Join co-hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey for a deep dive into one of the most complex emotions in clinical practice: Shame.

Why do we avoid talking about shame when it impacts so much of our work? In this episode, Jodie and Rose unpack the critical differences between “I am bad” (shame) and “I did something bad” (guilt), alongside the distinct nuances of embarrassment and humiliation. Drawing on insights from Brené Brown, Donald Nathanson, and Paul Gilbert, they explore how shame shows up in the room, from quiet withdrawal to overt aggression and perfectionism.

The hosts dive into Nathanson’s Compass of Shame, the physical and emotional toll of shame spirals, and how gendered expectations shape the way clients internalize or act out their pain. They tackle systemic shame in human services, reflect on a powerful call that "shame must change sides", and discuss why domestic violence work demands genuine accountability rather than weaponized shaming. Packed with practical micro-skills, Shame Resilience Theory, and ways to handle clinician imposter syndrome, this conversation is an essential guide to building real shame competence in practice.

In this episode, we cover:

• What is Shame? Core definitions, its impact on self-esteem, and why the less we talk about it, the more power it holds.

• Sorting the Emotional Spectrum: The crucial clinical distinction between “I am bad” (shame) versus “I did something bad” (guilt), plus how shame masks as anger, especially in men.

• Nathanson’s Compass of Shame: The four defensive patterns (Withdrawal, Avoidance, Attack Self, Attack Others) and how early relational trauma shapes trait shame.

• Gendered Experiences: How men and women process, internalize, or externalize shame differently under societal pressures.

• Systemic & Practice Applications: Why professional systems can accidentally act as "vectors of shame," the dangers of shaming perpetrators in domestic violence work, and why accountability must work through shame rather than weaponizing it.

• "Shame Must Change Sides": A reflection on the landmark trial of Gisèle Pelicot and the power of shifting the burden of shame from victims to perpetrators.

• Practitioner Toolkit: Micro-skills, narrative therapy techniques, Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Shame Resilience Theory (SRT), and building clinician "shame competence".

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Visit our website: relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au to download our Ambiguous Loss printables.

• Have a practice story, question, or comment? Send us an email at Relationalpractice01@gmail.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!

• Music by Hannah Park

• Editing by Angus Pinkstone

If you found today's conversation valuable for your practice, please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help us build our community and make these essential conversations accessible to more workers.

What actually happens in our brains and bodies when stress crosses the line into psychological harm? In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey take a deep dive into the hidden mechanics of trauma, unpacking how chronic stress reshapes the mind, body, and daily relationships. Jodie and Rose blend neurobiology, developmental insights, and clinical wisdom to help practitioners move past surface symptoms.

In this episode, we unpack:

• The Neurobiology of Threat: How an overactive amygdala, downregulated prefrontal cortex, and shrinking hippocampus keep the nervous system stuck in "survival mode".
• Age & Presentation: Why trauma looks like "high-functioning burnout" or physical pain in adults, but shows up as regression, self-blame, or behavioural disruptions in children.
• The Multi-System Ripple Effect: Using Dan Siegel's Window of Tolerance to understand emotional dysregulation, the shame loop, betrayal trauma, and why hyper-independence is often a trauma response in disguise.
• Practical & Safe Interventions: Why proactive screening matters, why single-session psychological debriefing can cause harm, and how first-line therapies like TF-CBT and EMDR foster genuine recovery.

Whether you are a social worker, allied health professional, educator, or student, this episode offers a grounding, trauma-informed perspective on supporting survivors without burning out yourself.

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey welcome back Dr. Adam McCormick, Professor of Social Work at St. Edward’s University, trauma expert, and author, for an in-depth conversation on reframing how practitioners connect with boys.

Traditional direct-questioning methods often fall short when supporting boys carrying trauma, navigating the foster care system, or struggling under societal expectations of masculinity. Dr. McCormick breaks down how traditional masculine norms cause boys to disconnect from their internal emotional landscapes, frequently masking vulnerability, fear, or sadness behind anger and defiance.

Key Takeaways:

· Understanding "Shoulder-to-Shoulder" Connection: Why shifting away from face-to-face, analytical questioning toward low-stakes, relational spaces allows boys to open up safely.

· The Role of Shame & Adaptation: How a boy’s behaviour, including emotional shutdown or anger, acts as an adaptive, protective response to shame and trauma.

· Pacing & Tone: Practical guidance on dropping seeds of conversation, sitting with silence, and using relational language instead of confrontational prompts.

· Holding Space in High-Tension Moments: Techniques for staying present during big emotional responses (defiance or shutdown) without escalating or pulling away.

Whether you work in child protection, out-of-home care (OOHC), school counselling, or clinical therapy, this episode provides actionable insights to help you build safety, trust, and genuine connection with the boys in your practice.

Episode Resources & Guest Info

· Guest Website & Work: Learn more about Dr. Adam McCormick’s research and books, including Healing the Helping Professional: The Unfinished Business of Childhood and LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care.

· Podcast Website: Visit relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au for show notes, printables, and extra resources.

· Get in Touch: Send your practice stories, feedback, or questions to Relationalpractice01@gmail.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

· Edited by Angus Pinkstone

· Music by Hannah Park