Person-Centered Sport Psychology Practice: A Framework for Working With Emotions and Complex Processes

Abstract

Person-centered therapy (PCT) is a client-centered therapeutic approach that focuses on the practitioner–client relationship and has been shown to be an effective practice approach when working with clients presenting complex emotional experiences. We provide a brief outline of PCT theory and specific practice techniques for working with emotions in applied sport psychology practice. By adopting a case-report methodology, we outline self-charting and clearing a space, which can be applied when working with complex emotions in the sport context. This case report contributes to the literature as the first study to provide a framework for PCT application in applied sport psychology. By providing a “how-to-apply” framework, we aim to show how to apply these techniques in practice using “in vivo” session transcripts. Evaluations of interventions and reflections are demonstrated, which will provide practitioners with a case example and recommendations for context-sensitive application of PCT.