Sport Psychology Consultants’ Perspectives on Facilitating Sport-Injury-Related Growth

in The Sport Psychologist

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Ross WadeySt. Mary’s University

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Kylie Roy-DavisUniversity of Roehampton

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Lynne EvansCardiff Metropolitan University

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Karen HowellsCardiff Metropolitan University

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Jade SalimSt. Mary’s University

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Ceri DissUniversity of Roehampton

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2018-0110
Keywords:
adversity; professional practice; storytelling; stress; trauma
In Print:
Volume 33: Issue 3
Page Range:
244–255
Restricted access

Despite recent conceptual, methodological, and theoretical advancements in sport-injury-related growth (SIRG), there is no research on sport psychology consultants’ (SPCs) experiential knowledge of working with injured athletes to facilitate SIRG. Toward this end, this study examined SPCs’ perspectives on facilitating SIRG to provide an evidence base for professional practice. Participants (4 female, 6 male; mean 19 years’ applied experience) were purposefully sampled and interviewed. Transcripts were thematically analyzed. Methodological rigor and generalizability were maximized through self-reflexivity and eliciting external reflections. Five themes were identified: Hear the Story, Contextualize the Story, Reconstruct the Story, Live the Story, and Share the Story. Findings offer practitioners a novel approach to working with injured athletes. Rather than focusing on returning to preinjury level of functioning, the findings illustrate how SPCs can work with injured athletes to help transform injury into an opportunity to bring about positive change.

Wadey and Salim are with St. Mary’s University, London, United Kingdom. Roy-Davis and Diss are with the University of Roehampton, London, United Kingdom. Evans and Howells are with the Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Wadey (ross.wadey@stmarys.ac.uk) is corresponding author.
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