Permission and Choice: Finding Freedom to Live Well

Описание: What would change if you gave yourself permission — to rest, to say no, to ask for help, or to feel what you truly feel?
In this episode of The Choice Space Podcast, Dr Lee David talks with psychiatrist and therapist Dr Caroline Walker, founder of The Joyful Doctor and author of Permission: How to Feel, Heal and Thrive in a Challenging World. They discuss how individuals often struggle to give themselves permission to prioritize their needs, emotions, and boundaries, particularly in high-pressure environments like healthcare.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing and embracing a full range of emotions, the necessity of setting boundaries and the value of self-acceptance. Dr Walker shares practical ways for listeners to start giving themselves permission in their daily lives, encouraging a more balanced and fulfilling approach to wellbeing.
This is a thoughtful, practical conversation for anyone who finds it easier to care for others than themselves.

What we cover
The hidden power of permission: why so many of us wait for it — and how to reclaim it for ourselves
How culture, upbringing and role-modelling shape our choices
How to practise saying no and asking for help in safe, manageable steps
Permission to feel: making space for anger, sadness or fear without being overwhelmed
Cognitive load, HALT and why constant information keeps us stuck in exhaustion
Giving yourself permission to find your own route to self-care rather than following “shoulds”
Standing in the centre of the whirlwind: how to stay calm and grounded when life feels full

Key moments
00:00 What permission is and why it keeps showing up in clinical work
07:20 From rigid rules to flexible, values-led choices
10:20 HALT-C and naming needs in the moment
12:40 Cognitive load, phones and replenishing vs draining “rest”
15:30 Personal fit: designing wellbeing your way
21:45 Saying no and building boundary “muscle” safely
31:45 Negotiating at home: problem-solving without losing the why
33:45 Meeting emotions without being swept away
38:22 Two permission-based choices to use today

About the host
Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. She is the founder of 10 Minute CBT and a podcast host sharing evidence-based tools for self-doubt, stress and everyday decision-making. Lee has written 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 on Instagram and TikTok @dr.lee.david and links to her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here: https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david

About the guest
Dr Caroline Walker is a passionate psychiatrist, therapist, speaker, trainer, writer and coach. She is founder of The Joyful Doctor (https://www.joyfuldoctor.com) supporting overworked and under-appreciated doctors who struggle with their mental health or career choices, to stop ‘just existing’ and take steps towards a happier, healthier, more fulfilled life and career. She lives in Kent with her family and is an international role model for doctors with mental health problems.
She is author of the book Permission: How to feel, heal and thrive in a challenging world, where she draws from personal experience and professional insight, along with stories from her doctor-patients, to bring you a powerful and compassionate guide to better mental health.