The experience of self-reflection and self-care for clinical psychologists in the workplace: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Clinical psychologists’ must be reflective practitioners and with the emotional challenges and stressors they are faced with within their role, taking care of themselves is paramount for themselves, their clients and their continued registration. This is the first study to explore in-depth the lived experience of the role that self-reflection in a professional context plays within clinical psychologists’ self-care. Ten qualified clinical psychologists working clinically within the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom (UK) took part in semi-structured interviews. All participant interviews were transcribed and analysed using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology. Four main themes were identified within the data, ‘The importance of psychological safety’, ‘An awareness of internal state’, ‘Connecting with others’ and ‘Reflection leads to action’. Psychological safety must be created and maintained on both an organisational and team level, for psychologists to benefit from engaging with reflective practice. When feeling psychologically safe, psychologists are then able to benefit from their professional reflective practice and it can function as a form of self-care. This research provides a deeper understanding to the relationship between reflective practice and self-care, which is essential to the professional and personal development for clinical psychologists, as well as their wellbeing.