Inside Social Work

What if I don’t know what I’m doing in my first session?How do I know if I’m being paid fairly?How do I protect my energy in private practice?This episode is a mailbag episode, where Bronwyn and I go through some listener questions. We talk honestly and practically about what it’s really like in the early and middle stages of practice. From first session nerves, to niching, money, burnout and protecting your energy in private practice.This episode is a mix of lived experience, mistakes we’ve made, and the things we wish someone had told us sooner.In this episode we cover:What actually helps when you’re seeing your first ever clientHow to think about niching without boxing yourself inWhy pay is complicated and what to look at beyond the numberHow to protect your mental health and energy in private practiceWhy listening matters more than saying the right thingIf you’ve ever wondered if you’re doing this job “right”, this one is for you.If this episode stirred something for you, you are not alone. We are all human in this work.Contact Dr Bronwyn Milkins @ [email protected]• Mental Work PodcastGot 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 herehttp://marievakakis.com.au/be-a-podcast-guest/Got an anonymous question? Submit it here:https://forms.gle/wg7Lk61xde9Lge976

Have you ever been sitting with a young person in session while their parent waits outside, unsure how much to involve them and quietly worrying about saying the wrong thing?Working with parents alongside young people can feel daunting. Consent, confidentiality, boundaries, imposter syndrome and distressed parents can contribute to avoiding it altogether. Avoiding bringing families into the room missed crucial information and support for the young person can leave families feeling excluded and unsure of how to help.In this episode of the Inside Social Work Podcast, I talk about how to confidently and ethically include parents in therapeutic work with young people. We don’t need to be family therapy trained to include parents in sessions, and I share how we include them in thoughtful collaboration that supports the work rather than complicates it.If you work with young people and feel unsure about how to manage parents, this episode offers reassurance, practical ideas, and a reminder that you do not need to do this perfectly to do it well.In this episode, I talk about• Why involving parents often feels overwhelming for clinicians• Common fears early career practitioners have when working with families• How to set clear boundaries around confidentiality and expectations• Practical ways to include parents without overwhelming the work• Shifting from fixing to holding space when emotions run high• How collaboration with families can strengthen outcomes for young peopleContact Dr Bronwyn Milkins @ [email protected]:Mental Work PodcastConnected teensGot 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 herehttp://marievakakis.com.au/be-a-podcast-guest/Got an anonymous question? Submit it here:https://forms.gle/wg7Lk61xde9Lge976

What happens when we don’t own our stuff?This episode of Inside Social Work, I’m joined by psychologist and researcher Dr Bronwyn Milkins to talk about something many of us encounter in our work: what happens when we avoid taking responsibility for how we show up in the work.We explore those reactive moments. The times we avoid difficult conversations. The situations where our own history or blind spots start to shape our interactions with clients and teams. We discuss the importance ofemotional responsibility in mental health settings and why being trained in this work does not make us immune to rupture, defensiveness or being messy humans.We talk about• Why mental health workers idealise their colleagues• What happens when professionals avoid their own inner work• How shame and perfectionism show up in teams• When supervision becomes a mirror rather than a shield• The difference between being healed and being honest• How to recognise your triggers before they spill into the work• Ways to bring more transparency, ownership and repair into your workplaceIf this episode stirred something for you, you are not alone. We are all human in this work.Contact Dr Bronwyn Milkins @ [email protected]• Mental Work Podcast• Brene Brown YouTube clip on blame•📕 Dare to Lead by Brene Brown•📕 Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown• Grow Yourself Up by Jenny Brown 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

Couples therapy can be some of the most rewarding work we do, but it can also be some of the most challenging. If you’ve ever found yourself sitting in the room thinking, am I helping or am I refereeing?, this episode is for you.In this episode of Inside Social Work, I revisit a conversation originally recorded with Dr Bronwyn Milkins on the Mental Work Podcast, where we break down what it really looks like to work with couples without getting pulled into the crossfire.We explore what actually happens in sessions, why structure matters, and how to navigate the emotional intensity that comes with two people bringing their pain, frustration, and hopes into the room.Whether you’re new to couples work or trying to build more confidence, this conversation offers clear, practical guidance grounded in real clinical experience.We explore:Why couples work can feel emotionally demandingHow structure helps contain conflictWhat live conflict reveals about patternsHow to stay steady without taking sidesWhat to consider when separation is on the tableResources:When should you refer an individual to couples therapy? Blog post by Marie.This Complex Life - Marie's podcast where she delves into the messiness of wellbeing and relationships.Books: Come Together by Emily Nagoski, Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel, Eight Dates by John and Julie GottmanInterested in couples therapy training? Gottman Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy are common evidence-based approaches!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

Money touches every part of our lives, yet so often it’s the thing we avoid talking about. In this final episode of our money mini-series, Ashton Hayes (Becoming an AMHSW Podcast) and I wrap up our reflections on the money stories and money blocks that shape how we live, work, and relate.Together we explore:How old beliefs about money can quietly influence our choicesThe importance of transparency around money in relationshipsWhy financial literacy matters for social workers and clients alikeGendered expectations about money and worthSmall, practical steps that help you feel more confident with moneyWhy reflective practice applies just as much to money as it does to social workThis episode is about going gently with yourself, questioning the stories you’ve inherited, and starting the conversations that so many of us have avoided.ResourcesListen to the previous episodes in this series:Why we became social workers (and why we stayed)How our social work practice has grownThe careers we built that our younger selves wouldn’t believeThe moments self-doubt almost stopped usThe hardest parts of social work and what we love about itWhy do social workers feel guilty charging our worth?Saving money starting out and the mistakes we madeWe don’t have to work for freeUntangling money blocks in social workGot 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