This episode contains discussion around working as a Social Worker, Covid, burnout, childhood experiences and Black Beauty standards.



🎧 Join us for an empowering and deeply relatable conversation with social worker, counsellor and coach Xena James as she shares her journey from burnout to breakthrough, tackling perfectionism and reconnecting with her inner child.



This honest and insightful discussion explores how frontline work during Covid led to burnout, and how therapy became the catalyst for profound personal transformation and self-acceptance.



Hosted by:

Michaela McCarthy (Founder of The Awareness Centre, The Awareness Centre Training School, and Creator and Host of A Bunch of Therapists Podcast, Senior BACP Accredited Psychotherapist and Influential Leader) and Dipti Solanki (Therapist, Coach & Consultant, Mental Health Trainer and Founder of Grief Matters 4 All CIC).



In this compelling episode, Xena openly shares:

• Her experience of burnout as a frontline social worker during the pandemic

• How an Employee Assistance Programme therapist gave her a 'moment to slow down'

• Using social work insights to reassess her own adverse childhood experiences

• Struggling with unrealistic standards of Black Beauty whilst growing up

• The constant feeling that her natural self was never enough

• How perfectionism became a coping mechanism and barrier to authenticity

• Her journey towards self-acceptance and embracing her inner child

• Successfully balancing teaching social work with coaching and counselling



This essential conversation offers valuable insights for anyone struggling with social media pressure, perfectionism, and the journey towards genuine self-acceptance.



🔍 Key Topics Discussed:

• Recognising and recovering from professional burnout

• The impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult perfectionism

• Navigating beauty standards and cultural expectations

• How social work skills can inform personal healing

• The role of therapy in breaking perfectionist patterns

• Reconnecting with your authentic self and inner child

• Balancing multiple professional roles whilst maintaining wellbeing

• Practical strategies for overcoming perfectionism

• The importance of slowing down in our fast-paced world



Chapters:

00:00 Intro

1:30 Why Xena Went Into Therapy & Working as a Social Work

2:40 Working as a Social Worker During Covid

3:46 The Journey Leading Up to Therapy & Xena's Experience as an Adolescent

05:50 How Xena Processes Herself & Inner Child Work

06:23 Feeling Like a Failure For Going to Therapy

07:37 Finding & Meeting Your Own Needs

09:40 Image & Perfectionism

10:35 Beauty Standards as a Woman of Colour

15:02 Structural Family Therapy

17:17 Xena's Journey to Becoming a Therapist Through Education

18:20 Inner Child Work

19:31 Xena on Talking to Her 12 Year Old Self

21:40 Reparenting Yourself Through Therapy

22:37 Xena's Current Role & Being a Student at The Awareness Centre

23:14 Outro





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