Removing Barriers to Athlete Performance Enhancement: A Hermeneutic Case Study of Observed and Experiential Integration
in Journal of Clinical Sport PsychologyClick name to view affiliation
This study was the first to explore the treatment effects of observed and experiential integration (OEI) therapy for the salient psychological barriers to performance experienced by athletes. The hermeneutic single case efficacy design was used to explore the relationship between OEI therapy and athlete psychological functioning. The participant was a student-athlete who met the criteria for the performance dysfunction (multilevel classification system of Sport psychology) category, which indicates that subclinical issues were present. After five phases of data collection, a rich case record was compiled and referenced to develop skeptic and affirmative briefs and corresponding rebuttals by two research teams of three experts (OEI clinician, non-OEI clinician, and sport expert). Three independent judges adjudicated the cases and unanimously concluded that the client changed considerably to substantially and that OEI, the therapeutic relationship, and client expectancy were active variables in the change process.
Jessie M. Wall is a graduate of the Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology program at Trinity Western University and Ph.D. student in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. Janelle L. Kwee, Marvin J. McDonald, and Richard A. Bradshaw are faculty members at the School of Graduate Studies, Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology program, Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia, Canada.
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