How to Feel Confident When Working With Parents

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 peopleContact Dr Bronwyn Milkins @ [email protected]:Mental Work PodcastConnected teensGot 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 [email protected], 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 herehttp://marievakakis.com.au/be-a-podcast-guest/Got an anonymous question? Submit it here:https://forms.gle/wg7Lk61xde9Lge976