Experiential Knowledge and Experiential Expertise – Not the Same
By Alie Weerman
The CARe model emphasizes supportive-relational-acting, where the relationship between the care professional and the client is a vital tool. Good care involves ongoing, responsive interaction, grounded in equality and reciprocity. Reciprocity goes beyond equality by encouraging mutual sharing of experiences. Because clients often struggle to express complex or painful experiences verbally, care professionals must create space for alternative expressions, like drawing.
Importantly, reciprocity includes the professional’s own sharing, introducing a personal-professional dimension. While traditionally discouraged, professionals are now increasingly recognizing and using their own lived experiences—such as trauma and recovery—as valuable experiential knowledge. This shift supports more authentic, dynamic relationships but also introduces new challenges, which are further explored in the context of Dutch developments in experiential expertise.