Learning from experience

The one unique experience of my professional life as a child clinical psychologist was the Cleveland Crisis. Cleveland was characterized by a difficult interface between the essentially private, personally owned, intricate sphere of child clinical work, and what became an intensely political, public, and societal scrutiny of the child protection system in which that work was embedded. I consider myself fortunate to have lived through such an interesting time, which demanded so much learning. The experience fundamentally changed me as a practitioner. I am certain of the need for reflective practice to inform action, because I had an experience of being caught up in events where that was not possible. Over the ensuing years, in reflecting on the impact of the crisis, upon me and upon the children with whom I worked, I have come to a greater understanding and acceptance of the meaning and consequences of that traumatic time.