Excelling in Sport Psychology: Planning, Preparing, and Executing Applied Work

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.