Just a Minute with Dr Kumari

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 b...

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...

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 acknowled...

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 chi...

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 ...

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...

In this gentle and grounding episode, Dr Kumari Valentine shares the Just a Minute Manifesto—a compassionate philosophy of healing through micro-moments of self-connection. Rooted in trauma-informed mindfulness, this episode explores how just one minute can reconnect us with our body, our breath, and the parts of ourselves that need care. You'll be invited into reflection, regulation, and a quiet rebellion against burnout cul...

In this episode I talk about Dissociation and introduce the idea of the Dissociation Thermometer I developed this week. You are welcome to download it and use it. Please share:

I had planned to talk about this at a later point, but recent events have caused me alarm. The Minister for Mental Health (NZ) revealed on Tuesday that the government is developing Associate Psychologist Scopes of practice, with the help of the Psychologists Board in NZ. The proposed pathway means that people with a basic undergraduate degree (where there is no clinical or hands on training) would do a one year training and then be...

Can the way we eat affect how stressed we feel? The Christmas or holiday season is typically associated with a variety of stressors. In this episode with award winning chef and author, Bridget Foliaki Davis, we talk about gut health, stress, and eating. Bridget has some amazing tips to eat better this season in order to really nourish you and manage stress better. 

Bridget has TONS of free resources. She also has a transformat...

Low or depressed mood affects EVERYTHING. I am a clinical psychologist with almost two decades of clinical experience as well as previously having been a researcher and lecturer in psychological science. In this episode, I share some evidence based tips for lifting low mood or maintaining mood. The awful thing when you feel low is that it feels like "this is it"! It isn't! You can improve your mood.

Stress also affects mood. Would ...

I often talk about the nervous system and soothing it for dealing with stress and trauma. Here I talk about what I mean by the nervous system. A couple of weeks ago, I had an extra stressful week and was pleased with a few things I put into place - I'm always learning! I hope these tips are useful to you too! 

Here is a download to the handout I talk about: 5 strategies to soothe the nervous system and cope with stress:

https:...

Best wishes for the holiday season! This is often a time of year when we start thinking about "resolutions" and "goals". These are more likely to succeed when they are driven by values. In this podcast, I talk about how we might discover or re-discover our values and some tips. 

Goal setting and values clarification are always easier when coming from a place of a more soothed nervous system. Here are 5 strategies I commonly t...

I'm Dr Kumari Valentine, Clinical Psychologist. I'm interested in trauma, including relational trauma. I'm an EMDR therapist amongst other things. I'm talking about intergenerational trauma and intergenerational resourcing on this podcast.

I talk about soothing the nervous system and talk about 5 strategies I commonly teach and use. Here is the link for that download (on signing up to emails from me; unsubscribe when you would lik...