Developing A Sport Psychology Consultancy Practice

Sport and exercise psychology as a profession is becoming increasingly popular, with a growth in the number of students applying for and studying Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in sport and exercise psychology in recent years within the UK and International Higher Education landscape. Developing a Sport Psychology Consultancy Practice: A Toolkit for Students and Trainees provides logistical and practical information about becoming and working as an applied sport psychology practitioner and the critical processes involved in setting up a consultancy practice. The book focuses on three broad areas: Pathways into Applied Sport Psychology Practice Setting up a Sport Consultancy Practice Personal and Professional Development Within these areas, the chapters provide coverage on topics related to UK and International training and qualification routes, setting up, operating and marketing successful consultancy practices, engaging in administrative and quality assurance processes and optimising technology for effective practice. The chapters further focus on the practitioner’s journey of personal and professional development, including the importance of maintaining a healthy work–life balance for mental health, integrating self-care strategies into daily lives, developing cultural competence and engaging in lifelong learning. This book is a valuable resource for students who are considering training as an applied practitioner, including students enrolled on undergraduate and postgraduate Sport and Exercise Psychology, Sport and Exercise Science and Psychology programmes. It is also a vital aid for current trainees and recently qualified Sport and Exercise Psychologists.

"The text guides readers through these situations: -Understanding the dynamics of a variety of issues, including alcohol abuse and violence, referral processes, erotic transference and countertransference, and communication problems between coaches and athletes; -Working with diverse clients, including athletes of color, gay and lesbian athletes, and disabled athletes; -Presenting to and working with entire teams; -Plumbing the depths of several complex topics, including eating disorders and injury and identity issues. In addition to covering some of these complex and deeply personal topics, the text details the fundamental issues of applied sport psychology, including developing the consultant-client relationship and connecting with teams, coaches, and individuals. In dealing with relationships a sport psychologist would typically face, Sport Psychology in Practice addresses serious ethical and philosophical issues and asks more general questions about the field and how to work with clients. Sport Psychology in Practice contains insights from an elite list of contributors who explain, using real-life examples, how they successfully and ethically "do" sport psychology. Methods that have worked for the most respected practitioners in the field are presented with an informal, engaging approach and rely substantially on dialogue and actual experiences."--

Professional Skills in Sport Psychology Consultancy raises awareness of intrapersonal and interpersonal professional practice skills. The book chapters focus on the aspiring practitioner’s personal and professional development when working with all kinds of recipients of psychological support in sport including individual athletes, teams, coaches, parents, and administrators. Organized in two sections – intrapersonal processes and interpersonal dynamics – this new book steers readers through the many subtle and complex factors that impact on the professional relationships that ultimately influence successful outcomes and provides guidance for students, researchers, and practitioners about the many intrapersonal and interpersonal processes involved in the working alliance, professional relationship, and sport psychology consultancy. Professional Skills in Sport Psychology Consultancy is a core text for upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate sport psychology students, sport psychologists undergoing professional training, and early career sport psychologists.

Successful sport psychology professionals have benefitted from stimulating conversations, challenging questions, support, camaraderie, guidance, and advice offered by their graduate school classmates. Peer relationships are vital and valued aspects of professional development, with many of the relationships formed during school, serving as the closest confidences and strongest friendships throughout careers and lifetimes. Yet, the voices and experiences of fellow graduate students are sparsely reported in the sport psychology literature, and profoundly silent in textbooks. The Peer Guide to Applied Sport Psychology for Consultants in Training provides a platform for the influential voices of peers, with whom graduate students relate and connect on a visceral level. Mimicking the environment of a thriving classroom, each chapter within the Peer Guide is primarily authored by graduate students, or in some cases recent graduates, with an academic mentor serving a secondary role. The chapter topics were selected by the editors—all of whom are experienced graduate instructors and have taught and mentored many young professionals—as areas where graduate students are commonly challenged, and correspondingly, where peer support and guidance are most valued. These topics include developing a theoretical orientation to performance excellence, utilizing science to guide practice, ethics, getting the most from supervision, initial experiences in consultation, working with both individuals and groups, and multicultural considerations. The chapters are written in a personal, relatable tone and provide science and practice, challenge and comfort, humor and vulnerability, and insights and anecdotes that are particularly meaningful and accessible coming from peers. A unique addition to the sport psychology literature, this volume is a key resource for developing and established consultants alike.

The ability to mould a group of talented individual athletes into an effective team takes effort and skill. Team Psychology in Sports examines the crucial factors in the development of an effective team, introducing important psychological and organizational concepts and offering evidence-based interventions for enhancing the performance of any sports team. The book neatly bridges the gap between theory and practice, with real sporting case studies, examples and practical tools included in each chapter. It covers the full range of issues in team sport, including: planning communication cohesion motivation emotions momentum leadership recovery. No other book offers such an up-to-date, relevant and applied guide to working with sports teams. It is essential reading for all students and practitioners working in sport psychology or sports coaching.

"This comprehensive look at sport psychology presents current research-based information and applied techniques to benefit coaches, athletes, performance specialists, and sport psychology consultants. Topics include making sport psychology work, strengthening athletes' performance mindset, and enhancing team performance potential. Special emphasis is placed on developing confidence, increasing motivation, and preparing individuals and teams for optimal performance"--

In recent years, more students have chosen to study sport and exercise psychology with a view to building careers as applied practitioners. While sport and exercise psychology master’s graduates leave university with the necessary theoretical knowledge to inform their practice, they are often left wanting to know more about creating and navigating a career within the field. Navigating Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology provides readers with an honest and contemporary insight into the work and experiences of trainees and early career practitioners. This book delves further into the more complex and nuanced experiences of being an applied practitioner. Using case studies and reflections, the chapters explore key topics including working within multi-disciplinary teams, maintaining ethics and integral practice during challenging conversations and supporting mental health in high-performance environments. Written by trainees and early career practitioners, this book is vital reading for students, early career practitioners, and anyone interested in sport psychology. Erin Prior is a BPS Chartered, HCPC registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist. As an applied practitioner, Erin works with a range of individuals, teams, and organisations across various sports. Alongside her applied practice, Erin is completing her PhD which is focused on athlete mental health, at Loughborough University. Tim Holder, PhD, is an HCPC Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, BPS Chartered and a BASES Fellow. He is an applied sport psychology consultant and supervisor to students working towards practitioner status in the UK. Tim is the Programme Leader for the MSc in Applied Sport Psychology at the University of Winchester, UK.

This international compilation offers a range of potential solutions to case studies that cover pertinent issues within a variety of performance environments. Offering a companion text to Building Consulting Skills for Sport and Performance Psychology: An International Case Study Collection, this book provides three solutions for each of the case studies introduced. In so doing, it highlights that there is no "one-answer-fits-all" solution to the common issues with sport and performance psychology consulting and offers various suggestions for how an individual may wish to approach these and similar cases. Solutions address the CEDI principles (Case Conceptualization, Ethical Considerations, Diversity Awareness/Reflection, and Intervention Planning and Evaluation), as well as any case-specific questions. This clearly structured book serves as a useful resource for instructors looking to deepen discussion and offer alternatives to students’ ideas on how to approach certain cases. It will also be of interest to practitioners when approaching similar situations in their own work and looking for new pathways that they may not have considered.