| About Sport Psychology |
James C. Moncier, Ph.D., Sport Psychologist |
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About Sport Psychology Dr. Moncier's Speaking Schedule Contact Information/Directions
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What is Sport Psychology? Two organizations, the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and the American Psychological Association (APA), are involved in defining the practice of sport psychology. According to AASP, "applied sport psychology involves (a) the study of the psychological and mental factors that influence and are influenced by participation and performance in sport, exercise, and physical activity, and (b) the application of the knowledge gained through this study to everyday settings" (AASP, 2003). The APA notes that in addition to the foundation of competencies required for licensure as a psychologist, the specialty of sport and exercise psychology "encompasses training in psychological skills of athletes, in the well being of athletes, in the systemic issues associated with sports organizations, and in developmental and social aspects of sports participation" (APA, 2003). Essentially, my work as a sport psychologist involes helping athletes, coaches, and teams improve their performance through the use of mental skills. What is a Sport Psychologist? In Alabama, someone presenting himself or herself as a psychologist must first be licensed as a psychologist. A sport psychologist then has additional training and supervised experience, that focuses on issues specific to athletes, coaches, and teams. Both AASP and APA have made efforts to clarify the skills and areas of knowledge necessary to be competent in the area of sport psychology. In 1991, AASP established a credentialing process for Certified Consultant status. In short, a Certified Consultant must have coursework that focuses on professional ethics and standards, theoretical and applied sport psychology, the biological bases of sport, social aspects of sport, psychopathology, counseling skills, research design and statistics, and one course each in the biological, cognitive-affective, social, and individual bases of behavior. The Consultant must also have experience working with athletes and teams that is provided under the supervision of an experienced sport psychologist - this is usually someone who is already a Certified Consultant. In 2003, the APA approved sport psychology as a proficiency (i.e., specialty) within the field of psychology. This was done primarily through the efforts of Division 47 (Exercise and Sport Psychology). The full text of the resulting proficiency document can be found here. |