Self-reflection is highly emphasised in contemporary clinical psychology, particularly in a comprehensive approach to professional training known as reflective Practice. The American Psychological Association, along with other organisations, considers reflective Practice to be a crucial characteristic of professional competence. According to the British Psychological Society, reflective Practice is the act of psychologists being “cognisant of the importance of self-awareness and the need to appraise and reflect on their own practice” (BPS, 2008, p. 8). In addition, BPS ascertains that psychologists understand the significance of diversity, the socio-cultural background of their job, the need to adhere to ethical standards, and the necessity of ongoing professionalism and personal growth. Self-awareness is crucial for attaining a deeper understanding of oneself, acquiring clinical wisdom, honing professional skills, and improving patient care and ethical thinking. The underlying premise of reflective practice approaches is that caregivers can improve their critical thinking skills and, by extension, their ability to interpret and execute high-quality clinical care through self-evaluation. The purpose of critical self-reflective Practice is evident in areas of clinical competence, ethical Practice and decision-making, cultural sensitivity, and professional development.
Purpose of self-reflection
Self-reflection entails deliberately analysing one’s ideas, emotions, and motivations, revealing any lingering traumas, biases, or beliefs that could impact professional conduct. Its primary objective is to cultivate a knowledge of one’s values and opinions while recognising the potential impact of one’s biases on communication and decision-making processes. Actively performing self-reflection facilitates the development of an appreciation for one’s values and attitudes and their influence on cognitive processes and actions. Engaging in self-reflection fosters a heightened self-awareness regarding one’s perspective on clinical Practice, encompassing its positive attributes and areas for improvement. Engaging in introspection regarding one’s preconceived notions and prejudices, which may be overt but are frequently hidden, about race and ethnicity holds significant meaning (Bennett-Levy and Thwaites, 2007, p.263). The ability to engage in self-reflection is a crucial factor differentiating the acquisition of advanced interpersonal skills from technical or conceptual skills. Therapists may frequently lack awareness of certain nuanced elements of their nonverbal communication. Self-reflection is essential when personal issues or difficulties with interpersonal skills, which the therapist may not be fully aware of, contribute to a breakdown in therapy.
Regular self-reflection helps psychologists reduce the likelihood of experiencing burnout, allowing them to monitor and protect their mental and emotional health actively. It also enables flexible learning, guaranteeing that professionals remain up-to-date with advancing treatment techniques and practices supported by evidence. Reflective psychologists often build strong therapeutic alliances with their clients, enabling them to build trust and engage in open conversation. Regularly engaging in self-reflection can help ensure that therapeutic intervention maintains empathy, ethics, and a focus on the client. Cultivating self-awareness can enhance the capacity to establish meaningful connections with clients and provide assistance while facilitating ongoing personal growth.
Ethical Practice and Decision-making
Self-reflective Practice is vital in decision-making within a clinical setting. Psychologists must recognise that decision-making involves introspection and observation of the external environment. The decision-making process necessitates recognising that the specific matter requiring a decision might frequently lack clarity, like a holographic image (Truglio-Londrigan and Lewenson, 2008, p.2). Acknowledging and searching the surroundings for information that can assist the psychologist in restoring clarity to the situation is crucial. This clarity is necessary to make a decision. Knowledge acquisition may necessitate utilising several methods, such as introspection, adherence to ethical principles, consideration of cultural factors, and reliance on empirical data. This is particularly important when considering the knowledge, abilities, and proficiencies that psychologists must possess and demonstrate.
Increased self-awareness empowers professionals to match their behaviour with ethical concepts and norms, fostering a principled mindset in their duties. Self-reflection fosters empathy and a more profound comprehension of many viewpoints, thus improving the capacity to make equitable and inclusive judgments. Through consistent self-assessment of their behaviours and motivations, psychologists can pinpoint areas needing change, thus strengthening their dedication to ethical conduct and fostering continuous development in ethical proficiency. Our past experiences, whether we are aware of them or not, play a role in our decisions and the decisions we assist others in making in our profession (Truglio-Londrigan and Lewenson, 2008, p.11). Reflective Practice allows clinical psychologists to comprehend their client’s conduct and viewpoint. This provides a solid connection to psychological formulation, which is widely recognised as a fundamental skill psychologists employ to understand and interpret their clients’ issues.
Self-reflective Practice has placed particular importance on utilising personal experience to guide therapeutic Practice, with self-reflective questions as a crucial tool. These introspective inquiries are intended to bridge the gap between personal and professional realms (e.g. What were the details of my encounter? What are the consequences or ramifications of my position as a therapist?) (Chigwedere et al., 2021, p.424). The main effects of self-reflection include the cultivation of self-awareness, interpersonal abilities, reflective abilities, and technical proficiencies. Generally, self-reflective practices help psychologists enhance their capacity to comprehend their clients’ viewpoints and facilitate their progress in handling challenging psychological issues.
References
Bennett-Levy, J. and Thwaites, R., 2007. Self and self-reflection in the therapeutic relationship. The therapeutic relationship in the cognitive behavioural psychotherapies, pp.255-281.
British Psychological Society., 2008. Committee on training in clinical psychology criteria for the accreditation of postgraduate training programmes in clinical psychology. 1Library – documents sharing platform. Pp. 1-83. https://1library.net/document/yjrl2k2z-committee-training-clinical-psychology-accreditation-postgraduate-programmes-psychology.html
Chigwedere, C., Bennett-Levy, J., Fitzmaurice, B. and Donohoe, G., 2021. Personal Practice in counselling and CBT trainees: the self-perceived impact of personal therapy and self-practice/self-reflection on personal and professional development. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 50(5), pp.422-438.
Fisher, P., Chew, K. and Leow, Y.J., 2015. Clinical psychologists’ use of reflection and reflective Practice within clinical work. Reflective Practice, 16(6), pp.1-26. https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/55571/3/Clin_Psych_and_Reflective_Practice_Resubmitted_Version_1_6_15_PURE_version_.pdf
Lilienfeld, S.O, & Basterfield, C., 2020. Reflective Practice in clinical psychology: Reflections from basic psychological science. Clin Psychol Sci Pract. 00:e12352. Pp.1-16. https://scottlilienfeld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/lilienfeld2020.pdf
Truglio-Londrigan, M. and Lewenson, S.B., 2008. Know Yourself. Reflective Decision Making. Decision-making in nursing: Thoughtful approaches to practice, pp.1-11. https://samples.jbpub.com/9781284026177/9781284026177_CH01_V2XX.pdf
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