In this episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive deep into the intricate world of Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). Unlike traditional PTSD, which often stems from a single acute event, complex trauma results from prolonged, repeated experiences—often within a relational context where escape is difficult or impossible.

We explore:

• Defining the Difference: How C-PTSD fundamentally damages the sense of self and attachment capacity compared to standard PTSD.
• The Symptoms: A breakdown of "Disturbances in Self-Organization" (DSO), including affective dysregulation, negative self-concept, and chronic interpersonal difficulties.
• The Developing Brain: Insights from Dr. Bruce Perry on how chronic threat disrupts neurodevelopment and keeps the "survival brain" in a state of perpetual activation.
• The Four Fs: Understanding the survival responses of Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn.
• Pathways to Healing: An introduction to evidence-based, body-centered therapies like EMDR and Somatic Experiencing (SE). We discuss Peter Levine’s work on releasing "trapped" survival energy through titration and pendulation.

Join us as we shift the perspective from seeing symptoms as failures to recognizing them as remarkable neurobiological adaptations to unsafe environments.

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Music by Hannah Park

Editing by Angus Pinkstone

Trigger alert- there is a small amount of swearing in this episode. It is an emotive topic for us!

A Critical, Timely Deep Dive for Professionals and the Community

We understand it’s the Christmas period, and this is a heavy topic. But we also know that for many people navigating high-conflict relationships, the holidays can be the most dangerous and suffocating time of the year. This episode is dedicated to providing timely validation and understanding.

Join Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey as they move beyond isolated incidents of physical violence to examine the overarching, strategic pattern of coercive control.

Why This Episode is Essential Listening Right Now:

The festive season often acts as a catalyst for coercive control. External pressures like financial strain and forced family proximity are frequently weaponized to intensify patterns of domination. For practitioners, this is a critical window for intervention. By framing these holiday stressors as strategic tactics of entrapment, rather than isolated incidents of "stress", we provide a psychological lifeline for clients. Understanding these dynamics is essential for trauma-informed validation and navigating the heightened risks survivors face this time of year.

What You Will Learn in This Deep Dive:

• Defining the Core Harm: We discuss the foundational research of Evan Stark, who defines domestic violence not by the use of force, but by the systematic deprivation of liberty and autonomy.

• The Blueprint of Domination: Understand the sophisticated, chronic pattern of behaviours, including isolation, micromanagement, economic abuse, and surveillance—tactics that create chronic fear and entrapment.

• The Psychological Toll: We explore the link between chronic abuse and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), and why survivors often feel trapped, using the Hostage Syndrome analogy to explain the impact of learned helplessness.

• Lethal Risk & Assessment: Coercive control is consistently identified as a precursor in approximately 97% of intimate partner homicides. We detail why the control, not just the physical punch, is the core lethal risk factor.

This episode details trauma-informed interventions for social workers, emphasising the need to re-establish a client's autonomy and safely document the pattern of control.

🚨 Need Support?

If this episode has raised any issues for you, please reach out to the following services in Australia:

• Emergency: Always call Triple Zero (000).
• Lifeline 13 11 14
• 1800RESPECT: Confidential counselling and support. Phone: 1800 737 732 (24/7).
• Men's Referral Service: For men concerned about their own use of violence. Phone: 1300 766 491.
• 13 Yarn 13 92 76

For our international listeners, please contact your local domestic violence or crisis support services.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and our new YouTube page for more content! Send any practice stories, episode suggestions, or anything social work related to relationalpractice01@gmail.com.

If you like our podcast, please take a minute to rate, review, and subscribe. This helps others find us and helps us continue to create valuable content.

Music by Hannah Park

Editing by Angus Pinkstone

"Stop asking, 'What is wrong with you?' Start asking, 'What happened to you?'

In our new episode of Relational Practice: A Social Work Podcast, Dr. Jodie Park and Rose Mackey dive deep into applying a Trauma Lens to Emotional and Behavioural Regulation. Think about an Iceberg: the behaviour you see is just the tip. Beneath the surface are protective, biological responses rooted in trauma.

Key takeaways for practitioners:

✅ Definition: The shift from being 'trauma-informed' to 'trauma-responsive' (SAMHSA).

✅ Neurobiology: Understanding the Polyvagal Theory (Ventral Vagal, Sympathetic, Dorsal Vagal) and why a body gets 'stuck on alert.'

✅ Strategy: Why we must prioritize co-regulation (Regulate-Relate-Reason) to promote individual healing. We advocate for a focus that promotes using a reparative relationship in an intentional way.

Whether you work with children, families, individuals or groups, this discussion will fundamentally change how you view 'challenging' behaviour.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and our new YouTube page for more content!

Send any practice stories, episode suggestions, or anything social work related to relationalpractice01@gmail.com.

If you like our podcast, please take a minute to rate, review, and subscribe. This helps others find us and helps us continue to create valuable content.

Music by Hannah Park

Editing by Angus Pinkstone