Edited by Dilys White
What is it?
Rolfe’s (2001) Framework for Reflective Practice is a powerful tool for aspiring clinical psychologists, as it helps you to hone the all-important skill of reflection. In this blog, we will explore its key elements, strengths, and limitations, and why aspiring clinical psychologists, may wish to use it.
For anyone aiming to be a clinical psychologist, it is super important to practice reflecting on your work. This means really digging into your experiences, decisions, and feelings to better understand yourself and how you affect people you work with. It is about asking tough questions about why you think and act the way you do, and the kind of impact that has in therapy sessions. To help with this, Rolfe’s (2001) Framework or the “What?”, “So What?”, “Now What?” model (American Psychological Association, 2020) is a step-by-step method that helps you reflect in an organised, structured, and somewhat comprehensive way.
What are the key elements of the “What?”, “So What?”, “Now What?” Framework?
Rolfe’s (2001) Framework is built around three essential components: “What?”, “So What?”, “Now What?”:
The “What” stage involves describing the situation or experience that prompts reflection. It encourages individuals to objectively recount the events, actions and emotions involved, providing a foundation for deeper analysis (Rolfe, 2016). During this stage, aspiring clinical psychologists, you may wish to be frank and open with yourself, considering (with compassion and curiosity) the situation you are reflecting on from various angles. You may Ask yourself important questions like: What was my role in what happened? What did I do, and how did it work out? How did others react to what I did? Think about how it all affected you, the service user(s), and anyone else involved. Also, try to understand the feelings that came up during the whole experience (Rolfe et al, 2001).
In the “So What” phase, you really dive into what your experience means. This step is all about thinking deeply, getting to the heart of your reactions, and spotting any automatic assumptions or habits you might have. It is a chance to gain new understanding and spot where you can get even better at what you do (Rolfe, 2016). During this phase, you might reflect on questions such as: As you navigate this phase, consider pondering questions like: “What have I learned from this experience?” “How do my actions ripple out to affect those I’m here to help?” and “What drives me to make the decisions I do in my practice?”. During this phase is also a suitable time to think about how you can use what you know in new ways. For example, you could consider what opportunities you might have to practice your new learning, to improve, get training or see things from a fresh angle.
The “Now What” phase is all about turning those early reflections into real-world action and looking ahead. This is when you start to use what you have learned to make your work as an aspiring clinical psychologist even better. Think about setting clear goals and laying out a plan to bring about work-related changes. It is during this phase that you benefit from strategic thinking to figure out what steps you need to take to improve. Consider the bigger picture, your strengths, resources, and learning needs to help you decide what you need to strengthen your readiness for training. It can also be helpful to consider the possible outcomes of the various changes you could plan to make. It is also important to be pragmatic during this phase- you would benefit from getting into the nitty-gritty of planning to make sure the changes you plan to make are truly achievable alongside your day-to-day life. This initiative-taking planning (and, of course, following through) is essential for professional growth and development (Rolfe, 2016).
Strengths and limitations
The strengths of Rolfe’s (2001) Framework are quite significant for aspiring clinical psychologists, with many using it to frame every-day reflections. The framework provides a structured, clear-cut process for reflection, ensuring that your analysis of experiences is thorough and nothing crucial is missed. It is designed to enhance critical thinking and self-awareness, which can lead to profound insights into your own personal and professional development. By questioning your own assumptions and biases, it encourages you to develop a more nuanced understanding of your role and actions in situations. Moreover, the framework’s focus on actionable steps and forward-thinking serves as a catalyst for ongoing professional development.
However, it is also valuable to recognise the framework’s limitations. It may sometimes reduce complex experiences to overly simple terms, which could mean missing subtle but vital details. The framework’s sequential approach might not always align with the cyclical, often repetitive nature of reflective practice, where you may find yourself reassessing earlier experiences considering new insights.
To summarise…
Overall, the practice of reflection, particularly through reflective writing, holds a principal place in the development of aspiring clinical psychologists. Engaging with models like Rolfe’s (2001) Framework for Reflective Practice can provide a structured pathway to meaningful self-reflection and continuing professional development, supporting you to get ready for clinical psychology doctorate training.
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Best wishes,
Edited by Dilys White, Aspiring Clinical Psych Content Assistant
References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Psycnet.apa.org. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-41497-001
Dewey, J. (1933). How we think: A restatement of the relation of reflective thinking to the educative process. D.C. Heath and Company.
Moon, J. A. (1999). Reflection in learning and professional development: Theory and practice. Routledge.
Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., & Jasper, M. (2001). Critical Reflection for Nursing and the Helping Professions. A User’s Guide. Nursing Standard, 16(20), 29–29. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns2002.01.16.20.29.b305
Rolfe, M. (2016). Reflective practice in psychology. In The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Social Psychology (pp. 383-400). Palgrave Macmillan.
Schön, D. A. (1983). The reflective practitioner: How professionals think in action. Basic Books.
