Ever wonder why a delayed text message or a slight shift in tone can send an adult's nervous system into absolute freefall? It's because the body never forgets the quiet relational ruptures of childhood.

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey take a deep dive into one of the most pervasive, misunderstood issues in clinical practice: abandonment trauma. While we often picture dramatic life events or overt caregiving ruptures, this conversation shines a light on the "quieter" wounds, the subtle, unsaid experience of ambiguous abandonment where a caregiver is physically present, yet emotionally unreachable.

Grounded in attachment theory and Pauline Boss’s concept of ambiguous loss, Jodie and Rose unpack how these early relational micro-experiences shape our internal working models. They explore how growing up with physically present but emotionally absent parents trains a child's developing nervous system to anticipate rejection, building implicit templates of unworthiness that persist into adult relationships and workforce patterns.

In this episode, we explore:

· The Spectrum of Abandonment: Moving beyond obvious abandonment to recognize emotional withdrawal, parentification, and conditional love.

· Ambiguous Loss in Childhood: Navigating the painful reality of ambiguous abandonment and the unique ache of growing up with emotionally absent parents.

· How It Shows Up in Therapy: Recognizing both ends of the spectrum—from panic, hypervigilance, and fear of rejection to rigid self-sufficiency, chronic emptiness, and emotional shutdown.

· Rethinking Clinical Assessment: Moving past generic checklists to ask the key questions that reveal a client's underlying attachment template.

· Practical Treatment Interventions: Step-by-step approaches for nervous system stabilization, somatic safe havens, parts-based dialogue, and repairing relational ruptures.

Show editing by Angus Pinkstone

Title music by Hannah Park

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, hosts Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey sit down for a deeply honest conversation with Dr. Adam McCormick, Professor of Social Work at St. Edward's University and author of Healing the Helping Professional: The Unfinished Business of Childhood Trauma.

Drawing on his background as an educator, researcher, and former child welfare practitioner, Adam shares how both his academic work and personal lived experience led him to explore the unspoken links between childhood adversity and caregiving careers.

Together, they explore why so many professionals in social work and human services end up exhausted, overextended, and struggling with profound guilt whenever they try to establish standard boundaries. The conversation dives into how early childhood roles, like the family "peacemaker" or "hero” steer individuals into caregiving professions, and why high-stress, chaotic work environments can feel surprisingly familiar to an over-activated nervous system.

Adam breaks down why standard "self-care" advice often misses the mark, how the urge to "fix" others can inadvertently undermine client autonomy, and what it really takes to drop the "invulnerable expert" persona to build authentic, supportive connections with peers.

Connect with Adam & Explore His Work:

· Book: Healing the Helping Professional (NASW Press)

· Free Resources: Adam's Newsletter & Downloads

· LinkedIn: You can find and connect with Adam on LinkedIn

Show editing by Angus Pinkstone

Title music by Hannah Park

Let’s dismantle the most common misconception in social work: that boundaries are about keeping people out. Boundaries aren't about building fortresses; they are about managing the gate.

In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, private practice social workers Dr Jodie Park and Rose Mackey explore what it means to maintain safe, ethical, and protective boundaries. Using the work of social worker, Lauren Finemore, they break down the "boundary spectrum”, from rigid brick walls to weak chicken wire and discuss the ideal "picket fence" balance of structured flexibility.

This conversation is for everyone, whether you are a clinician, case manager, or anyone working directly with people. Jodie and Rose unpack the vital difference between a therapeutic boundary crossing and an unethical boundary violation. They also dive into the complex realities of practice, exploring power dynamics, intersectionality, and how cultural humility allows us to co-construct boundaries in rural and Indigenous communities without enforcing a cold, alienating distance.

Finally, they highlight the true cost of boundary erosion, including compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma and share evidence-based, practical strategies to help you maintain your fence so you can keep practicing relationally.

What We Cover:

• The Boundary Spectrum: Recognizing whether your current professional default under stress is a brick wall, chicken wire, or a picket fence.
• Crossings vs. Violations: The crucial reflective test to ensure your actions are client-centred, not self-serving.
• Context & Culture: Navigating overlapping dual relationships and power imbalances in rural and remote settings.
• The Cost of Erosion: Understanding the difference between secondary traumatic stress, vicarious traumatization, and everyday burnout.
• Maintaining Your Fence: Practical clinical tools, from transparent role induction and texting policies to regular, impactful supervision.

Connect With Us:

• Webpage: relationalpracticeasocialworkpodcast.com.au
• Email: Relationalpractice01@gmail.com
• Socials: Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Please subscribe, rate, and review!
• Editing by Angus Pinkstone
• Music by Hannah Park

Remember to stay safe, take care of yourself, and always practice relationally