Reflective Practice
Reflective practice is a regular (often monthly) opportunity for a team to come together to support each other and reflect on their work.
Reflective practice is a confidential, non-hierarchical space in which to build support and solidarity. It is also a space to engage constructively in sometimes awkward or difficult conversations within a facilitated, respectful and non-judgemental environment. While group members determines the topics explored in each session based on their needs, the facilitator offers prompts, assists in identifying and examining issues, and works with the team to co-create a respectful space in which everyone can participate. Participants are invited to show up as themselves, with the goal of listening, learning, sharing, supporting one another, and taking responsibility for their impact on each other.
Reflective practice may include sharing casework experiences and strategies; discussing complex client interactions, communication challenges and boundary-setting; supporting one another through difficult experiences; and exploring workplace dynamics, as well as political and systemic issues that affect our work and capacity to work — including our home lives, health, discrimination, trauma and intergenerational trauma we may be impacted by. It may also involve acknowledging and sharing common emotional responses such as frustration, hopelessness, excitement, joy, anxiety, care and empathy.
As a peer support and reflection space, reflective practice works best when participants commit, where possible, to showing up consistently for one another. Fundamentally, reflective practice is about building mutual support and solidarity so that lawyers can undertake complex social justice work, within systemically unjust structures and with limited resources, without harming themselves, their clients or each other.
Group work is a powerful opportunity for growth and support. When participants experience safety in reflective practice, people’s courage and hope can be affirmed and participants have the opportunity to restructure their understanding of their experiences to create new, non-shame inducing meanings and as opportunities for growth and development.
While reflective practice is only one part of a lawyer’s broader support system, in a society that can promote isolation, individualism and disconnection, it is an important and meaningful component of that support.
Recent comment on my reflective practices sessions from a team leader:
“Everyone absolutely LOVES your sessions, Tamar. They have made a real impact on the team. We can't thank you enough.”