When the professional is personal: Issues of identity and practice

Abstract

Within this paper the overlap of issues for lesbians who are also survivors, or survivors who are also lesbians, will be explored in relation to the impact of mainstream conceptions of meaning around these two aspects of identity. The focus will be on the implications for practioners, who themselves share these aspects of identity with those who use social work services. The importance of engaging in reflexive practice will be highlighted if we are to work with the tensions/con-tradications that may arise when personal and professional worlds overlap.