Do you ever feel like you're navigating your work solo, without a support system? In this episode, I'm diving into the world of group supervision and why it’s a game-changer for therapists and mental health professionals. I’ll share my experiences with supervision, the lessons learned, and why group supervision has been one of the most powerful tools for professional growth and connection.

Group supervision isn’t just about case reviews; it’s about building networks, gaining different perspectives, and developing as a therapist. If you're a mental health practitioner, this episode is for you. And if you're feeling isolated in your work or unsure about group supervision, let me reassure you that it can offer so much more than you might expect.

Key Takeaways:

• The power of group supervision: It offers a chance to connect with peers and get multiple perspectives on cases.
• Normalising struggles: Hearing from other practitioners can remind you that you’re not alone in your challenges.
• Peer feedback and skill-building: Group settings provide safe spaces to improve on areas like public speaking or case presentation.
• Social networking and referrals: It’s not just about supervision—it’s about building relationships with colleagues for long-term support.
• Hive mind approach: With multiple perspectives, you get more than one way of thinking about a case, which can spark new insights.
• Building empathy and self-compassion: Group supervision fosters an environment where you can be kinder to yourself, something we often forget to do.
• Practical skill development: It’s a great space to practice presenting cases or fine-tuning therapeutic techniques in a supportive setting.

Resources:

• For more information on group supervision, visit The Therapy Hub

Other episodes in this series

Listen here

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Submit a question to the Podcast

https://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6

Connect with Marie

https://thetherapyhub.com.au/

https://marievakakis.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/

Have you ever wondered what supervision is all about and why it’s so important for mental health professionals? In this episode, I share my thoughts on the power of supervision, and how it helps mental health practitioners grow, avoid burnout, and improve their skills. Whether you’re in supervision now or looking to find the right supervisor, this episode is full of insights to get you thinking about how you can get the most out of the process.

I’ve been reflecting on my own experiences as both a supervisee and a supervisor, and in this episode, I explore the value supervision can bring to social workers and mental health professionals. Supervision is not just about ticking boxes; it's about critical reflection, growth, and making sure we’re giving the best possible care to our clients.

If you’re a mental health practitioner or professional, this episode is for you. Let’s explore the essentials of supervision and what to look for when choosing the right supervisor for your professional growth.

• Supervision is essential for maintaining high-quality practice and reducing the risk of burnout.
• It’s a space for reflection, learning, and understanding how we show up for our clients.
• Finding the right supervisor is crucial, and it can feel a lot like finding the right therapist.
• Supervision isn’t just about management – it’s about building your professional skills and supporting your wellbeing.
• It’s important to choose a supervisor who aligns with your values, areas of interest, and approach to practice.
• Some practitioners may not advertise heavily, but that doesn’t mean they’re not great supervisors – asking the right questions can help you find a good fit.
• Supervision can be flexible – you can opt for individual or group sessions, or even a mix of both.
• Supervision is a lifelong process – there’s always room to grow and learn.

Supervision is a crucial part of any mental health professional's journey, offering the opportunity for ongoing learning, growth, and preventing burnout. In this episode, I dive into the importance of finding the right supervisor and the many ways supervision can support both your professional and personal development. Whether you’re just starting out or have been practicing for years, supervision can help you provide better care for your clients and keep your own wellbeing in check.

Submit a question to the Podcast

https://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6

Connect with Marie

https://thetherapyhub.com.au/

https://marievakakis.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/

Workplace bullying, burnout, and work-related stress are significant issues that can have detrimental effects on individuals in various professions. It's essential to recognise the signs of workplace bullying, take action early, and prioritise self-care to prevent long-term negative effects on mental and physical health.

In this episode, our guest, Frances Caile shares her experiences and insights on workplace bullying, burnout, and work-related stress. She explains how she was drawn to social work and her transition to private practice to have more time to do good work without the politics of organisations and paperwork. She discusses her motivation for setting up her private practice and her specialisations in workplace bullying, burnout, and workplace stress.

• Key Takeaways:
• 
  
• Workplace bullying is defined as repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety
• 
  
• Examples of workplace bullying include spreading rumours, excluding or isolating someone socially, intimidation, threatening a person's role or performance, undermining or impeding a person's work, and withholding necessary information
• 
  
• Workplace bullying can have serious consequences on the mental and physical health of the victims, and it's important to seek assistance and support early to prevent long-term negative effects
• 
  
• Work-related stress and burnout are common in high-stress roles such as social work, teaching, and healthcare, as well as in resource-constrained environments with high turnover and competition for promotion
• 
  
• It's crucial to prioritise self-care, set boundaries, and seek support when experiencing work-related stress and burnout to prevent long-term physical and mental health issues.

Contact details for Frances

https://www.stresssupport.com.au/

Promo code for working ISW2023 for 20% off

https://marievakakis.com.au/

https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/

Helping women recover from interpersonal trauma and violence

Liz is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who runs her own private practice called Breathe therapy. She's a mindful trauma therapist and is really passionate about supporting women to heal from childhood and adult experiences of interpersonal violence and abuse.

Liz has done some really incredible work and we talk about some of her social work journey, and how she incorporates various techniques such as act DBT, and mindfulness into working with women to recover from some of those experiences and diagnosis such as PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and other sorts of things that can really stem from those early experiences that women face. I hope you enjoy this episode with Liz.

Contact Liz

Ashton talks us through some steps you can take to work towards your accreditation.

She shares some of the resources that she's developed, including her accredited Mental Health Social Worker roadmap, which is part of an ebook series, private Facebook group that she has, as well as her consultation and training

We talk about supervision and what we wish we knew when we were first starting out and the importance of that.

Guest bio

Ashton is a an accredited mental health social worker with a background of working in human services and mental health settings.

She has over a decade of experience in child protection, housing, forensic and mental health settings. She currently provides supervision to human services and mental health professionals across Australia. She is also the owner and director of Willowtree Wellbeing, a counselling clinic in Western Sydney, NSW.

Ashton is passionate about providing a safe and collaborative environment for supervision for social workers, caseworkers, team leaders and anyone who works in human services.

Contact guest

https://ashtonhayesconsulting.com.au/

Previous episode with Ashton

Episode 26 : From Paralegal to Social Worker. Working with children and trauma all while staying passionate about the work you do with Ashton Hayes

Supervision series

Part 1 Supervision

Part 2 - The benefits of Group Supervision

Part 3 Supervision - Understanding learning preferences

Inside Social Work Podcast

Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast

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This is the second episode of a multi-part series examining gender and sexuality. In this episode we look at implicit bias.

About your guest Lachlan Slade

Lachlan, (he/they) is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. He has worked in the space for about 12 years now in various spaces with LGBTIQA+ and trauma work.

Lachlan Slade grew up in Shepparton studying in Albury Wodonga, and Bendigo to complete their Social Work degree. Lachlan cofounded the Out in the Open Festival, Shepparton's first LGBTIQ+ Community Festival. Lachlan has dabbled in Community Radio, and Politics.

Work with Lachlan

Upcoming events Neutralising Queerphobia workshop, in Kannygoopna (Shepparton) as part of Out in the Open Festival, tix at outintheopen.org.au. The workshop explores implicit bias, ambient trauma and Allyship.

Lachlan's LGBTIQA+ focused Group Supervision sessions: https://events.humanitix.com/group-supe#organiserInfoBox

https://sladeconsulting.services

Email: slade.consulting@protonmail.com

Instagram: @lachlan_listens

Inside Social Work Podcast: Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast/ Support the show

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

This is the first episode of a multi-part series examining gender and sexuality. How we as social workers can be more inclusive in our language and how we can work more emphatically with individuals and families.

About your guest Lachlan Slade

Lachlan, (he/they) is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker. He has worked in the space for about 12 years now in various spaces with LGBTIQA+ and trauma work.

Lachlan Slade grew up in Shepparton studying in Albury Wodonga, and Bendigo to complete their Social Work degree. Lachlan cofounded the Out in the Open Festival, Shepparton's first LGBTIQ+ Community Festival. Lachlan has dabbled in Community Radio, and Politics.

Work with Lachlan

Upcoming events Neutralising Queerphobia workshop, in Kannygoopna (Shepparton) as part of Out in the Open Festival, tix at outintheopen.org.au. The workshop explores implicit bias, ambient trauma and Allyship.

Lachlan's LGBTIQA+ focused Group Supervision sessions: https://events.humanitix.com/group-supe#organiserInfoBox

https://sladeconsulting.services

Email: slade.consulting@protonmail.com

Instagram: @lachlan_listens

Inside Social Work Podcast: Website / Facebook/ Be on the Podcast/ Support the show

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

I hate baths. Reimagining self care with Yasmine McKee-Wright

Yasmine McKee- Wright is a social worker and podcaster.

She has learned a lot from some of the guests on her podcast, Social Work Spotlight. We talk about her journey, having students on placement and a bit of time on self-care. Jasmine shares some of the things that she does for self-care and some of the things that sustain social workers in their careers.

Connect with Yasmine

swspotlightpodcast@gmail

https://anchor.fm/socialworkspotlight

https://www.facebook.com/socialworkspotlight

https://twitter.com/SWSpotlightPod

https://www.instagram.com/socialworkspotlight_podcast/