Aggression: Instrumental vs. Reactive, why the Distinction Matters

Aggression: Instrumental vs. Reactive, why the Distinction Matters

Trigger Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions regarding aggression, violence, and antisocial behaviour. We recognize this content may be distressing, so please prioritize your well-being while listening. Aggression is a topic that sits at the very heart of social work practice, yet it is rarely "one-size-fits-all". In this episode, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive into the nuances of aggressive behaviour, moving beyond the surface-level outburst to understand the underlying drivers. Whether you are navigating a heated argument with a client or assessing purposeful, goal-directed harm, the distinction between Reactive and Instrumental aggression changes everything about how we assess, respond to, and ultimately help the people we work with. Key Discussion Points * The Two Faces of Aggression: We break down the fundamental differences between Reactive Aggression (the "hot," impulsive survival response driven by fear or threat) and Instrumental Aggression (the "cold," calculated, and goal-directed behaviour). * The Survival Brain vs. The Thinking Brain: Understanding how reactive aggression often stems from physiological arousal and trauma, where the emotional brain takes over before the thinking brain can intervene. * The Challenge of Instrumental Aggression: Why "cold" aggression is often harder to identify clinically and its strong links to callous-unemotional traits and reduced empathy. * Evidence-Based Interventions: We explore which treatments work for which profile—ranging from CBT, Anger Management, and DBT for reactive patterns, to Schema Therapy and specialized cognitive training for instrumental behaviours. * The Social Work Strength: Why a whole-person, systemic, and trauma-informed lens is the most powerful tool for de-escalation and long-term change. * Practitioner Safety: A vital reminder that clinician self-care is a non-negotiable part of working with high-risk behaviours. We’d love to hear from you! Do you have a story, question, or topic you'd like us to talk about? Or maybe you'd like to join us as a guest on an episode? Drop us a line at relationalpractice01@gmail.com [relationalpractice01@gmail.com] Editing by Angus Pinkstone. Music by Hannah Park.

Dissociation: What Is It and Why Does It Matter in Practice?

💡 How confident do you feel responding when a client dissociates mid-session? Dissociation is everywhere in our caseloads, yet so many practitioners feel unsure about what it actually is, how to assess for it, and how to safely respond in the room. In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr Jodie Park and Rose Mackey strip away the jargon fog to talk about the gaps between what we see and what we know. We map out the 4 levels of dissociation, dive into the neurobiology of "dissociative collapse" and look at why it's a brilliant survival response. What you’ll learn: * 🧠 How to use Dan Siegel’s Window of Tolerance to guide your session pacing. * ❄️ 5 evidence-backed grounding strategies to use in a session. * 🚸 How to differentiate trauma-related dissociation in children from normal developmental play or sensory shutdowns. * 🤝 Why shifting from trauma-informed to trauma-and-violence-informed practice is the key to removing systemic shame for clients. As always, your own nervous system matters! Tune in to learn how to cultivate conditions of safety so your clients can find their way back. 🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform, and don't forget to download our ambiguous loss printables over at our website! 👉 relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au [http://relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au] We would love to hear from you! Send practice stories, comments and feedback to relationalpractice01@gmail.com [relationalpractice01@gmail.com] Editing by Angus Pinkstone. Music by Hannah Park.

Self -harm: Moving Beyond Fear and Stigma

Trigger Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions about self-harm (non-suicidal self-injury). We recognize this content may be distressing. Please prioritize your well-being while listening. Discovering that a young person may be hurting themselves often triggers a level of fear and uncertainty in practitioners and caregivers that few other topics can match. Despite how common it is, self-harm remains a deeply misunderstood aspect of adolescent mental health. Far too often, the subject is buried under layers of social stigma and silence, or met with responses that, while well-intentioned, fail to provide the actual support a young person needs. In this episode, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey "cut through" the misconceptions to provide a clear, evidence-based understanding of self-harm. Whether you are a parent, carer, teacher, welfare or social worker, this conversation is designed to equip you with the tools to recognize, respond to, and support a young person in pain. We dive deep into: * Defining the Intent: Why self-harm is increasingly recognized as a health issue independent of suicidal ideation. * The "Why" Behind the Pain: Understanding self-harm as a way to cope with, express, or control emotional pain, or even as a form of self-punishment. * Hidden Signs & Modern Variants: From the "visible" signs like clothing choices to less recognized forms like self-battery and digital self-harm (self-cyberbullying). * The Power of First Response: Why reacting with calm, compassion, and curiosity, rather than shock or anger, is the most critical step in keeping the door of communication open. Self-harm is a young person’s way of communicating they are in more pain than they know how to carry. Join us as we discuss how to help them find something better to put in its place. Where to Find Support Australia-Based Services (24/7) * Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 (For ages 5–25) * Lifeline: 13 11 14 * Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 * 13YARN: 13 92 76 (Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) * Immediate Danger: Call 000 or visit your local emergency department. For Our International Listeners If you are listening from outside of Australia, please know that support is available to you. We encourage you to reach out to your local emergency services or search for national mental health helplines in your country. Many regions offer 24/7 crisis support via phone or text. Seeking help from a mental health professional is the most effective way to address self-harm and find long-term relief. Editing by Angus Pinkstone. Music by Hannah Park.

Co-Regulating the Frontline: Why We Need a "Rose" for Every "Jodie"

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey go beyond the catch-all term of "stress" to explore the specific psychological injuries that social workers sustain on the front lines. We often feel that our exhaustion is a personal failure, but today we reframe it as a predictable biological and ethical response to a high-pressure system. Drawing heavily on the work of Vikki Reynolds, we dismantle the "Just Stressed" myth and look at why burnout is often actually "Ethical Conflict", the pain of being forced to work against our own professional ethics. In this episode, we discuss: * The Injury Spectrum: Distinguishing between Vicarious Trauma (a shift in your worldview), Burnout (systemic exhaustion), Compassion Fatigue (nervous system drain), and Spiritual Pain (moral injury). * The "Zone of Fabulousness": How to stay connected to your clients without becoming enmeshed in their trauma or disconnected like a "bureaucratic robot". * Boundaries as Physical Safety: Why saying "no" and choosing your meeting environment are high-level clinical tools that protect your nervous system. * Radical Self-Compassion: Moving away from "performative" self-care (like bubble baths) toward "Ethical Resistance" and collective accountability. * Justice-Doing: Finding small, subversive ways to honour client dignity within rigid systems to jumpstart your own resilience. Whether you are feeling the "Sunday Scaries" or struggling with a sense of "Moral Injury," this episode is a call to reach out to your colleagues and start practicing collective care. Show Notes & Resources * Visit our website: relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au [http://relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au] * Connect with us: Join our community on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. * Get in touch: Email your stories to Relationalpractice01@gmail.com [Relationalpractice01@gmail.com]. * Featured Concepts: * Vikki Reynolds: "The Zone of Fabulousness" and "Justice-Doing". * Kristin Neff: The framework of Self-Compassion (Common Humanity vs. Isolation). * Polyvagal Theory: Understanding "Dorsal Vagal" shutdown and nervous system regulation. Editing by Angus Pinkstone Music by Hannah Park Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review to help us grow our community of relational practitioners!

Relationship First: The Key to Safe DV Disclosure

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey are joined by Professor Joanne Spangaro, a distinguished researcher and academic leader whose career is defined by a deep commitment to addressing gender-based violence (GBV). With a professional journey that began in 1984 as a sexual assault counsellor, Jo brings over four decades of frontline experience to her high-impact systemic research. We dive into Jo’s influential work as a researcher, specifically her critical examination of the implementation and impact of routine screening for intimate partner violence (IPV). We discuss the nuances of how survivors decide to disclose abuse and why the health system's response must be rooted in relationship-building and cultural safety. In this episode, we discuss: * Screening Research & Implementation: The background and evidence-base for domestic violence screening tools. * "Deciding to Tell": Jo’s research into how women decide to disclose experiences of abuse when asked by healthcare professionals. * Indigenous Health & Cultural Safety: Factors influencing Australian Aboriginal women’s decisions to disclose violence and the necessity of clinical safety. * Implementation Tips: Practical considerations and tips for practitioners implementing screening in their own fields. * Navigating Complexity: Understanding the risk factors and implementation challenges associated with IPV. Whether you are a practitioner in health, child protection, or private practice, Jo’s insights offer a powerful look at how research can translate into safer environments and improved service delivery for survivors. Show Notes & Resources * Visit our website: relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au [http://relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au] * Connect with us: Join our community on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. * Get in touch: We love hearing your practice stories! Email us at Relationalpractice01@gmail.com [Relationalpractice01@gmail.com]. * Featured Guest: Professor Joanne Spangaro, a prolific author of over 60 peer-reviewed works and an expert in domestic violence practice. Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review to help us continue bringing these vital conversations to the social work community! Editing by Angus Pinkstone Music by Hannah Park Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review to help us grow our community of relational practitioners!