Social Workers and practitioners, ever feel like you're alone in your struggles? Join us for a podcast that feels like a conversation with friends. We combine storytelling, humour, empathy, and a healthy dose of education to share practical advice. Dr Jodie Park and Rose Mackey, two private social work practitioners with 45 years of experience between them, are your co-hosts for this podcast. They'll be bringing all that experience to the practice conversations.
Why can trauma make a memory from decades ago feel like it happened yesterday, while wiping other events out entirely? In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , private practice social workers Dr Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive into the neurobiology of trauma and memory. They break down how the brain processes information normally versus how it shifts into survival mode under extreme stress. This conversation is for everyone, whether you are a clinician, case manager, or anyone working directly with trauma, or if you are a survivor, love someone who is, or simply want to understand how the brain works. Jodie and Rose unpack the difference between explicit narrative memory and implicit "body memories". They explore the unique impacts of childhood adversity and how early trauma shapes a developing brain. This episode sheds light on universal experiences of disclosure dynamics, dissociation, and betrayal trauma. Finally, they share the hope of neuroplasticity, spotlighting evidence-based pathways to healing like EMDR, CPT, and memory reconsolidation What We Cover: The Brain's Team: How the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex fracture under stress. The Reshaping Window: How the brain strengthens threat cues and weakens the broader picture within 24 hours of an event. Time-Stamping & Triggers: Why the brain struggles to mark trauma as "past tense," causing survivors to relive rather than just remember. Somatic Memory & Dissociation: Understanding body memories, behavioural re-enactment, and the survival logic of "betrayal blindness". Defining Recovery: Why healing means gaining the confidence to manage your feelings and narrative, not forgetting the past. Connect With Us: Webpage: relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au Email: Relationalpractice01@gmail.com Socials: Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Please subscribe, rate, and review! Editing by Angus Pinkstone Music by Hannah Park Support Services (Australia): Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Please listen in a way that feels safe. Take care of yourself first.
"We were taught to be empathic. Nobody taught us what to do when it starts to hurt." Think of a client whose story has stayed with you, one you’ve carried home, or that found its way into your sleep. That isn't a sign that something went wrong. That is empathy doing exactly what it was designed to do. But how do we sustain that empathy over an entire career without burning out? In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey unpack the neuroscience, the nuance, and the real-world practice of empathy. Moving beyond the idea that empathy is just a personality trait, they explore it as a multidimensional, neurobiological process that can be understood, developed, and regulated. What We Cover in This Episode: The Three Types of Empathy: Breaking down Cognitive, Affective, and Compassionate empathy—and why understanding the difference dictates the "cost" of your connection. The Neuroscience of Connection: How mirror neurons literally activate a client's physiological experience in your own brain, and how Tania Singer’s research differentiates the pain centers of empathy from the reward circuits of compassion. The Empathy Dial & The Nervous System: A practical clinical tool to keep you in the "optimal zone" (present and curious, but not swept away) using a Polyvagal lens. Protecting Your Empathy: Daily, actionable strategies for social workers—including micro-debrief rituals, maximizing supervision, and tapping into vicarious resilience . Empathy doesn't wear out, but an unregulated empathic response does. Tune in to learn how to adjust your dial, not to feel less, but to feel sustainably. Connect with Us: Go to our new webpage at relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au to access past episodes and our ambiguous loss printables. Have a practice story or question? Drop us a line at relationalpractice01@gmail.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube! Editing by Angus Pinkstone. Music by Hannah Park.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions regarding aggression, violence, and antisocial behaviour. We recognize this content may be distressing, so please prioritize your well-being while listening. Aggression is a topic that sits at the very heart of social work practice, yet it is rarely "one-size-fits-all". In this episode, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive into the nuances of aggressive behaviour, moving beyond the surface-level outburst to understand the underlying drivers. Whether you are navigating a heated argument with a client or assessing purposeful, goal-directed harm, the distinction between Reactive and Instrumental aggression changes everything about how we assess, respond to, and ultimately help the people we work with. Key Discussion Points The Two Faces of Aggression: We break down the fundamental differences between Reactive Aggression (the "hot," impulsive survival response driven by fear or threat) and Instrumental Aggression (the "cold," calculated, and goal-directed behaviour). The Survival Brain vs. The Thinking Brain: Understanding how reactive aggression often stems from physiological arousal and trauma, where the emotional brain takes over before the thinking brain can intervene. The Challenge of Instrumental Aggression: Why "cold" aggression is often harder to identify clinically and its strong links to callous-unemotional traits and reduced empathy. Evidence-Based Interventions: We explore which treatments work for which profile—ranging from CBT, Anger Management, and DBT for reactive patterns, to Schema Therapy and specialized cognitive training for instrumental behaviours. The Social Work Strength: Why a whole-person, systemic, and trauma-informed lens is the most powerful tool for de-escalation and long-term change. Practitioner Safety: A vital reminder that clinician self-care is a non-negotiable part of working with high-risk behaviours. We’d love to hear from you! Do you have a story, question, or topic you'd like us to talk about? Or maybe you'd like to join us as a guest on an episode? Drop us a line at relationalpractice01@gmail.com Editing by Angus Pinkstone. Music by Hannah Park.
💡 How confident do you feel responding when a client dissociates mid-session? Dissociation is everywhere in our caseloads, yet so many practitioners feel unsure about what it actually is, how to assess for it, and how to safely respond in the room. In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr Jodie Park and Rose Mackey strip away the jargon fog to talk about the gaps between what we see and what we know. We map out the 4 levels of dissociation, dive into the neurobiology of "dissociative collapse" and look at why it's a brilliant survival response. What you’ll learn: 🧠 How to use Dan Siegel’s Window of Tolerance to guide your session pacing. ❄️ 5 evidence-backed grounding strategies to use in a session. 🚸 How to differentiate trauma-related dissociation in children from normal developmental play or sensory shutdowns. 🤝 Why shifting from trauma-informed to trauma-and-violence-informed practice is the key to removing systemic shame for clients. As always, your own nervous system matters! Tune in to learn how to cultivate conditions of safety so your clients can find their way back. 🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform, and don't forget to download our ambiguous loss printables over at our website! 👉 relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au We would love to hear from you! Send practice stories, comments and feedback to relationalpractice01@gmail.com Editing by Angus Pinkstone. Music by Hannah Park.
Trigger Warning : This episode contains detailed discussions about self-harm (non-suicidal self-injury). We recognize this content may be distressing. Please prioritize your well-being while listening. Discovering that a young person may be hurting themselves often triggers a level of fear and uncertainty in practitioners and caregivers that few other topics can match. Despite how common it is, self-harm remains a deeply misunderstood aspect of adolescent mental health. Far too often, the subject is buried under layers of social stigma and silence, or met with responses that, while well-intentioned, fail to provide the actual support a young person needs. In this episode, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey "cut through" the misconceptions to provide a clear, evidence-based understanding of self-harm. Whether you are a parent, carer, teacher, welfare or social worker, this conversation is designed to equip you with the tools to recognize, respond to, and support a young person in pain. We dive deep into: Defining the Intent: Why self-harm is increasingly recognized as a health issue independent of suicidal ideation. The "Why" Behind the Pain: Understanding self-harm as a way to cope with, express, or control emotional pain, or even as a form of self-punishment. Hidden Signs & Modern Variants: From the "visible" signs like clothing choices to less recognized forms like self-battery and digital self-harm (self-cyberbullying). The Power of First Response: Why reacting with calm, compassion, and curiosity, rather than shock or anger, is the most critical step in keeping the door of communication open. Self-harm is a young person’s way of communicating they are in more pain than they know how to carry. Join us as we discuss how to help them find something better to put in its place. Where to Find Support Australia-Based Services (24/7) Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 (For ages 5–25) Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 13YARN: 13 92 76 (Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) Immediate Danger: Call 000 or visit your local emergency department. For Our International Listeners If you are listening from outside of Australia, please know that support is available to you. We encourage you to reach out to your local emergency services or search for national mental health helplines in your country. Many regions offer 24/7 crisis support via phone or text. Seeking help from a mental health professional is the most effective way to address self-harm and find long-term relief. Editing by Angus Pinkstone. Music by Hannah Park.
In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey go beyond the catch-all term of "stress" to explore the specific psychological injuries that social workers sustain on the front lines. We often feel that our exhaustion is a personal failure, but today we reframe it as a predictable biological and ethical response to a high-pressure system. Drawing heavily on the work of Vikki Reynolds , we dismantle the "Just Stressed" myth and look at why burnout is often actually "Ethical Conflict", the pain of being forced to work against our own professional ethics. In this episode, we discuss: The Injury Spectrum: Distinguishing between Vicarious Trauma (a shift in your worldview), Burnout (systemic exhaustion), Compassion Fatigue (nervous system drain), and Spiritual Pain (moral injury). The "Zone of Fabulousness": How to stay connected to your clients without becoming enmeshed in their trauma or disconnected like a "bureaucratic robot". Boundaries as Physical Safety: Why saying "no" and choosing your meeting environment are high-level clinical tools that protect your nervous system. Radical Self-Compassion: Moving away from "performative" self-care (like bubble baths) toward "Ethical Resistance" and collective accountability. Justice-Doing: Finding small, subversive ways to honour client dignity within rigid systems to jumpstart your own resilience. Whether you are feeling the "Sunday Scaries" or struggling with a sense of "Moral Injury," this episode is a call to reach out to your colleagues and start practicing collective care. Show Notes & Resources Visit our website: relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au Connect with us: Join our community on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Get in touch: Email your stories to Relationalpractice01@gmail.com . Featured Concepts: Vikki Reynolds: "The Zone of Fabulousness" and "Justice-Doing". Kristin Neff: The framework of Self-Compassion (Common Humanity vs. Isolation). Polyvagal Theory: Understanding "Dorsal Vagal" shutdown and nervous system regulation. Editing by Angus Pinkstone Music by Hannah Park Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review to help us grow our community of relational practitioners!
In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey are joined by Professor Joanne Spangaro, a distinguished researcher and academic leader whose career is defined by a deep commitment to addressing gender-based violence (GBV). With a professional journey that began in 1984 as a sexual assault counsellor, Jo brings over four decades of frontline experience to her high-impact systemic research. We dive into Jo’s influential work as a researcher, specifically her critical examination of the implementation and impact of routine screening for intimate partner violence (IPV). We discuss the nuances of how survivors decide to disclose abuse and why the health system's response must be rooted in relationship-building and cultural safety. In this episode, we discuss: Screening Research & Implementation: The background and evidence-base for domestic violence screening tools. "Deciding to Tell": Jo’s research into how women decide to disclose experiences of abuse when asked by healthcare professionals. Indigenous Health & Cultural Safety: Factors influencing Australian Aboriginal women’s decisions to disclose violence and the necessity of clinical safety. Implementation Tips: Practical considerations and tips for practitioners implementing screening in their own fields. Navigating Complexity: Understanding the risk factors and implementation challenges associated with IPV. Whether you are a practitioner in health, child protection, or private practice, Jo’s insights offer a powerful look at how research can translate into safer environments and improved service delivery for survivors. Show Notes & Resources Visit our website: relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au Connect with us: Join our community on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Get in touch: We love hearing your practice stories! Email us at Relationalpractice01@gmail.com . Featured Guest: Professor Joanne Spangaro, a prolific author of over 60 peer-reviewed works and an expert in domestic violence practice. Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review to help us continue bringing these vital conversations to the social work community! Editing by Angus Pinkstone Music by Hannah Park Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review to help us grow our community of relational practitioners!
In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey tackle the heavy weight of professional fallibility. We often feel that because we work with human lives, we aren’t allowed the luxury of being human ourselves, leading to those 3:00 AM "mistake loops" in our minds. Using the seminal work of Professor Eileen Munro, we dismantle the idea that errors are simply acts of incompetence. Instead, we explore how the high-pressure environments of child protection and social work naturally trigger cognitive biases and mental shortcuts. In this episode, we discuss: The Core Conflict: Balancing fast, intuitive reasoning with slow, logical analytic thinking. Reasoning Traps: How "Confirmation Bias," "Availability Bias," and "The Primacy Effect" can skew our assessments of families. The Systems Approach: Why we need to stop asking "Who messed up?" and start asking "Why did this mistake make sense at the time?". Building Skilled Intuition: Using supervision as a "lab" to socialize our thinking and "de-bias" our practice. Whether you work in child protection, hospitals, schools, mental health, aged care, or any frontline role where human complexity meets high-pressure decision-making, this episode is a reminder that professional integrity isn’t about being perfect. It is about being transparent in your reasoning and brave enough to treat mistakes as an inevitable part of a system built on uncertainty. Show Notes & Resources Visit our new website: relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au Connect with us: Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and our new YouTube page. Get in touch: Email your practice stories to Relationalpractice01@gmail.com . Featured Citations: Munro, E. (1999). Common errors of reasoning in child protection work. Munro, E. (2011). The Munro review of child protection: Final report—A child-centred system. Editing by Angus Pinkstone Music by Hannah Park Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review to help us grow our community of relational practitioners!
In social work, we are often taught to "reflect" on our practice, but there is a deeper, more transformational layer called reflexivity. In this episode, Jodie and Rose break down these two distinct but interconnected methods for professional growth. Using the analogy of the Rearview Mirror (looking back at an experience) and the Mirror (looking at ourselves in the present moment), we discuss how to elevate our practice across any setting. Grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, we explore how to move from simply observing a situation to truly transforming our professional identity and the way we hold space for others. In this episode, we discuss: The Core Distinction: Why reflection-on-action and reflection-in-action require different internal muscles. Kolb’s Cycle: How to use "Reflective Observation" and "Abstract Conceptualization" to turn everyday practice into lasting wisdom. Power & Integrity: How being reflexive helps us stay ethical and aware of the "taken-for-granted" assumptions we bring into the room. Practical Tools: Simple ways to integrate critical reflection into your supervision and daily routine. Join the Community: New Website: Visit relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au to find episodes and our Ambiguous Loss printables. Connect & Watch: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and our new YouTube page for regular videos and practice updates. Your Stories: Email us at Relationalpractice01@gmail.com or use the contact section on our website. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive deep into the most essential tool in a practitioner’s toolkit: the art of truly hearing what isn't being said. They are joined by Ross Judd , an expert in communication and organizational culture, and the author of Listening: A Guide to Building Deeper Connections . For social workers on the front lines, whether in child protection, disability, or crisis intervention, clients often "test the waters" with surface-level complaints before sharing their true stories. Ross introduces his R.E.O.S.T.A.R. process , a powerful framework designed to help practitioners break through these barriers, avoid the common "fix-it" trap, and build radical empathy. Key highlights of this conversation include: The R.E.O.S.T.A.R. Process: A step-by-step guide to recognizing surface comments, empathizing with underlying emotions, and asking powerful questions to uncover core values. The Integrated Values Iceberg: How to remain self-aware of your own biases and values so they don't "block" what a client is trying to communicate, especially in high-stress environments. The Heavy Gift of Listening: A candid discussion on how to stay open and listen deeply to heavy stories without losing yourself in the process. Whether you are navigating high-conflict family dynamics or trying to connect with a defensive client, this episode offers practical strategies to move beyond the paperwork and build life-changing connections. Find Ross’s book at https://rossjudd.com/listening/ Connect with us: Email: Relationalpractice01@gmail.com Web: https://relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au/ Socials: Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more content and practice stories. Support the show: Please subscribe, rate, and review to help us reach more social workers. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey explore a strategy often mistaken for kindness or "being an easy person," but which actually carries a high psychological price tag: Appeasement. We examine this issue through a multi-lens theoretical approach to promote deep sense-making for practitioners. By linking Attachment Theory, the Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM), and Polyvagal Theory, we move beyond seeing appeasement as a personality trait and instead recognize it as a sophisticated neurobiological survival map used to manage unpredictable or dangerous environments. In this discussion, we identify Appeasement as a core behavioural strategy utilized in distinct contexts: In Childhood Trauma: We explore how appeasement can be a survival strategy designed to minimize environmental or relational threats to the child’s internal or external safety. We dive into the "Foster Care Trap," where the child described as an "absolute angel" an be a red flag for trauma, as they have learned that being "easy" is the only way to promote safety. In the Socialization of Women: We examine the societal pressures that train women from a young age to be "appeasers". We discuss how women are frequently socialized to prioritize the moods and expectations of others at the cost of authentic identity. The discussion also covers: The Attachment Perspective: How the "Internal Working Model" creates a mental script where an individual feels worthy of love only when they are useful or compliant. Authenticity vs. Attachment: Drawing on Gabor Maté’s work, we explore the "tragic transaction" where one reflexively suppresses their authentic self to preserve a necessary connection to a caregiver or partner. DMM Type A Strategies: How "compulsive compliance" involves prioritizing external rules and others' states of mind over one's own internal feelings (Affect) to ensure interpersonal safety. ⚠️ Trigger Warning Today’s episode involves discussions of trauma, childhood neglect, and domestic violence survival strategies. Please prioritize your well-being while listening. Connect with us: Email: Relationalpractice01@gmail.com Web: https://relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au/ Socials: Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more content and practice stories. Support the show: Please subscribe, rate, and review to help us reach more social workers. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
In this heavy but essential episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey confront the "national crisis" of domestic violence and the predictable patterns that lead to intimate partner homicide. Moving beyond media narratives that describe these tragedies as "senseless" or "out of nowhere," this discussion utilizes research from 2024–2026 to map out the "Path to Lethality." We dive deep into criminologist Jane Monckton Smith’s 8-stage homicide timeline, exploring how a relationship moves from "fast-tracked" romance to coercive control, and ultimately to the terminal stage of homicide. The episode also addresses the terrifying surge in filicide, examining why 1 in 4 domestic murder victims in NSW are now children and identifying the "proxy" motives and systemic failures that leave families at risk. Finally, we look at the economics of prevention, discussing the $45 billion annual burden of child maltreatment on the Australian economy and the urgent need to shift funding from crisis response to early, proactive intervention. ⚠️ Trigger Warning Today’s episode involves detailed discussions of domestic violence, intimate partner homicide, and the death of children. This content is deeply distressing, but we believe that understanding the mechanics of this violence is the first step toward stopping it. Support Resources If you or someone you know is affected by the issues discussed, please reach out for support: Australia: Call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline on 13 11 14. Singapore: Call the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) at 1800-777-0000 or the AWARE Women's Helpline at 1800-777-5555. USA: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233). UK: Call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline at 0808 2000 247. Please find the crisis domestic violence support number in your area. Connect with us: Email: Relationalpractice01@gmail.com Web: https://relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au/ Socials: Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more content and practice stories. Support the show: Please subscribe, rate, and review to help us reach more social workers. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive into the complex world of supervised birth family contact . Moving beyond the idea that supervision is a passive task, this discussion explores the high-stakes clinical skills required to protect a child’s emotional and psychological well-being during family visits. Drawing on research and listener feedback, Jodie and Rose break down the essential "Supervisor’s Toolkit" and provide actionable insights for decision-makers. Key Discussion Points: The Nuance of Contact: Why contact can be a tool for healing, helping children resolve grief and strengthen attachments or a trigger for trauma and placement instability if managed poorly. The Supervisor’s Toolkit: Essential skills including trauma-informed observation, parent coaching, and maintaining clinical neutrality. Invisible Risk Management: Training supervisors to spot subtle emotional abuse, such as grooming behaviours, that untrained observers might miss. Planning for Decision-Makers: Why case managers and judges must define the "Why" of contact (reunification/restoration vs. identity-building) and account for the “Contact Hangover”, the behavioural fallout a child experiences after a visit. Quality Over Quantity: Understanding why poor-quality contact can be more damaging than no contact at all. Connect with Relational Practice: We love hearing from our community! Please send your practice stories, questions, or comments to relationalpractice01@gmail.com . You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and our new YouTube page for regular content updates. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
What happens to parenting when the "private" family unit becomes a "public" system? In this episode, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey explore the "Glass House" of foster care, a space where personal lives are visible to the state and parental autonomy is reshaped by systemic oversight. We’re moving beyond the media debate to discuss what it really means to be a Public Parent. To succeed, foster carers must embrace a hybrid identity that balances the intimacy of private parenting with the weight of public accountability. We break down the core tensions that define the foster care experience: The Surveillance Paradox: Carers are expected to provide a "normal" family life while their every move is monitored by caseworkers and courts. Systemic Transparency: A realistic view of the role means acknowledging that "private" life is no longer private; carers must open their homes, bank statements, and medical records to the state. Shared Authority: We discuss the "Privacy Tug-of-War," where carers have the daily responsibility of a parent but lack the legal authority to make simple decisions—like haircuts or vacations—without system approval. Professionalism vs. Passion: Carers must be both professional caregivers and emotional anchors, loving a child like their own while navigating the reality of being a "temporary placement". How do we make the "Glass House" feel like a home? It starts with clear, grounded expectations that bridge the gap between birth families, carers, and the system. Information as Power: Shared parenting thrives when information flows freely, including the "little things" like a funny comment or a new food the child liked that keep birth parents included. Defining the Role: It is vital to move past binary labels of "saints" or "people doing it for the money" and instead embrace the messy, human reality of public parenting. Prioritizing Dignity: The ultimate goal of a public parent is to ensure the system’s visibility does not strip away the child’s private dignity. Collaborative Decision-Making: We explore how to empower adults to make decisions together, rather than letting the system decide for them. Join us as we discuss how to navigate the boundaries of the system while keeping the heart of parenting private. Connect with us: Email: relationalpractice01@gmail.com Socials: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram Subscribe: Hit follow or subscribe to stay updated on our fortnightly deep dives. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive deep into the intricate world of Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). Unlike traditional PTSD, which often stems from a single acute event, complex trauma results from prolonged, repeated experiences—often within a relational context where escape is difficult or impossible. We explore: Defining the Difference: How C-PTSD fundamentally damages the sense of self and attachment capacity compared to standard PTSD. The Symptoms: A breakdown of "Disturbances in Self-Organization" (DSO), including affective dysregulation, negative self-concept, and chronic interpersonal difficulties. The Developing Brain: Insights from Dr. Bruce Perry on how chronic threat disrupts neurodevelopment and keeps the "survival brain" in a state of perpetual activation. The Four Fs: Understanding the survival responses of Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn. Pathways to Healing: An introduction to evidence-based, body-centered therapies like EMDR and Somatic Experiencing (SE). We discuss Peter Levine’s work on releasing "trapped" survival energy through titration and pendulation. Join us as we shift the perspective from seeing symptoms as failures to recognizing them as remarkable neurobiological adaptations to unsafe environments. Connect with us: Email: relationalpractice01@gmail.com Socials: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram Subscribe: Hit follow or subscribe to stay updated on our fortnightly deep dives. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
Trigger alert- there is a small amount of swearing in this episode. It is an emotive topic for us! A Critical, Timely Deep Dive for Professionals and the Community We understand it’s the Christmas period, and this is a heavy topic. But we also know that for many people navigating high-conflict relationships, the holidays can be the most dangerous and suffocating time of the year. This episode is dedicated to providing timely validation and understanding. Join Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey as they move beyond isolated incidents of physical violence to examine the overarching, strategic pattern of coercive control. Why This Episode is Essential Listening Right Now: The festive season often acts as a catalyst for coercive control. External pressures like financial strain and forced family proximity are frequently weaponized to intensify patterns of domination. For practitioners, this is a critical window for intervention. By framing these holiday stressors as strategic tactics of entrapment, rather than isolated incidents of "stress", we provide a psychological lifeline for clients. Understanding these dynamics is essential for trauma-informed validation and navigating the heightened risks survivors face this time of year. What You Will Learn in This Deep Dive: Defining the Core Harm: We discuss the foundational research of Evan Stark, who defines domestic violence not by the use of force, but by the systematic deprivation of liberty and autonomy. The Blueprint of Domination: Understand the sophisticated, chronic pattern of behaviours, including isolation, micromanagement, economic abuse, and surveillance—tactics that create chronic fear and entrapment. The Psychological Toll: We explore the link between chronic abuse and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), and why survivors often feel trapped, using the Hostage Syndrome analogy to explain the impact of learned helplessness. Lethal Risk & Assessment: Coercive control is consistently identified as a precursor in approximately 97% of intimate partner homicides. We detail why the control, not just the physical punch, is the core lethal risk factor. This episode details trauma-informed interventions for social workers, emphasising the need to re-establish a client's autonomy and safely document the pattern of control. 🚨 Need Support? If this episode has raised any issues for you, please reach out to the following services in Australia: Emergency: Always call Triple Zero (000). Lifeline 13 11 14 1800RESPECT: Confidential counselling and support. Phone: 1800 737 732 (24/7). Men's Referral Service: For men concerned about their own use of violence. Phone: 1300 766 491. 13 Yarn 13 92 76 For our international listeners, please contact your local domestic violence or crisis support services. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and our new YouTube page for more content! Send any practice stories, episode suggestions, or anything social work related to relationalpractice01@gmail.com . If you like our podcast, please take a minute to rate, review, and subscribe. This helps others find us and helps us continue to create valuable content. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
"Stop asking, 'What is wrong with you?' Start asking, 'What happened to you?' In our new episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive deep into applying a Trauma Lens to Emotional and Behavioural Regulation. Think about an Iceberg: the behaviour you see is just the tip. Beneath the surface are protective, biological responses rooted in trauma. Key takeaways for practitioners: ✅ Definition: The shift from being 'trauma-informed' to 'trauma-responsive' (SAMHSA). ✅ Neurobiology: Understanding the Polyvagal Theory (Ventral Vagal, Sympathetic, Dorsal Vagal) and why a body gets 'stuck on alert.' ✅ Strategy: Why we must prioritize co-regulation (Regulate-Relate-Reason) to promote individual healing. We advocate for a focus that promotes using a reparative relationship in an intentional way. Whether you work with children, families, individuals or groups, this discussion will fundamentally change how you view 'challenging' behaviour. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and our new YouTube page for more content! Send any practice stories, episode suggestions, or anything social work related to relationalpractice01@gmail.com . If you like our podcast, please take a minute to rate, review, and subscribe. This helps others find us and helps us continue to create valuable content. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
In this critical episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast , we centre the social work imperative: closing the harmful gap between progressive legal policy and inconsistent judicial practice in family violence matters. We tackle the tension where the legislative shift toward safety meets the judicial default of contact, often at the expense of protective mothers and their children. We have intentionally taken a gendered position on this topic. The Policy Promise: Shifting the Paradigm - We analyse the critical implications of the Australian Family Law Amendment Act 2023 and proposed UK changes, which explicitly mandate child safety as paramount and remove presumptions for equal time. This systemic change reflects an overdue recognition of risk. We review sobering ANROWS research that underscores intimate partner violence as a major risk factor for filicide, demanding a trauma-informed response from all systems. The Practice Problem: The 'Contact at All Costs'- Default across both the public (Child Protection) and private (Family Law) dispute systems, we examine the persistent challenge where judicial officers frequently default to ordering contact (even supervised) with the violent parent, regardless of the documented history of harm. We question the social work ethics and rationale behind this pervasive 'contact at all costs' culture—a practice that often re-traumatizes children and severely undermines the efforts of protective mothers and social workers advocating for safety. The Roadmap to Intervention: Reframing "Best Interests"- Referencing international trends, we argue that the judicial "best interests of the child" principle must be reframed through a trauma-informed lens to mean "safety at all costs" when violence is a factor. We discuss the urgent need for: Systemic Cultural Change: Moving from risk management to genuine protection. Enhanced Tools: Better risk assessment frameworks for judicial decision-makers. Trauma-Informed Training: Essential skill-building for all judicial and legal professionals to understand the dynamics of violence and the experiences of children and protective women. Join us as we advocate for the judicial and systemic reform necessary to ensure that the law’s promise of protection becomes a consistent, trauma-informed reality for children and their families Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and send your comments to relationalpractice01@gmail.com . If you like our podcast, please take a minute to rate, review, and subscribe. This helps others find us and helps us continue to create valuable content. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
It's time for a radical reframe: stop seeing complex behaviours as "disorganization" and start recognizing them as brilliant strategies for survival. This week, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive into the Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM), an advanced attachment framework that explains how trauma forces the brain to adapt by strategically blocking information. The DMM breaks self-protective strategies into two main categories: Type A (Cognitive) and Type C (Affective). Individuals using Type A learn to inhibit negative feelings, relying heavily on logic and habit, often appearing "cool and businesslike" to maintain safety. Conversely, those using Type C exaggerate their emotions and rely on affective signals, blocking out factual coherence, which can lead to volatility. These are not flaws; they are adaptive methods developed to survive danger. Understanding the DMM's focus on information processing is a game-changer for clinical practice. Therapy guided by the DMM doesn't seek to eliminate behaviours, but to help clients realize their adaptive significance before introducing the missing information (feelings for Type A, facts for Type C). Learn how this model is also highly effective for risk assessment in child protection and legal settings, ensuring professionals make truly informed decisions. Don't just treat the symptoms; understand the strategy! Connect with us on social media! Send practice stories, questions or comments to relationalpractice01@gmail.com For more information about DMM look at this webpage DMM Model - Family Relations Institute If you like our podcast, please take a minute to rate, review, and subscribe. This helps others find us and helps us continue to create valuable content. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
Join Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey for a special Q&A episode where they tackle your most pressing questions about the complex world of social work. In this insightful and essential discussion, Jodie and Rose pull back the curtain on the profession, addressing: The Biggest Misconception: What is the most common misunderstanding about what a social worker actually does? Meaningful Participation: What practical strategies are employed to ensure children have a genuine voice and truly participate in decision-making processes? The Intersection: How do the critical areas of trauma, child protection, and Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) connect and interact in practice? The Systemic Hurdle: What is identified as the single greatest systemic challenge currently facing the social work sector? Professional Growth: An in-depth look at the role and importance of professional social work supervision. Whether you're a student, a seasoned practitioner, or simply curious about the vital work of social workers, this episode offers clear, expert-led answers to illuminate the challenges and dedication within the field. Don’t forget to send your practice stories or podcast topics to relationalpractice01@gmail.com Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone
