Episodes
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Why does doing what you love sometimes leave you exhausted, stuck, or questioning your identity?
In this episode of Inside Social Work, I speak with Dr Bronwyn Milkins, psychologist and host of the Mental Work podcast, about why the dream job ideal doesn’t always lead to happiness. We explore how hustle culture, guilt and overidentification with our jobs contribute to burnout, and what it actually looks like to reclaim space outside work.
Whether you're a therapist, educator or any kind of helping professional, this episode is for anyone who’s ever felt like work became too much of their identity.
Key takeaways:
Why the dream job ideal can create internal pressureWhat happens when you’re praised for over-functioningThe role of guilt in keeping people stuck in burnoutHow boundaries and rest protect your wellbeingWhy it’s hard to separate identity from professionWhat sustainable success could look like insteadHow to shift your values without losing your sense of purposeContact Dr Bronwyn Milkins here at [email protected]
Resources:
Mental Work PodcastInside Social WorkThe Therapy HubCareer GuideIf this episode hit close to home, share it with a friend or colleague who might be carrying the same weight.
Got something you'd like to hear on the podcast?
🎙️ Got a question or something on your mind? Send it through. You can write it or email a voice memo to [email protected], and it might be featured in a future episode of Inside Social Work.
Your curiosity could help shape a conversation that resonates with the wider community.
Want to be a guest? Submit a speaker request here
http://marievakakis.com.au/be-a-podcast-guest/
Got an anonymous question? Submit it here:
https://forms.gle/wg7Lk61xde9Lge976
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Do you ever feel like you need to have all the answers in the first few sessions? Maybe you’ve wondered if your client is silently asking themselves, is this going to help?
In this episode of Inside Social Work, I chat with Dr Bronwyn Milkins from the Mental Work podcast about the pressures, pacing, and expectations that sit inside the first three sessions of therapy. We unpack what actually helps clients stay engaged and why slowing down can sometimes be the most helpful thing we do.
This conversation is honest, practical, and filled with reflections for early career therapists and anyone supporting people through the first steps of therapy.
Key Takeaways:Why the first three sessions can feel like they carry extra pressure for both clients and therapistsWhat actually helps people stay in therapyThe power of making the therapy process visibleWhy clarity, structure, and customer service really matterHow scripts and checklists can guide, not restrict, the workWhy slowing down is sometimes the most effective thing we can doThe importance of culture, lived experience, and meaningful engagementPractical ways to check in, offer choice, and build trustIf you enjoyed this episode, I’d love for you to share it with your colleagues or anyone supporting people in their early therapy sessions. You can also explore more resources and on-demand training via the website. Thanks for listening to Inside Social Work.
Contact Dr Bronwyn Milkins @ [email protected]
Resources:On-Demand Training: Enhancing Clinical Outcomes in the First Three SessionsMental Work Podcast👉 Learn more about my on-demand course: Enhance Clinical Outcomes in the First Three Sessions: https://marievakakis.com.au/courses/enhancing-clinical-outcomes-in-the-first-three-sessions/
Got something you'd like to hear on the podcast?
🎙️ Got a question or something on your mind? Send it through. You can write it or email a voice memo to [email protected], and it might be featured in a future episode of Inside Social Work.
Your curiosity could help shape a conversation that resonates with the wider community.
Want to be a guest? Submit a speaker request here
http://marievakakis.com.au/be-a-podcast-guest/
Got an anonymous question? Submit it here:
https://forms.gle/wg7Lk61xde9Lge976
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Missing episodes?
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What if the therapist you were seeing just got it?
What if you didn’t have to explain your cultural background, your lived experience, or the reasons you approach life the way you do?
In this episode of Inside Social Work, I sat down with Tham Fuyana, Social Worker, Family Therapist and Educator, to talk about what it’s like navigating therapy as a BIPOC client.
BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and people/ person of colour
While I'm not a person of colour and can’t speak from lived experience, I shared reflections from my perspective as a therapist and acknowledged the limits of my own experience, while making space for this important conversation.
Tham shares powerful insights from their lived experience as a person of colour and as a therapist, reflecting on how this shapes their work and the way they connect with clients.
Tham talks about the experience of searching for a BIPOC therapist, the invisible barriers to accessing mental health care, and why representation and understanding matter in the therapy room. They reflect on what it means to be truly seen, and the challenges many people of colour face when navigating mental health services.
Key things discussed
What it means to seek a BIPOC therapist and why it mattersHow intersectionality shapes the therapy experienceBarriers to accessing mental health care for people of colourThe emotional weight of having to always explain your storyWhy some people feel safer being vulnerable with someone who "gets it"How representation can impact trust and connection in therapyThe complexity of navigating multiple identities in multicultural AustraliaPractical ways to find the right therapist for youResources
Therapy Hub: https://www.thetherapyhub.com.au
Got something you'd like to hear on the podcast?
🎙️ Got a question or something on your mind? Send it through. You can write it or email a voice memo to [email protected], and it might be featured in a future episode of Inside Social Work.
Your curiosity could help shape a conversation that resonates with the wider community.
Want to be a guest? Submit a speaker request here
http://marievakakis.com.au/be-a-podcast-guest/
Got an anonymous question? Submit it here:
https://forms.gle/wg7Lk61xde9Lge976
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In this episode of Inside Social Work, I am joined by psychologist and researcher Dr Bronwyn Milkins for an honest, reflective conversation about the professional and emotional impact of client suicide.
We discuss the emotional aftermath, ethical concerns, and the invisible weight carried by clinicians, social workers, and mental health practitioners.
Whether you've experienced this personally or are supporting someone who has, this episode offers insight, validation and guidance.
Key takeaways
• Why suicide loss can feel isolating for professionals
• The unspoken guilt, shame and fear that often accompany a client death
• How organisations and colleagues can support impacted staff
• The importance of reflective practice and clinical supervision
• Balancing professional responsibility with human vulnerability
• Navigating coronial investigations and confidentiality concerns
• Reframing grief and finding space to heal
About the Guest:
Dr Bronwyn Milkins (PhD, MPsych) is a psychologist and researcher whose passions are working therapeutically with neurodivergent and LGBTIQA+ clients with trauma, advocacy on equitable and accessible mental health care, and supporting diversity in the mental health workforce. Bronwyn’s current research aims to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people who experience trauma-related dissociation. She also hosts the popular 'Mental Work' podcast which exists to support Australian mental health workers.
Contact Dr Bronwyn Milkins @ [email protected]
Resources
Royal College of Psychiatrists – If a Patient Dies by Suicide (PDF)APA – Coping with Patient SuicideIASP – Guidelines to Assist Clinical Staff After Suicide🎙️ If this topic resonates with you, or if you’re navigating the loss of a client, this episode might offer some comfort or perspective.
Got something you'd like to hear on the podcast?
🎙️ Got a question or something on your mind? Send it through. You can write it or email a voice memo to [email protected], and it might be featured in a future episode of Inside Social Work.
Your curiosity could help shape a conversation that resonates with the wider community.
Want to be a guest? Submit a speaker request here
http://marievakakis.com.au/be-a-podcast-guest/
Got an anonymous question? Submit it here:
https://forms.gle/wg7Lk61xde9Lge976
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What does it really mean to work in this space? To support others, hold complex stories, and still show up with care?
In this new season of Inside Social Work, I’m having real, honest, and sometimes uncomfortable conversations about life as a social worker and allied health professional. Whether you’re just starting, mid-career, or wondering what’s next, this season is for you.
We’ll explore supervision, burnout, grief, identity shifts, cultural safety, politics, money, and the things that impact our work but rarely get talked about in training.
I'll be sharing reflections, research, and stories from the field, with a mix of expert voices and everyday practitioners.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I doing enough?” or “Does anyone else feel like this?”, you’re not alone.
🎙️ Got a question or something on your mind? Send it through. You can write it or email a voice memo to [email protected], and it might be featured in a future episode of Inside Social Work.
Your curiosity could help shape a conversation that resonates with the wider community.
Want to be a guest? Submit a speaker request here
http://marievakakis.com.au/be-a-podcast-guest/
Got an anonymous question? Submit it here:
https://forms.gle/wg7Lk61xde9Lge976
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Workplace bullying, burnout, and work-related stress are significant issues that can have detrimental effects on individuals in various professions. It's essential to recognise the signs of workplace bullying, take action early, and prioritise self-care to prevent long-term negative effects on mental and physical health.
In this episode, our guest, Frances Caile shares her experiences and insights on workplace bullying, burnout, and work-related stress. She explains how she was drawn to social work and her transition to private practice to have more time to do good work without the politics of organisations and paperwork. She discusses her motivation for setting up her private practice and her specialisations in workplace bullying, burnout, and workplace stress.
Key Takeaways:
Workplace bullying is defined as repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety
Examples of workplace bullying include spreading rumours, excluding or isolating someone socially, intimidation, threatening a person's role or performance, undermining or impeding a person's work, and withholding necessary information
Workplace bullying can have serious consequences on the mental and physical health of the victims, and it's important to seek assistance and support early to prevent long-term negative effects
Work-related stress and burnout are common in high-stress roles such as social work, teaching, and healthcare, as well as in resource-constrained environments with high turnover and competition for promotion
It's crucial to prioritise self-care, set boundaries, and seek support when experiencing work-related stress and burnout to prevent long-term physical and mental health issues.Contact details for Frances
https://www.stresssupport.com.au/
Promo code for working ISW2023 for 20% off
https://marievakakis.com.au/
https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/
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Helping women recover from interpersonal trauma and violence
Liz is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who runs her own private practice called Breathe therapy. She's a mindful trauma therapist and is really passionate about supporting women to heal from childhood and adult experiences of interpersonal violence and abuse.
Liz has done some really incredible work and we talk about some of her social work journey, and how she incorporates various techniques such as act DBT, and mindfulness into working with women to recover from some of those experiences and diagnosis such as PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and other sorts of things that can really stem from those early experiences that women face. I hope you enjoy this episode with Liz.
Contact Liz
BreatheTherapy.com.au
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Ashton talks us through some steps you can take to work towards your accreditation.
She shares some of the resources that she's developed, including her accredited Mental Health Social Worker roadmap, which is part of an ebook series, private Facebook group that she has, as well as her consultation and training
We talk about supervision and what we wish we knew when we were first starting out and the importance of that.
Guest bio
Ashton is a an accredited mental health social worker with a background of working in human services and mental health settings.
She has over a decade of experience in child protection, housing, forensic and mental health settings. She currently provides supervision to human services and mental health professionals across Australia. She is also the owner and director of Willowtree Wellbeing, a counselling clinic in Western Sydney, NSW.
Ashton is passionate about providing a safe and collaborative environment for supervision for social workers, caseworkers, team leaders and anyone who works in human services.
Contact guest
https://ashtonhayesconsulting.com.au/
Previous episode with Ashton
Episode 26 : From Paralegal to Social Worker. Working with children and trauma all while staying passionate about the work you do with Ashton Hayes
Supervision series
Part 1 Supervision
Part 2 - The benefits of Group Supervision
Part 3 Supervision - Understanding learning preferences
Inside Social Work Podcast
Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
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This is the second episode of a multi-part series examining gender and sexuality. In this episode we look at implicit bias.
About your guest Lachlan Slade
Lachlan, (he/they) is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. He has worked in the space for about 12 years now in various spaces with LGBTIQA+ and trauma work.
Lachlan Slade grew up in Shepparton studying in Albury Wodonga, and Bendigo to complete their Social Work degree. Lachlan cofounded the Out in the Open Festival, Shepparton's first LGBTIQ+ Community Festival. Lachlan has dabbled in Community Radio, and Politics.
Work with Lachlan
Upcoming events Neutralising Queerphobia workshop, in Kannygoopna (Shepparton) as part of Out in the Open Festival, tix at outintheopen.org.au. The workshop explores implicit bias, ambient trauma and Allyship.
Lachlan's LGBTIQA+ focused Group Supervision sessions: https://events.humanitix.com/group-supe#organiserInfoBox
https://sladeconsulting.services
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @lachlan_listens
Inside Social Work Podcast: Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast/ Support the show
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
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This is the first episode of a multi-part series examining gender and sexuality. How we as social workers can be more inclusive in our language and how we can work more emphatically with individuals and families.
About your guest Lachlan Slade
Lachlan, (he/they) is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. He has worked in the space for about 12 years now in various spaces with LGBTIQA+ and trauma work.
Lachlan Slade grew up in Shepparton studying in Albury Wodonga, and Bendigo to complete their Social Work degree. Lachlan cofounded the Out in the Open Festival, Shepparton's first LGBTIQ+ Community Festival. Lachlan has dabbled in Community Radio, and Politics.
Work with Lachlan
Upcoming events Neutralising Queerphobia workshop, in Kannygoopna (Shepparton) as part of Out in the Open Festival, tix at outintheopen.org.au. The workshop explores implicit bias, ambient trauma and Allyship.
Lachlan's LGBTIQA+ focused Group Supervision sessions: https://events.humanitix.com/group-supe#organiserInfoBox
https://sladeconsulting.services
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @lachlan_listens
Inside Social Work Podcast: Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast/ Support the show
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
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I hate baths. Reimagining self care with Yasmine McKee-Wright
Yasmine McKee- Wright is a social worker and podcaster.
She has learned a lot from some of the guests on her podcast, Social Work Spotlight. We talk about her journey, having students on placement and a bit of time on self-care. Jasmine shares some of the things that she does for self-care and some of the things that sustain social workers in their careers.
Connect with Yasmine
swspotlightpodcast@gmail
https://anchor.fm/socialworkspotlight
https://www.facebook.com/socialworkspotlight
https://twitter.com/SWSpotlightPod
https://www.instagram.com/socialworkspotlight_podcast/
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Dr Yvette Vardy is a clinical psychologist with twenty years of experience in the treatment of people with borderline personality disorder and those with complex issues and traumatic histories. Dr Yvette Vardy uses evidence-based practices and is passionate about providing treatments that lead to recovery or clinically significant improvements, ensuring clients are left with very tangible and concrete ways to manage themselves and their symptoms differently. She has a private practice in North Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia.
Dr Yvette Vardy has established several Dialectical Behaviour Therapy programs in Australia and been employed as a senior clinical psychologist, supervisor and team leader at a number of hospitals. Previously, as Spectrum Personality Disorders Service of Victoria’s senior education officer, Dr Vardy visited numerous services and organisations across Australia, to help clinicians learn practical skills and helpful theoretical concepts in working effectively with BPD and individuals with personality disorders. Dr Vardy has completed her Comprehensive and Intensive DBT and DBT-PE training and enjoys sharing her passion for DBT by providing DBT-specific lectures and workshops, as well as individual and group supervision to clinicians seeking DBT training and support.
https://www.yvettevardy.com/
Inside Social Work Podcast: Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast/ Support the show
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
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Dr Jodie Richardson is one of Australia's leading lights in managing anxiety. An educational leader, Dr Jodi Richardson supports parents and teachers to change their relationship with anxiety, dial it right down and light the way for their children and students to do the same. Jodi is a professional speaker supporting whole school communities around Australia, the best-selling author of the books 'Anxious Kids' and 'Anxious Mums', hosts the popular podcast 'Well, hello anxiety' and is a mum of two.
Where to find Jodie
Website https://drjodirichardson.com/
Books https://drjodirichardson.com/shop/
Podcast https://podfollow.com/1585382774
Enquiries [email protected]
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drjodirichardson/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrJodiRichardson/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jodi-richardson-15589240/
Join the supervision group for school social workers and school counsellors
https://thetherapyhub.com.au/supervision/
Become a Youth Mental Health First Aider
Face to face in Footscray https://thetherapyhub.com.au/youth-mental-health-first-aid/
Online https://thetherapyhub.com.au/online-youth-mental-health-first-aid/
Inside Social Work Podcast: Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast/ Support the show
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
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Things to ask your therapist during your first therapy session
Doing some research and planning before your session can help give you a sense of calm and help you work out if the therapist is going to be a good fit for you and your goals/ needs for therapy.
Finding the right professional or professionals and finding the right kind of treatment and support is a fine balance.
What are your fees and cancellation policy?
What training did you do?
What Kind Of Therapy Do You Offer?
How Will I Know We’re A Good Fit?” Do you have experience working with others who are in similar circumstances?
What will Therapy look like moving forward?
Can You Help Me Create Some Goals?
Can I reach you in between sessions?
What can I do in between sessions?
How do you think I’m doing? How will we measure progress?What if after all this it still doesn’t feel right?
Check out our blog post I saw a professional for help for my mental health but it didn’t work – what do I do next?
Join the supervision group for school social workers and school counsellors
https://thetherapyhub.com.au/supervision/
Episode 7 Youth Mental Health First Aid - interview with Dr Claire Kelly
Become a Youth Mental Health First Aider
Face to face in Footscray https://thetherapyhub.com.au/youth-mental-health-first-aid/
Online https://thetherapyhub.com.au/online-youth-mental-health-first-aid/
Inside Social Work Podcast: Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast/ Support the show
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
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In this week's episode, you’ll hear how Silvina started an inclusive drama program in Canada and ran it successfully there for a number of years before moving to Melbourne and starting it all over again.
Learn more here https://www.purplecarrots.com.au/
Join the supervision group for school social workers and school counsellors
https://thetherapyhub.com.au/supervision/
Become a Youth Mental Health First Aider
Face to face in Footscray https://thetherapyhub.com.au/youth-mental-health-first-aid/
Online https://thetherapyhub.com.au/online-youth-mental-health-first-aid/
Inside Social Work Podcast: Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast/ Support the show
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
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We all have different ways that we like to learn and engage with content. In this episode, I talk through some of the learning preferences that adult learners may have and how to tailor supervision to meet different needs.
If you are a supervisor it's really handy to know what works for your supervisee and if you're a supervisee it’s really helpful to know how you like to learn and what you can do and supervision to get the most out of supervision.
Join the supervision group for school social workers and school counsellors
https://thetherapyhub.com.au/supervision/
Become a Youth Mental Health First Aider
Face to face in Footscray https://thetherapyhub.com.au/youth-mental-health-first-aid/
Online https://thetherapyhub.com.au/online-youth-mental-health-first-aid/
Inside Social Work Podcast: Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast/ Support the show
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
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Caroline is an accredited EMDR, trainer and consultant with a background in clinical social work and psychotherapy. She has over 15 years of experience providing therapeutic services across community, hospital, medical and tertiary settings. She is the owner and director of Mindful Living, a group private practice in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. She had worked in The Melbourne Clinic so as an EMDR, coordinator where she developed the first inpatient hospital EMDR program in Victoria. She has an infectious enthusiasm for EMDR therapy and EMDR training, which will be obvious when you listen to her talk about it. She loves encouraging and motivating mentoring therapists as they embrace the opportunities that EMDR therapy brings. So for a bit more information about Caroline, you can head over to her website, https://www.carolineburrows.com.au/
Recommended resources
What happened to you - Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey
THe body Keeps Score - Bessel van der Kolk
Podcast recommended
Notice That https://emdr-podcast.com/
https://blueknot.org.au/
Episode 29 - EMDR explained
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-inside-social-work-podcast/id1459084811?i=1000482673871
Training
Carolines on demand training https://www.carolineburrows.com.au/on-demand-training-main
Upcoming EMDR part 1 training www.carolineburrows.com.au/basic-emdr-training
Join the supervision group for school social workers and school counsellors
https://thetherapyhub.com.au/supervision/
Inside Social Work Podcast: Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast/ Support the show
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
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Benefits of group supervision
Group supervision can provide unique opportunities to grow your skills, feel connected and normalise difficult situations or experiences.
Some of the benefits include
Peer FeedbackSocial NetworkingHive mind -Having Multiple Listeners, ideas and frames of reference for the Same Event. Developing Empathy, compassion and self-compassionPractice Public Speaking and Presenting.https://thetherapyhub.com.au/supervision/
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
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Adam works in tertiary mental health services. He's an accredited mental health social worker. Currently he works as a social Work Discipline lead in a hospital, and part of his role now is as allied health educator, supporting graduate social workers, and other allied health professionals as well as students on placement.
‘’I always knew that I wanted to work with people in like a helping profession.’’
Inside Social Work Podcast: Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast/ Support the show
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
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Supervision is SO important . It provides a forum for reflection and learning, review, reflection, critique and replenishment for professional practitioners.
One of the purposes of social work supervision is to enhance the professional skills and competence of the supervisee to achieve positive outcomes for the people with whom they work
Choosing a supervisor
It's crucial to find someone you can work with and trust
Some things to ask or explore - check out their linkedin profile, website or other profiles
What is their background and work experience?
Do they have any areas of specialty and/or interest? Does this match the work your doing or are interested int?
Ask them what is their approach to supervision?Check if they are
Professional.
Knowledgeable.
You’re compatible
Convenient / do they have the availability to mete your needs?Inside Social Work Podcast: Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast/ Support the show
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