Relational Practice: a social work podcast

Jodie Park and Rose Mackey
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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.

  1. High Pressure, High Stakes: Peeling Back the Curtain on Birth Family Contact

    3D AGO

    High Pressure, High Stakes: Peeling Back the Curtain on Birth Family Contact

    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

    1h 19m
  2. Parenting in a Glass House: The difference between Public and Private Parenting

    FEB 1

    Parenting in a Glass House: The difference between Public and Private Parenting

    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.comSocials: Follow us on Facebook and InstagramSubscribe: Hit follow or subscribe to stay updated on our fortnightly deep dives. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone

    1h 14m
  3. The Wound of Connection: Navigating Relational and Complex Trauma

    JAN 18

    The Wound of Connection: Navigating Relational and Complex Trauma

    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.comSocials: Follow us on Facebook and InstagramSubscribe: Hit follow or subscribe to stay updated on our fortnightly deep dives. Music by Hannah Park Editing by Angus Pinkstone

    1h 24m
  4. Coercive Control: A Social Work Deep Dive

    12/22/2025

    Coercive Control: A Social Work Deep Dive

    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 141800RESPECT: 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

    1h 25m
  5. The body really does keep score: Trauma, Regulation and the Nervous System

    12/07/2025

    The body really does keep score: Trauma, Regulation and the Nervous System

    "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

    1h 17m
  6. Trauma-Informed or Trauma-Ignoring? Bridging Policy and Practice for Child Safety in Family Violence Cases

    11/23/2025

    Trauma-Informed or Trauma-Ignoring? Bridging Policy and Practice for Child Safety in Family Violence Cases

    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

    1h 3m
  7. SURVIVAL MODE: Unpacking the DMM to Crack the Code of Trauma Strategies

    11/10/2025

    SURVIVAL MODE: Unpacking the DMM to Crack the Code of Trauma Strategies

    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

    1h 17m
  8. Unpacking Social Work: Your Q&A with Dr. Jodie Park & Rose Mackey

    10/26/2025

    Unpacking Social Work: Your Q&A with Dr. Jodie Park & Rose Mackey

    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

    1h 6m
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About

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.

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