Excelling in Sport Psychology

Written for graduate students and early professionals who are conducting applied sport psychology work for the first time, Excelling in Sport Psychology is a guide for planning, preparing, and executing this work. Each chapter addresses a critical component of the internship experience, such as selecting a site for an internship, preparing to begin the work, evaluating the completed work, and marketing oneself throughout one's early career. The diverse experiences of the various authors provide a range of viewpoints for trainees to consider and apply to their growth as sport psychology or mental skills professionals. The text is written in a practical manner, with suggestions and questions that will drive this personal and professional growth. Each chapter also includes a personal account from a current student or recent graduate about their experience in that area. This book will appeal to students in academic sport psychology programs seeking additional support and guidance about the internship process, as well as post-graduates who did not have an internship component to their program. Supervisors will benefit from reading the book as it highlights ways to work with trainees. Drawn from the experience of the applied Sport Psychology department at John F. Kennedy University, which has helped students set up internships, have successful experiences, and attain jobs for over 25 years, this book can provide a model for training programs approaching the challenges of fieldwork.

Alison Pope-Rhodius received her Ph.D. from Liverpool John Moores University. She is a Professor, the Chair of the Sport Psychology Department, and a Faculty Fellow at John F. Kennedy University. Alison is a certified consultant with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (CC-AASP) and has guided many trainees and their supervisors during applied work. She is also the host of the Wee Chats with Brilliant People podcast. Sara Robinson received her M.A. in Sport Psychology from John F. Kennedy University in 2006 and has worked as a practitioner in applied sport psychology since then. She has taught Performance Enhancement courses and supervised students at JFKU since 2009. Sean J. Fitzpatrick received his Ph.D. from West Virginia University in 2012; since that time he has held academic appointments at John F. Kennedy University and Marian University. He has supervised students in a diverse range of internship settings.

Foreword Gail Solt Preface Axknowledgments List of Contributors Abbreviations 1. Pursuing Applied Work: Are You Ready? Alison Pope-Rhodius, Sara Robinson, and Sean J. Fitzpatrick 2. Securing an Internship Site: Where in the World Are You Going? Deborah Munch and Andre Demian 3. Finding a Supervisor: How Can You Create the Right Match? Victoria Tomlinson and Brian Alexander 4. Acknowledging Biases: How Can Who You Are Affect What You See? Michelle Bartlett and Zane Winslade 5. Developing Self-Awareness: Have You Ever Looked in the Mirror? Meg Kimball-Hodges and Perri Ford 6. Working with Your Supervisor: What, You Have Another Relationship to Think About? Alison Pope-Rhodius and Michael Howard 7. Doing the Work: Can You Go from the Classroom to the Field? Megan Byrd and Noelle Menendez 8. Collaborating: Are You a Team Player? Tyson Holt and Daniery Rosario 9. Being Your Best: Are You Looking After Yourself? Sara Robinson and Alexsandra Walton 10. Ethical Quandaries: What Were You Thinking? Hillary Cauthen and Amber M. Shipherd 11. Handling Referrals: What If Your Clients Need More? C.A. Gajus-Ramsay and Michael-Thomas Wilson 12. Evaluation: You Think You're Good, but Do You Really Have Any Idea? Sean J. Fitzpatrick and Spencer Ingels 13. Reaching the Finish Line: That's It...What Do You Do Now? Michelle Cleere and Elizabeth I.R. Hunter 14. Securing Work: Will Anyone Pay You? Carrie Jackson Cheadle and Fernando Lopez 15. Marketing Yourself: How Do You Tell the World How Good You Are? Brian Baxter and Rebecca Smith 16. Using Technology in Practice: How Do You Stay Connected? Trey McCalla and Sean-Kelley Quinn 17. Continuing Education: There's Still More to Learn? Brad Baumgardner and Katie Irwin