On being a practitioner and a client

Rhinehart, Molly and Johnson, Emma and Killick, Kirsty (2019) On being a practitioner and a client. In: Surviving Clinical Psychology : Navigating Personal, Professional and Political Selves on the Journey to Qualification. Routledge, London. ISBN 9781138368897

Abstract

This chapter explores the experiences of ‘dual identity’, defined in the chapter as an individual who is both a client/ex-client of mental health services, and also a practitioner working in mental health services. Research and anecdotal experiences suggest there are high rates of dual identity, with historical experiences often a motivating factor to pursue a career in this field. However, individuals with dual identity often encounter stigma within their profession when their experiences clash with the ‘us and them’ discourse prominent within mental health services. The chapter goes on to consider some of the issues involved in sharing these experiences, looking at the decision to disclose to colleagues and/or supervisors when in pre-training or trainee roles in detail, including consideration of disclosing in interviews. The final section of the chapter considers some of the strengths and challenges that may accompany being a practitioner with dual identity, and moves to reflect on some of the possible ways to manage pitfalls and tensions.