Family Pathway Solutions

Family Pathway Solutions Specialist Services for Families, Children and Young People

Boundaries aren't fortresses—they're gates. 🚪✨In the latest episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr Jo...
23/08/2026

Boundaries aren't fortresses—they're gates. 🚪✨

In the latest episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive into the boundary spectrum (using Lauren Finemore’s framework) to unpack what it takes to find that ideal "picket fence" balance.

Whether you're a clinician, case manager, or directly supporting people, tune in to explore:
• Brick Walls vs. Chicken Wire: Finding your stress default
• Crossings vs. Violations: The reflective check for client-centred care
• Culture & Context: Navigating dual relationships with cultural humility
• Preventing Burnout: Protecting yourself from vicarious trauma and boundary erosion

🎧 Listen now to gain practical clinical tools to keep practicing relationally without burning out.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3KnCSFGwmaIyXLG6sAhK2l?si=CqLcQDbETj-yy83gcQPzZg

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

"We were taught to be empathic. Nobody taught us what to do when it starts to hurt." 💔Think of a client whose story you’...
19/07/2026

"We were taught to be empathic. Nobody taught us what to do when it starts to hurt." 💔

Think of a client whose story you’ve carried home, or that found its way into your sleep.

That isn't a sign that you failed. That is empathy doing exactly what it was designed to do. But how do we sustain that connection over an entire career without burning out?

In our latest episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, we dive into the neuroscience and real-world practice of empathy. Moving beyond the idea that empathy is just a personality trait, we explore it as a neurobiological process you can actually learn to regulate.

What we cover: ✨ The 3 Types of Empathy: Differentiating cognitive, affective, and compassionate empathy. 🧠 The Science of Connection: How mirror neurons activate, and why compassion uses a different brain circuit than empathy. 🎛️ The Empathy Dial: A practical Polyvagal tool to stay present without getting swept away. 🛡️ Protecting Your Energy: Micro-debrief rituals 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.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/07wWcsoImqbqmIYJcWwTjx?si=yskAm3S1QymqUzDpEpNgUA

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERTFront line workers: Ever feel like your exhaustion is a personal failure? It’s not. It is a predicta...
24/05/2026

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT

Front line workers: Ever feel like your exhaustion is a personal failure? It’s not. It is a predictable biological response to a high-pressure system.

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dismantle the "Just Stressed" myth. Drawing on the brilliant work of Vikki Reynolds, they explore the root causes of front-line exhaustion and look at how systemic pressures impact our day-to-day well-being.

🔥 What We’re Unpacking:
• The Injury Spectrum: Dissecting Vicarious Trauma, Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Spiritual Pain.
• The "Zone of Fabulousness": How to stay connected to clients without becoming a "bureaucratic robot."
• Boundaries as Physical Safety: Why saying "no" is a high-level clinical tool to protect your nervous system.
• Radical Self-Compassion: Moving past "performative" self-care (bubble baths won't fix this) and toward collective accountability.

🛑 If you’re battling the "Sunday Scaries" or drowning in systemic fatigue, this is your sign to stop isolating and start practicing collective care.

📲 Connect & Share: Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, or email us at [email protected].

✨ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review to help our community grow!



https://open.spotify.com/episode/4TVCUk0iZX8SyMD9y4I77y?si=G_zCR_AOR5mVzniQUX2a3A

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

🎙️ Why do survivors choose to "tell"?In our newest episode, we sit down with Professor Joanne Spangaro to discuss a care...
11/05/2026

🎙️ Why do survivors choose to "tell"?

In our newest episode, we sit down with Professor Joanne Spangaro to discuss a career that spans over 40 years, from the front lines of sexual assault counselling in the 80s to leading groundbreaking research today.

We’re diving deep into the heart of Relational Practice: how do we move beyond "ticking boxes" in domestic violence screening and actually build the cultural safety and trust required for survivors to disclose?

💡 This episode covers:
• The Psychology of Disclosure: What goes into a survivor's decision to share their story?
• Beyond the Tool: Why routine screening only works when it’s rooted in a safe relationship.
• Cultural Safety: A critical look at supporting Australian Aboriginal women within the health system.
• Practical Wisdom: Real-world tips for practitioners.

Whether you're a seasoned social worker or just starting out, Jo’s insights on navigating the complexity of IPV are a masterclass in systemic change.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6usyn6WQeYYk6lUAtbGCSL?si=M_reqY4aRJOxJyDCu_uacw

🔗 Join the Conversation
✨ Connect: Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
✨ Feedback: We’d love to hear your practice stories! Drop us an email at [email protected].

Subscribe, rate, and review to help us grow this community of relational practitioners!

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

Are you reflecting... or are you being reflexive? 🪞In Social Work, we’re taught to look back. But there’s a deeper level...
13/04/2026

Are you reflecting... or are you being reflexive? 🪞

In Social Work, we’re taught to look back. But there’s a deeper level that actually transforms how we show up in the room.

In this episode, Jodie and Rose break down the Mirror vs. the Rearview Mirror: 🔹 Reflection: Looking back at an experience (The Rearview). 🔹 Reflexivity: Looking at yourself in the present moment (The Mirror).

We explore how to move from just "observing" to truly evolving your professional identity.

Inside the episode: ✅ Reflection-on-action vs. Reflection-in-action. ✅ How to spot "taken-for-granted" assumptions. ✅ Practical tools for your next supervision.

✨ PLUS: Explore our brand-new website! Find episodes and our new Ambiguous Loss printables at relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au.

🎧 Listen now at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3C157VBIfFsFyuhIWfadC8?si=zqrlOBOzSICFnc73ZObuUg

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

"I’m fine." We’ve all heard it, but as social workers, we know there’s usually a much bigger story underneath. 🧊This wee...
29/03/2026

"I’m fine." We’ve all heard it, but as social workers, we know there’s usually a much bigger story underneath. 🧊

This week on Relational Practice: a social work podcast, we’re joined by Ross Judd, author of Listening: A Guide to Building Deeper Connections. We’re diving into the "Integrated Values Iceberg" and why self-awareness is your best tool in high-stress environments.

If you’ve ever struggled to connect with a defensive client or felt the weight of "heavy" stories, this episode is for you. Let’s move beyond the paperwork and back to the heart of practice: Connection.

Connect with us: 📧 [email protected] 🌐 https://relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au/

Rate and review us to help support the social work community! ❤️

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5i3h1PwN9PQ1r1Xqcn8Ag7?si=rqnRVN5xSFqxjKBbzjOuyg

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

When a client or a child in care is described as an "absolute angel," are we seeing a personality trait or a survival st...
15/03/2026

When a client or a child in care is described as an "absolute angel," are we seeing a personality trait or a survival strategy?

In Episode 28, we explore Appeasement: the "tragic transaction" where a person trades their authentic identity for the safety of a connection. This isn't just kindness; it’s a sophisticated neurobiological map for navigating unpredictable environments.

We discuss:

• The Foster Care Trap: Why "perfectly behaved" can be a trauma red flag.
• Survival over Authenticity: Insights from Gabor Maté and Polyvagal Theory.
• Societal Pressure: How women are socialized to prioritize others' moods over their own.

Stop looking at the behaviour and start seeing the survival map. 🧠
🎧 Listen now: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5bVp3aRdmewC773dzfaFp1?si=0GkkunG4Rc6wYsgB6VBO8w

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

Senseless" is a myth. Violence has a pattern.In this essential episode of Relational Practice, we confront the national ...
02/03/2026

Senseless" is a myth. Violence has a pattern.

In this essential episode of Relational Practice, we confront the national crisis of domestic violence and the predictable "Path to Lethality." Using research from 2024–2026, we move beyond the media headlines to break down criminologist Jane Monckton Smith’s 8-stage homicide timeline—tracking how a relationship moves from a "fast-tracked" romance to terminal coercive control. We also address the terrifying surge in filicide and the systemic failures that leave families at risk.

This content is deeply distressing, but understanding the mechanics of this violence is the first step toward stopping it.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode involves detailed discussions of domestic violence, intimate partner homicide, and the death of children.

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

In the latest episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey peel back the curtai...
17/02/2026

In the latest episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey peel back the curtain on the complexities of birth family contact.



Supervised contact is so much more than sitting in a room with a clipboard. It’s a high-wire act of protecting a child’s psychological well-being while facilitating complex family dynamics.



In our newest episode, Jodie and Rose explore:

🛠️ The Toolkit: Trauma-informed observation and parent coaching.

🚩 Invisible Risks: How to spot emotional abuse that untrained observers miss.

📉 The Fallout: Understanding and planning for the "Contact Hangover."

❤️ Healing vs. Trauma: How contact can either resolve grief or trigger instability.


We want to hear from YOU! Have a practice story, email us: [email protected] 📺 Find us on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook for more content updates!



🎧 Listen now: https://open.spotify.com/episode/53hBfoINgB9IUVsaGiuetM?si=_Cqfl0NVQ5uU2eWWIM_gsQ

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

Parenting is hard. Parenting in a "Glass House" is a different league. 🔍What happens to the family unit when it becomes ...
01/02/2026

Parenting is hard. Parenting in a "Glass House" is a different league. 🔍

What happens to the family unit when it becomes a public system? The transition from private citizen to "Public Parent" is one of the most complex shifts a caregiver can make.

In this episode, we break down:

• The Surveillance Paradox: Creating "normalcy" while being monitored.
• Shared Authority: Navigating the "Privacy Tug-of-War" with the state.
• Professionalism vs. Passion: Loving a child like your own within a "temporary" framework.

It’s time to prioritize dignity over visibility. Join us for a raw look at the systemic oversight of modern parenting.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4tNyZLAD3myO04klKgJPfN?si=AXaw6l28SNCGigiLS3H5Hw

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

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