Reflective practice is critical enquiry into any aspect of our practice, deepening and clarifying understanding of it and our relationship with it.

It involves reflection, an important aspect of which is reflexivity.

Reflection is a process of focussed thinking - about anything. We focus upon specific situations or relationships. This can help, for example, develop our perception of others (such as clients or colleagues), perhaps by comprehending their point-of-view better.

Reflexivity is self-critical reflection. It focusses upon one's actions, thoughts, hopes, fears, role, values and assumptions with the aim of gaining insight into them. Reflexivity can, for example, enable us to perceive that we do not every day practice according to the values we state as being significant to us in our practice (i.e. our values-in-practice prove to be at variance with our espoused values).

Reflective practice concerns our work, and areas of our experience which impinge upon it. Reflection involving reflexivity is critical questioning which can be initiated and supported by creative reflective processes. These can help us to observe ourselves and our practice from points of view outside of ourselves.

Reflective practice writing, involving explorative and expressive use of narrative, metaphor, and so on, has the creative power to give different perspectives on our relationships, actions and assumptions. Such writings, when reread, reflected upon, and discussed with confidential trusting respectful peers, can develop their full potential to give insight and pathways for development.

Sources

Cambridhe Assessment International
Getting started with Reflective Practice

Sage Publications
Reflective Practice