Telling our professional stories

Abstract

This research focused on the role reflective strategies have in bringing about change to professional practice. Eight practitioners from nursing, occupational therapy, teaching and real estate professions were involved. Using journalling and storytelling, the relationships between practitioners, professional practice, reflection and change were explored. The research was conducted within a critical social framework using qualitative methodology with data gathered from individual, collaborative and research journals, and from semi-structured interviews during which participants told stories about their practice.

The study found that a range of reflective strategies were required to implement and support change. Participants used journalling and storytelling to achieve different outcomes but even these were not sufficient as dialectic reflection was also needed. In addition, participants found bringing about change in professional contexts had implications for self and for practice. A range of self care and practice preservation approaches was required. Links were also evident between participants' concepts of power, their perceived control over events, and how they initiated and implemented change.