The Application of Critical Psychology to Facilitate Reflective Clinical Practice in Orthotics/Prosthetics

The co-construction of a psychology module for a postgraduate training course in orthotics/prosthetics is socially constructed for the first time in Southern African history. This paper elucidates the integration of theory and practice in a model for the development of a professional identity as orthotist/prosthetist. In creating a context where trainees can learn to develop their practice while also enabling them to deconstruct notions of 'expert knowledge', orthotist/prosthetists move from a position of scientist-practitioner to negotiating an alternative position of reflective practitioner. In the process of co-constructing knowledge, an alternative story of teaching and learning evolves. The result is a celebration of life as it is really lived by health professionals.