Professional and personal identities as clinical psychologists

Therapeutic and professional relationships can often be enhanced with an element of humanity, yet striking a balance between being human and maintaining professional boundaries can be difficult to navigate, particularly in diverse working contexts. This chapter explores the concept of identity, focusing on some of the specific identities simultaneously held by aspiring and qualified clinical psychologists and the challenges associated within this. This chapter highlights the importance of acknowledging one’s own humanity and vulnerability to psychological distress or mental health problems, while also considering the complexity and difficulties involved with managing dual identities sometimes perceived as opposing, namely as a service user and a psychologist.