Family Pathway Solutions

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

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

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: relationalpractice01@gmail.com 📺 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

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

19/01/2026

How does chronic threat rewire the developing brain?

In the latest episode of Relational Practice, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey explore the neurobiology of C-PTSD. Drawing on the work of Dr. Bruce Perry, we discuss how "Disturbances in Self-Organization" (DSO) are not failures of character, but remarkable neurobiological adaptations to unsafe environments.

Episode Highlights:

• The distinction between acute PTSD and relational Complex Trauma.
• How the "survival brain" stays in a state of perpetual activation.
• Pathways to healing through EMDR and body-centered therapies.

Join us for this fortnightly deep dive into the world of relational practice.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/26pwbZiNoX44z0POIvcuAE?si=BUc7XTv5TmaS1MV5NkOttg

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

22/12/2025

New episode alert!

The holiday season often weaponizes "family time" into a tool for isolation. In this timely deep dive, we explore why coercive control is the core lethal risk factor in high-conflict relationships—present in 97% of intimate partner homicides.

Key Insights for Professionals & the Community: 📍 Redefining Harm: Domestic violence as the systematic theft of autonomy. 📍 The Tactics: Decoding isolation, economic abuse, and surveillance. 📍 The Clinical Lens: Documenting chronic patterns and addressing the psychological toll of CPTSD.

A vital, trauma-informed deep dive for anyone navigating or working alongside violence survivors this season.



https://open.spotify.com/episode/6pfEGCfe0HkMkyo1j2TD6I?si=GSLCaV9wSvafgYKRShnY-g

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

15/12/2025

Holding space in my heart for all the lives tragically lost and those injured in the horrific incident at Bondi. Their stories, and the pain their families are enduring, are unimaginable.

Thank you to the first responders and the brave individuals who acted selflessly. May we all offer kindness and support to those grappling with this trauma.

07/12/2025

For professionals working in child protection, OOHC, and clinical practice: Understanding emotional and behavioural regulation through a trauma lens is no longer optional—it is the ethical imperative for healing.

In Podcast Episode 22, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey present a framework for applying a Trauma-Responsive Lens to dysregulation:

1. Trauma-Responsive vs. Trauma-Informed: Moving beyond knowing "What happened to you?" to actively changing practice based on that knowledge (citing SAMHSA).
2. Neurobiological Basis: Using a simplified Polyvagal Theory model to understand defence states (Safe, Fight/Flight, Freeze/Shutdown) as the root of dysregulation.
3. Reframing Motivation: Shifting assessment from non-compliance to identifying the protective function of the behaviour (e.g., Aggression as Gaining Control; Withdrawal as Self-Preservation).
4. The Three R’s: Practical strategies for Co-Regulation (Regulate, Relate, Reason) to restore the client's capacity for safety and agency.

This episode is a valuable professional development resource focused on collaborative, choice-based, and safety-first practice.



https://open.spotify.com/episode/64DnSdAMOJVsubRba7PKTu?si=O32kJw1IS1aQnW0x5nTNJw

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

24/11/2025

🚨 NEW EPISODE ALERT

In a new, essential episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, we undertake a deep, gendered analysis of the tension between legislative reform and judicial default in family violence cases.

We focus on the social work imperative: to close the harmful gap where the law explicitly mandates child safety as paramount, yet court practice often defaults to "contact at all costs."

Key Focus Areas:
• The Paradigm Shift: Analyzing how new laws remove presumptions for equal time in light of risk.
• The Ethical Challenge: Questioning the rationale behind judicial orders for contact (even supervised) with violent parents, despite documented harm, which re-traumatizes protective mothers and children.
• Evidence-Based Necessity: Reviewing sobering ANROWS research that confirms intimate partner violence as a major risk factor for filicide.

We advocate that the judicial principle of "best interests of the child" must be urgently reframed through a trauma-informed lens to mean "safety at all costs" when violence is present.

Join us to explore the urgent need for systemic cultural change, enhanced risk assessment tools, and mandatory trauma-informed training for all judicial and legal professionals.



https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Bjwd4o9BgQ9SxGJaQCC3H?si=yE6AcUrERjOBbF9omYLYBA

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

10/11/2025

We are thrilled to bring you our most groundbreaking episode yet! Join Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey as they introduce the Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM), the advanced attachment framework that moves beyond basic categories to explain the logic of trauma.



The DMM shows us that "insecure" behaviours are actually organized, adaptive responses to danger. We dive into:

Type A (Cognitive): The strategy of blocking negative feelings to rely on logic.

Type C (Affective): The strategy of relying on exaggerated emotions and blocking factual coherence.



If you are a therapist, social worker, or anyone working with complex trauma, this episode will fundamentally change how you approach clients. Learn the DMM-informed interventions that focus on realizing the adaptive significance of these strategies.



Tune in to discover why the DMM is the game-changer for therapy, parenting assessment, and critical decision-making in child protection.



https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ReM9wNz3radrEpUX3fhuC?si=pTW0-zm-SyKiiK5IKF-BGg

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

26/10/2025

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT: Social Work Q&A! 🛡️

Got questions about the complex world of social work? We've got answers!

Join Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey for a special Q&A episode where they tackle your most pressing questions and pull back the curtain on the profession!

In this must-listen episode, we dive into:

• 🚫 The Biggest Misconception: What really is a social worker?
• 🗣️ Genuine Voice: Strategies for ensuring children have meaningful participation in decision-making.
• 🔗 The Intersection: How do trauma, child protection, and Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) connect in practice?
• 🚧 Systemic Hurdle: Identifying the single greatest challenge facing the sector today.
• 📈 Professional Growth: The essential role of social work supervision.

Whether you're a student, a seasoned practitioner, or simply curious about this vital work, this episode is packed with expert-led clarity.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2dyWiYlQT2pZ3oF8yYgaVP?si=DpjS4XRdQfu0Ro0Wt3q2pg

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode

14/10/2025

Why Our Bodies Talk: A Social Worker's Guide to Polyvagal Theory.

Ever wondered what’s really happening when a client shuts down or a session suddenly feels tense? The answer lies in the Polyvagal Autonomic Ladder.

This latest episode of Relational Practice: a social work podcast, hosted by Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey, introduces the Polyvagal Theory—a game-changer for practitioners. Learn to read the body's unconscious defense systems (Ventral Vagal, Sympathetic, Dorsal Vagal) and understand Neuroception, the body's secret detective.

This is a vital guide to leveraging co-regulation to move clients from threat to safety. Tune in to discover why a regulated social worker is the most powerful tool in the room.

Listen now and transform your trauma-informed approach:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2j9PKGs5VxGHx4KRdZZCUH?si=yEuqrrICTuK002EUFKalqg

Relational Practice: a social work podcast · Episode