Episode 16: The Myth of the Good Practitioner: Letting Go of Perfection in the Helping Professions

Episode 16: The Myth of the Good Practitioner: Letting Go of Perfection in the Helping ProfessionsIn this solo episode of Not Another PD, Jazmin explores one of the most deeply ingrained beliefs in the helping professions: the myth of the “good practitioner.”Where does this idea come from? Why do so many of us equate being “good” with being endlessly available, endlessly capable, endlessly calm? And what’s the cost of upholding that standard on our wellbeing, our families, and our identity at work?Drawing on her own experience working as a primary school social worker, Jazmin reflects on how striving to be the perfect practitioner can quietly become part of who we think we’re allowed to be, and how to begin unravelling that pressure.You’ll hear:- What a “myth” actually is, and why the “good practitioner” ideal is one- How universities, placements, and workplaces quietly reward overgiving- The pressure to constantly prove your worth as a practitioner (especially early career)- How perfectionism and blurred boundaries chip away at work-life balance- A simple, visual reflection activity you can try today to start releasing those internalised “shoulds”- How to start talking about this safely in supervision and peer spacesMentioned in this episode:- Reflection activity: Write a list of all the traits you think a “good” practitioner must have, read it aloud, then crumple it / erase it. You’re allowed to let those expectations go.- Supervision: Bring this conversation to your supervisor, external supervisor, or trusted peer and ask, “What expectations am I carrying that are actually costing me?”Connect with Jazmin:WebsiteInstagramBoundaries as Practitioners Online Self-Paced Training ($59) Subscribe to Not Another PD for weekly episodes on wellbeing, boundaries, and identity for helping professionals.