Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology- Lecture 4- Consulting Philosophies
Importance of consulting philosophy
There is (arguably) a set of assumptions and values behind every decision & program
offered by sport psychologists. Understanding consulting philosophy is considered an
essential prerequisite to effective psychological practice as it guides practitioners in every
aspect.
These assumptions should be made more explicit to insure a more deliberate & effective
approach. This reduces:
The likelihood of client discomfort & dissatisfaction eg from inconsistencies in
practitioner’s approach
The likelihood of practitioner experiencing anxiety, confusion & self-doubt
Hierarchical Structure of Professional Philosophy (Poczwardowski et al., 2004)
Personal core beliefs and values
This is the foundation of a philosophy- the innermost beliefs and values regarding the world
& behaviour that an individual has. Typical values could be:
Respecting- truth, privacy, autonomy, commitments & promises
Concerned by- growth & development of society, dignity, gratitude
Theoretical paradigm
It is important philosophy is centred in one or more of the major theoretical & philosophical
paradigms of psychological interventions. This helps us to explicitly describe & explain
behaviour & help to predict behaviour.
At one end of the paradigm is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy- one of the most widely
represented paradigms in sport psychology. The focus is modifying the client’s thought
processes to facilitate behaviour change. This approach assumes that a direct connection
exists between thought patterns & behaviours.
On the other side is the humanistic therapies that assume every person is unique, and
perceives the world in an individual way, which means everyone develops meaning in a
unique way. This type of therapies examine the clients perceptions in the moment, and is
more focused on exploring client’s goals to create new meanings rather than to treat a
specific problem. They are nondirective- more common to follow the client’s process & allow
them to direct the consultation, which promotes responsibility & growth of the client.
In the middle of the spectrum is eclecticism. This refers to developing a unique approach to
working with clients using several perspectives and approaches. This allows flexibility and
diversity when working with a wide range of client’s that all have different needs.
Model of Practice & consultant role
Importance of consulting philosophy
There is (arguably) a set of assumptions and values behind every decision & program
offered by sport psychologists. Understanding consulting philosophy is considered an
essential prerequisite to effective psychological practice as it guides practitioners in every
aspect.
These assumptions should be made more explicit to insure a more deliberate & effective
approach. This reduces:
The likelihood of client discomfort & dissatisfaction eg from inconsistencies in
practitioner’s approach
The likelihood of practitioner experiencing anxiety, confusion & self-doubt
Hierarchical Structure of Professional Philosophy (Poczwardowski et al., 2004)
Personal core beliefs and values
This is the foundation of a philosophy- the innermost beliefs and values regarding the world
& behaviour that an individual has. Typical values could be:
Respecting- truth, privacy, autonomy, commitments & promises
Concerned by- growth & development of society, dignity, gratitude
Theoretical paradigm
It is important philosophy is centred in one or more of the major theoretical & philosophical
paradigms of psychological interventions. This helps us to explicitly describe & explain
behaviour & help to predict behaviour.
At one end of the paradigm is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy- one of the most widely
represented paradigms in sport psychology. The focus is modifying the client’s thought
processes to facilitate behaviour change. This approach assumes that a direct connection
exists between thought patterns & behaviours.
On the other side is the humanistic therapies that assume every person is unique, and
perceives the world in an individual way, which means everyone develops meaning in a
unique way. This type of therapies examine the clients perceptions in the moment, and is
more focused on exploring client’s goals to create new meanings rather than to treat a
specific problem. They are nondirective- more common to follow the client’s process & allow
them to direct the consultation, which promotes responsibility & growth of the client.
In the middle of the spectrum is eclecticism. This refers to developing a unique approach to
working with clients using several perspectives and approaches. This allows flexibility and
diversity when working with a wide range of client’s that all have different needs.
Model of Practice & consultant role
