JoyfulRx Podcast

Send us Fan Mail “You’re not a superhero—and that’s okay."  Dr. Michelle discusses how the idea that you have to be this selfless hero who never asks for help is dangerous and how your real strength comes from knowing when to prioritize yourself and ask for support. Caring for others—whether in your personal or professional life—can be deeply fulfilling, but it also comes with its challenges....

Send us Fan Mail In this thought-provoking and empowering episode of The Joyful Rx podcast , Dr. Michelle challenges the deeply ingrained belief that caregivers—and especially women—must constantly prioritize others to prove their worth. Drawing on personal experiences and the realities of caregiving, Dr. Michelle explores how societal expectations often tie value to selflessness, creating guilt w...

Send us Fan Mail Are you a caregiver who finds yourself saying “yes” to everything, even when you’re running on empty? In this episode of The JoyfulRx podcast, Dr. Michelle Welch dives into the uncomfortable truth about how constantly being “nice” and putting others first is silently sabotaging your health. We’ll explore why caregivers, more than anyone, are conditioned to prioritize others at the...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michelle discusses the 5 survival mode responses you might slip into when you are "caregiving in survival mode". See if you can identify your survival responses and find quick tips on how to tackle each one in the moment.  Caring for others—whether in your personal or professional life—can be deeply fulfilling, but it also comes with its challenges. The weight of con...

Send us Fan Mail " Caregiving is part of your life, but it is not the whole story . You are a multifaceted, multipassionate, dynamic person with passions, dreams, and joys that deserve attention. It’s time to start nurturing those parts of yourself too—because when you do, you’ll not only find more joy in caregiving, but more joy in life." If you are a female caregiver who has lost yours...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michelle encourages listeners to embrace discipline—not as something that steals our joy, but as a tool that helps create it. She discusses how discipline is the key to serving from abundance, to living with intention, and to ensuring that joy is something you experience daily. "When caregivers are disciplined about their own joy, we’re collectively raising the consciousn...

Send us Fan Mail Caring for others—whether in your personal or professional life—can be deeply fulfilling, but it also comes with its challenges. The weight of constant caregiving can leave even the most dedicated among us feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and burned out. Too often, societal and cultural norms reinforce the idea that sacrificing ourselves is the price of being a “good” caregiver. Bu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Dr. Michelle discusses her belief that caregivers need to be selfish rather than selfless and explains why this approach sets the foundation for maintaining good mental health for caregivers.  Local (SouthWestern Ontario) Community Resources If there is a mental health emergency, please visit your local Hospital Emergency Department or call 911.  Reach Out Crisis S...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Dr. Michelle talks about the benefits of rest for caregivers, she discusses sleep hygiene and some helpful ways to create a healthy bed time routine and  optimize your environment for sleep. Below are some helpful resources regarding the science and recommendations around sleep. Sleep hygiene: https://www.anxietycanada.com/sites/default/files/SleepHygiene.pdf CDC r...

Send us Fan Mail This episode discusses the topic of compassion, focusing on how to be more compassionate with someone when the relationship is difficult or strained. Compassion involves showing grace, kindness, acceptance, and nonjudgment. Self-compassion is also important, acknowledging that one's effort is enough. The episode shares a client's story of healing a strained relationship...

Send us Fan Mail Dr Michelle talks about how gratitude is important for caregivers, as it helps reframe experiences, strengthen relationships, and foster resilience. Practicing gratitude can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Explore how to build a  gratitude practice by including simple exercises such as morning reflections, gratitude journaling, setting reminders, expressing gratitude to...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michelle Welch examines the topic of mindfulness and shares how the  experience of picking cherries with her family brought awareness to how she could bring more mindfulness to the journey while in the process of achieving a goal. She reflects on how her daughter taught her a valuable lesson about mindfulness and shows how this can be applied to goalsetting. Dr. Welch encourag...

Send us Fan Mail This podcast episode invites listeners to explore the concept of boundaries and explains how boundaries are not so much about saying no, as they are about saying yes. "A boundary is about upholding a promise to oneself." Boundaries involve saying yes to your own needs and desires. They are a powerful and loving reminder that you matter. Setting boundaries is important fo...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michelle Welch is passionate about helping caregivers dealing with overwhelm. She shares her personal experience of realizing the need for change in her own life and how she came to be a coach for others. After being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, she experienced an epiphany about her approach to caring for others and how it was taking a toll on her.  This led her to prioritiz...