The Use of Counseling Principles and Skills to Develop Practitioner-Athlete Relationships by Practitioners Who Provide Sport Psychology Support

Fran Longstaff,Misia Gervis

doi:10.1123/tsp.2015-0029

Fran Longstaff, Misia Gervis

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2015-0029

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Abstract

This study examined how practitioners who provide sport psychology support use counseling principles and skills to develop practitioner-athlete relationships. Semistructured interviews were conducted with thirteen competent practitioners (Mean age = 41.2 ± 10.9 years old, five men, eight women). Thematic analysis revealed that the participants used a range of counseling principles to develop practitioner-athlete relationships including: the facilitative conditions, self-disclosure, counseling skills, the formation of working alliances, and awareness of the unreal relationship. The participants also described using noncounseling strategies (e.g., gaining an understanding of the athlete’s sporting environment) to build relationships with their athletes. There was considerable variation between the participants both in the training that they had received in counseling principles and skills, and how they applied them. It was concluded that counseling principles and skills play a significant role in the development of practitioner-athlete relationships.

Highlights

The most widely reported mode of training undertaken was a certificate in counselling course, lasting up to 10 weeks, which covered a range of theoretical counselling approaches and equipped the participants with basic counselling skills through methods including role plays
Findings from this study indicate that practitioners who provide sport psychology support to athletes deem sound practitioner-athlete relationships to be central to their effectiveness
Despite there being a lack of research on the how to develop practitionerathlete relationships, practitioners implement a range of counselling and non-counselling strategies to aid this aspect of practice

Summary

Introduction

They may not be sold or exploited commercially in any format or medium without the prior written permission of the copyright holder(s). This study examined how practitioners who provide sport psychology support use counselling principles and skills to develop practitioner-athlete relationships. It was concluded that counselling principles and skills play a significant role in the development of practitioner-athlete relationships

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