Clinical Psychologists use of reflection and reflective practice within clinical work

Abstract

[Extract] The concepts of reflection and reflective practice have grown in significance within global health care (Mann, Gordon & Macleod, 2009). Many different definitions of reflection and reflective practice have been generated but given the conceptual nature of this area agreeing definitive definitions has proven elusive (Mann, Gordon & MacLeod, 2009). The term reflective practitioner was initially introduced by Schon (1983) who suggested that it is a tool that can be used to revisit experiences so that they can be learned from and so that complex professional issues can be recognised and addressed. Adding to this idea of looking back over experiences other authors have considered the idea of 'reflection in action', which is the process of being reflective whilst an experience is occurring. As a concept, reflective practice was seen as a reaction against professionals becoming overly simplistic and technique driven in their application of knowledge (Thompson & Pascal, 2011).