. Knowing Your Own Psychology...what does that even mean?
In this solo episode I uncover what I really mean when I talk about 'knowing your own psychology', share my teen obsession with serial killers and why that is linked to work I do now and offer a sneak peak of some of the concepts I teach in my new online course. Spoiler alert...you can cultivate your psychological mindedness, anxiety is a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself and
Episode 4. 'A Session With' Dr Sarah Madigan
***Trigger Warning*** Topics include child loss, abortion and traumatic loss. There are also references made to suicide.
In today's episode of the podcast, I talk to Dr Sarah Madigan. Sarah and I first met as colleagues completing our clinical psychology training in the NHS in 2009. She is now a dear friend. Having both experienced the traumatic loss of a loved one, we sha
Episode 3. 'A Session With' Tom Lowndes of Hot Dub Time Machine
In today's episode of the podcast, I talk to Tom Lowndes of Hot Dub Time Machine. Tom is best known as the worlds first time travelling DJ. After his recent gig at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I reached out and Tom agreed to appear on the Pod. This was a great conversation in which we talk about the use of music to heal, mental health and why having a psychologist is a great way to gain
Episode 2. 'A Session With' Danniella Westbrook
In today's episode of the podcast, I talk to Danniella Westbrook. An actress and television presenter, Danniella is best known for playing the role of Sam Mitchell in Eastenders. Following a very public battle with addiction, she now spends her time speaking out about substance misuse, helping others struggling with addiction and working on her recovery daily. In
Episode 1. You are NOT an Imposter!
In episode 1 of the podcast, I wanted to offer discussion on something that I know resonates with many of you who follow my work. Imposter Syndrome is something that studies estimate 70% of the population will experience at one time or another. In this episode, we explore what Imposter Syndrome is (and isn't), how it might manifest in your life, some examples of when I myself have felt li
Index Episode: It's been a long time coming...
In this brief introductory episode of 'Know Your Own Psychology', I talk about how long I've considered starting a podcast, the reasons why I personally love them and also what content I hope to bring you over this first series. I have some amazing guests lined up and know that these conversations will help shine a light on your own psychology too. Thanks for being here with me. You can f
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