Episode 20: Inclusion, Boundaries and the Stuff Workplaces Avoid Most workplaces say they value inclusion. Far fewer are willing to look at the systems, boundaries, and decisions that actually determine whether people feel safe, respected, and able to stay. In Episode 20 of Not Another PD Podcast, Jazmin is joined by Patrick Rory-John (they/them), senior psychotherapist with The Identity Clinic, for a grounded, honest conversation about authenticity, inclusion, and boundaries in real practice settings. Patrick brings together lived experience, psychotherapy, and national inclusion work across sexuality, gender, disability, and trauma-informed care. This is not a surface-level conversation about being “inclusive enough”. It’s about what workplaces routinely avoid, and the impact that avoidance has on practitioners, teams, and clients. As Patrick puts it: “Out of fear of getting things wrong, we avoid the conversation. And that actually makes the problem worse.” In this episode, we explore: Why authenticity and modelling create more safety than perfect language How visual cues, intake forms, and workplace systems quietly communicate inclusion or exclusion Why practitioners from marginalised communities experience more boundary violations at work How minority stress shows up in helping professions, and why it affects wellbeing and retention The difference between equality and equity, and why “treating everyone the same” often causes harm Navigating dual relationships ethically in small or niche professional communities Why inclusion is not an optional value, but a workplace safety and sustainability issue Patrick challenges the idea that inclusion requires perfection: “It’s okay to get it wrong sometimes. It doesn’t have to be perfectly said. People will correct you.” We also talk about boundaries beyond the workplace, including Patrick’s decision to stop being the “at-home therapist” in personal relationships, and the importance of having spaces that are genuinely non-clinical, restorative, and playful. This episode is essential listening for practitioners, supervisors, leaders, and organisations who want to move beyond good intentions and into responsibility. Connect with Patrick Rory-John: LinkedIn Instagram Email: patrick@theidentityclinic.org Find out more about The Identity Clinic: Instagram Website Email: admin@theidentityclinic.org Connect with Jazmin Pursell If this episode raised questions about boundaries, safety, or inclusion in your own practice or workplace, here are ways to work together: Boundaries as Practitioners (self-paced training)Practical, boundaries-centred training for helping professionals navigating burnout, blurred boundaries, and systems pressureFind out more here Supervision & CoachingIndividual and group supervision for social workers, allied health professionals, and leaders Organisational training, reflective practice & consultationSupporting psychologically safer, more sustainable workplaces through boundaries-centred practiceConnect via the website or LinkedIn to start a conversation. If this episode resonated, share it with a colleague, supervisor, or leader. These are the conversations that shape workplace culture. Thank you for listening!
