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:

1. What actually helps when you’re seeing your first ever client
2. How to think about niching without boxing yourself in
3. Why pay is complicated and what to look at beyond the number
4. How to protect your mental health and energy in private practice
5. Why listening matters more than saying the right thing

If 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 @ mentalworkpodcast@gmail.com

Resources

• Mental Work Podcast

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 contact@marievakakis.com.au, 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

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 people

Contact Dr Bronwyn Milkins @ mentalworkpodcast@gmail.com

Resources:

1. Mental Work Podcast
2. Connected teens

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 contact@marievakakis.com.au, 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

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 of

emotional 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 workplace

If this episode stirred something for you, you are not alone. We are all human in this work.

Contact Dr Bronwyn Milkins @ mentalworkpodcast@gmail.com

Resources

• 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 contact@marievakakis.com.au, 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 demanding
• How structure helps contain conflict
• What live conflict reveals about patterns
• How to stay steady without taking sides
• What to consider when separation is on the table

Resources:

• 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 Gottman
• Interested 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 contact@marievakakis.com.au, 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 choices
• The importance of transparency around money in relationships
• Why financial literacy matters for social workers and clients alike
• Gendered expectations about money and worth
• Small, practical steps that help you feel more confident with money
• Why reflective practice applies just as much to money as it does to social work

This episode is about going gently with yourself, questioning the stories you’ve inherited, and starting the conversations that so many of us have avoided.

Resources

Listen to the previous episodes in this series:

• Why we became social workers (and why we stayed)
• How our social work practice has grown
• The careers we built that our younger selves wouldn’t believe
• The moments self-doubt almost stopped us
• The hardest parts of social work and what we love about it
• Why do social workers feel guilty charging our worth?
• Saving money starting out and the mistakes we made
• We don’t have to work for free
• Untangling money blocks in social work

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 contact@marievakakis.com.au, 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

Our relationship with money doesn’t start when we open our first bank account. It’s shaped from childhood, through our families, culture, community, and the messages we absorbed without even realising. These “money stories” influence how we value ourselves, the fees we set, the risks we take, and the limits we place on our practice.

In this episode, Ashton and I explore the money myths and blocks that show up for social workers in private practice. We share our own experiences, unpack where these beliefs come from, and talk about how shifting them can open up new possibilities in our work and lives.

What we cover:

• What “money stories” are and why they matter
• How family and culture shape our beliefs about money
• Common money myths (hard work equals worth, ambition equals greed)
• How money blocks play out in practice, undercharging, burnout, and fear of growth
• Practical tools and resources to reflect on and reframe your money story

Resources

Listen to the previous episodes in this series:

• Why we became social workers (and why we stayed)
• How our social work practice has grown
• The careers we built that our younger selves wouldn’t believe
• The moments self-doubt almost stopped us
• The hardest parts of social work and what we love about it
• Why do social workers feel guilty charging our worth?
• Saving money starting out and the mistakes we made
• We don’t have to work for free

Also explore:

• Books – She’s On the Money, Barefoot Investor, Profit First, You’re a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
• Journaling prompts – Ashton’s 30-day reflections on money blocks
• How to Improve Your Relationship With Money

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 contact@marievakakis.com.au, 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:

Social work is often framed as a profession of sacrifice, but does that mean we should give away our time and expertise for free?

In this episode, Ashton and I unpack the belief that charging for our services makes us less caring. We talk about fee transparency, the real costs of running a practice, and how the expectation of free or underpaid labour undermines both social workers and clients.

We also reflect on the importance of boundaries, sustainability, and the difference between choosing to give back through volunteering or community work and being pressured to undervalue ourselves.

• Why social workers are pressured to work for free (and why it’s harmful)
• The hidden costs of private practice (training, HEX debt, ongoing supervision)
• Fee transparency and clear expectations with clients
• How undervaluing ourselves undermines the profession
• Balancing generosity and sustainability in practice
• The difference between volunteering by choice vs. being exploited

Resources

Listen to the previous episodes in this series:

• Why we became social workers (and why we stayed)
• How our social work practice has grown
• The careers we built that our younger selves wouldn’t believe
• The moments self-doubt almost stopped us
• The hardest parts of social work and what we love about it
• Why do social workers feel guilty charging our worth?
• Saving money starting out and the mistakes we made

Also explore:

Open letter from Ashon Hayes - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-accredited-mental-health-social-worker-ashton-hayes-idq9c/

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 contact@marievakakis.com.au, 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

Mentioned in this episode:

5 Days to Career Clarity in Social Work

Reflect, plan, and take your next step with confidence. Feeling stuck or unsure about your next move? https://mailchi.mp/marievakakis/days-to-career-clarity-in-social-work

5...

Starting in private practice is exciting and expensive. There are so many choices about what to spend on and what to skip. From shiny new tech to endless training courses, it can be easy to waste money before you’ve even found your feet.

In this episode, Ashton and I talk about where you can actually save money when you’re just starting out, the investments that are worth it, and our biggest money blunders (spoiler: ring lights and training we never finished).

We cover:

• Why systems are the best early investment
• How to avoid wasting money on unused tech or subscriptions
• The hidden savings in group supervision and training bundles
• The importance of cancellation policies to protect your income
• Balancing “just getting started” with optimising as you grow
• Our own biggest money mistakes (and what we’d do differently)

This conversation is about being strategic. Spend where it counts, cut back where you can, and don’t let shiny distractions eat into your income.

Resources

Listen to the previous episodes in this series:

• Why we became social workers (and why we stayed)
• How our social work practice has grown
• The careers we built that our younger selves wouldn’t believe
• The moments self-doubt almost stopped us
• The hardest parts of social work and what we love about it
• Why do social workers feel guilty charging our worth?

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 contact@marievakakis.com.au, 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

Mentioned in this episode:

5 Days to Career Clarity in Social Work

Reflect, plan, and take your next step with confidence. Feeling stuck or unsure about your next move? https://mailchi.mp/marievakakis/days-to-career-clarity-in-social-work

5 Days to Career Clarity in Social Work

Reflect, plan, and take your next step with confidence. Feeling stuck or unsure about your next move? https://mailchi.mp/marievakakis/days-to-career-clarity-in-social-work