The Reflective Practice Guide supports all students for whom the process of reflecting on developing knowledge and skills is crucial to successful professional practice. It offers an accessible introduction to a wide range of theories and models that can help you engage more effectively in critical reflection. Illustrated throughout with examples and case studies drawn from a range of interdisciplinary professional contexts, The Reflective Practice Guide offers models of practice that can be applied in a variety of settings. Reflective questions in each chapter help you apply ideas to your own professional context.

Drawing on literature from a range of disciplines, key aspects of reflection explored include:

• Becoming more self-aware
• The role of writing in reflection
• Learning from experience
• Learning from positives and negatives
• Emotions and processing feelings
• Bringing assumptions to the surface
• Learning from feedback
• Reflecting in groups
• Managing change.

The Reflective Practice Guide is an essential source of support, guidance and inspiration for all students on education, nursing, social work and counselling courses, who want to think about practice at a deeper level, question approaches, challenge assumptions and gain greater self-awareness.

The important role of reflective practice is well recognised in a wide range of professional areas, including education, health, management and social care. Students on many professional undergraduate and postgraduate courses undertake modules in reflective practice, where they are expected to engage in the process of reflecting on their developing knowledge and skills. As work has developed in this area, many academics have come to realise that reflecting on experience alone is not enough. Students need to be able to think about their practice at a deeper level, questioning their approach, challenging their assumptions and gaining greater self-awareness.