Sport Psychology

[UNCheer08]

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[twilson]

I know for WVU the program is housed in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, not Kinesiology 🙂, but u will get "master’s and doctoral degrees in physical education with an emphasis in sport and exercise psychology plus a master’s degree in counseling with a community counseling emphasis"

So u will be able to still be able to do get licensure as an LPC and do clinical work..also heres a link to their curriculum and information about the degree requirements http://www.wvu.edu/~physed/sportpsych/doccurriculum.htm

hope this helps!

 

[JockNerd]

According to my reading of the Div. 47 web site, there is no formal definition of a Sports Psychologist. My understanding is that, like many of the sort of "unofficial" specialties, you might be admitted to a program with special opportunities (such as work in a sports clinic, specializing in therapy with student athletes, etc.) and get a PhD in Clinical or Counseling Psych and then develop your specialization yourself. The sport psychologist I know has a PhD in Ed Psych and a MHC degree (or certification, or whatever it's called) from a program without a specific Sports psych track.

I love sports and sports psych. Just finished a project on steroid use in noncompetitive weight trainers. I think next summer I might get my personal trainer certification (we have no summer courses in my grad program and I get a little bored in summer).

 

[IOPsych]

According to my reading of the Div. 47 web site, there is no formal definition of a Sports Psychologist. My understanding is that, like many of the sort of "unofficial" specialties, you might be admitted to a program with special opportunities (such as work in a sports clinic, specializing in therapy with student athletes, etc.) and get a PhD in Clinical or Counseling Psych and then develop your specialization yourself. The sport psychologist I know has a PhD in Ed Psych and a MHC degree (or certification, or whatever it's called) from a program without a specific Sports psych track.

I love sports and sports psych. Just finished a project on steroid use in noncompetitive weight trainers. I think next summer I might get my personal trainer certification (we have no summer courses in my grad program and I get a little bored in summer).

Hey Jock, I'd be interested to see those results. What did you find? That is a very interesting topic.

 

[Ollie123]

Interesting stuff. I do some exercise work (as a treatment adjunct for addictions). Definitely not sports psych, but peripherally related.

Really, I think it depends on what kind of sports psych you want to go into. If its leadership and teamwork...I'd look towards I/O. If its the effects of physical activity on brain processes...look at neuroscientists. If its the effects of competitive environments...social or clinical are appropriate.

You said you definitely want clinical training, so obviously that limits where you're applying, but don't forget that collaborations are often possible so if you find a good match with a clinical faculty who happens to have an office next door to an expert in teamwork...so be it!

 

[leavingprov]

I am in the process of applying to Clinical/Counseling programs, and I was wondering if anyone had any insight into programs with a Sport Psyc track. I know schools like Tennessee and West Virginia have them, but those are housed in kinesiology departments, and I am deadset on becoming a licensed clinical/counseling psychologist as well. La Salle's PsyD program has/used to have a Sport Psyc track, but they're supervisor recently left, and I'm not sure what kind of shape he left it in (it might be fine, I just don't know).

If anyone is familiar with any Sport Psyc programs (PhD or PsyD), please post them and if possible, tell a little about what you know.

Thanks!

Can't say that sport psych falls in my area of interest (and I avoided organized sports like the plague as a kid!) but I know that the Rutgers Psy.D. has a 'concentration' in sport psychology and there are a few faculty who have interests in that area. The concentration concept is in keeping with what JockNerd said about it being more of a specialization/focus rather than an entire program. Wish I could tell you more but that's all I know... good luck!

 

[IOPsych]

Interesting stuff. I do some exercise work (as a treatment adjunct for addictions). Definitely not sports psych, but peripherally related.

Really, I think it depends on what kind of sports psych you want to go into. If its leadership and teamwork...I'd look towards I/O. If its the effects of physical activity on brain processes...look at neuroscientists. If its the effects of competitive environments...social or clinical are appropriate.

You said you definitely want clinical training, so obviously that limits where you're applying, but don't forget that collaborations are often possible so if you find a good match with a clinical faculty who happens to have an office next door to an expert in teamwork...so be it!

Actually that is a good call Ollie. I am currently doing research in sports and am an I/O student. We are using a very successful (in the workplace) productivity and measurement system and are implementing that system within a collegiate basketball team. So far the team loves it, but we haven't started the feedback portion yet. Just finished the system and are coding the baseline.

 

[ClinicalTrainee]

One of my supervisors is a sports psychologist, and she said that
U. of Missouri (Columbia) has a great program as does U. of North Texas. She also said that Denver University (private ) is starting a good program, and to look at Division 47 for a longer list.

 

[psychmama]

Can't say that sport psych falls in my area of interest (and I avoided organized sports like the plague as a kid!) but I know that the Rutgers Psy.D. has a 'concentration' in sport psychology and there are a few faculty who have interests in that area. The concentration concept is in keeping with what JockNerd said about it being more of a specialization/focus rather than an entire program. Wish I could tell you more but that's all I know... good luck!

Someone from my Psyd program @ Rutgers just landed a highly competitive post-doc @ University of Okla in sports psychology. While not a full-blown program, there is an active sports psych concentration there, and opportunities to gain research and practicum experience in sports psychology.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Someone from my Psyd program @ Rutgers just landed a highly competitive post-doc @ University of Okla in sports psychology. While not a full-blown program, there is an active sports psych concentration there, and opportunities to gain research and practicum experience in sports psychology.

That's a phenomenal program. I interviewed for the sports psych pre-doc position (as part of the consortium interviews), and I was really impressed.

 

[psychmama]

That's a phenomenal program. I interviewed for the sports psych pre-doc position (as part of the consortium interviews), and I was really impressed.

I'm really excited for my classmate, as I know she really wants to work in sports psychology. Being in Oklahoma might not be my top choice though.😱

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I'm really excited for my classmate, as I know she really wants to work in sports psychology. Being in Oklahoma might not be my top choice though.😱

Norman, OK isn't a bad place, and in general it is a great college town. I'm an east-coaster, so I know it would have been culture shock, but I think the training would be worth it.

 

[psychmama]

Agreed.👍

 

[Jaaustin]

hey yall, im new so this is my first post! hope this helps!

i go to the U. of Mary Hardin-Baylor(private) and because there isn't a Sports Psychology degree plan...I decided to double major in Psychology and Exercise & Sports Science, doing the PhD thing but paying more attention to Clinical Psychology then Exercise and sports Science!

i think with the Psyc major and the extra knowledge in Exercise and Sports Science i'll have the proper skills with experience to have the sports specific background you need to be a Sports Psychologist. Because im a BS i have to deal with the 4 lab sciences(2 bio and 2 chem) and the MATH.... all that other crazy stuff!!!
but i figure it will only help. I also find that because i belong to two different degree tracks, it allows me to be apart of research studies in both areas. Im recently doing a Psyc research study on the recreation of memory as well as an Exercise and Sports Science study later on in the seme. im a senior and the two majors got really hard(answering EXSS test questions like a PSYC major)...but i think it'll help for the future.

 

[Kyle3309]

I am interested in either doing a Clinical Psych PhD or a PsyD with an emphasis on sports psych; however, I am not sure how this would affect my career later.

1) Do employers outside of the sports psych field find the emphasis to be a limiting factor?
2)How is the job market for sports psychologists?

Thanks,
Kyle