Promoting Inter-Relational Reflexivity with Psychosocial Workers in Community Work: A Case Study from Burundi

Abstract

We explore the practice of creating reflexive spaces within community work with psychosocial workers living in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A central idea is inter-relational reflexivity—reflexivity within relationships that leads to collective action. Theoretical ideas related to inter-relational reflexivity are examined and a case study of the engagement with the psychosocial workers, which used these ideas, is presented. Among the issues explored are: the importance of staying with the lived experiences of people; the challenge of ensuring that inter-relational thinking is transferred to collective social action; and the methodologies that can be used to establish ongoing psychological and social processes that address the structure of power and promote transformation and healing within traumatised communities.