Browse

Female college athletes struggle with mental health issues at rates similar to their nonathlete peers. Relationships with coaches and teammates can significantly impact mental health. An integrative therapeutic approach that combines cognitive behavioral therapy with relational–cultural theory can provide clinicians with a framework for addressing underlying relational and systemic issues to better meet the needs of female college athletes. A case illustration featuring a Division I female soccer player struggling with negative mental self-talk will demonstrate how to effectively integrate relational–cultural theory and cognitive behavioral therapy when working with female student athletes. This article will discuss the implications for coaches, athletes, parents, mental health providers, and sport psychology practitioners about the integration of relational–cultural theory and cognitive behavioral therapy to enhance relationships with female college athletes to improve their mental health.

This case study reports a values-based intervention with an elite dual-career athlete over an intermittent 2-year time period. The longitudinal psychological support process (i.e., intake, needs analysis, case formulation, intervention, and evaluation) is reported, and practitioner reflections are provided at the end of the case study. The intervention focused on the client-led production of personal core values and the exploration of how these could inform the athlete’s behavior change and goal attainment in sport and other life areas. Monitoring and evaluation findings suggested effective integration of values within training and competition settings, based on the observation of client behaviors and qualitative feedback from the client and their coach. The case study seeks to emphasize the importance of practitioner adaptability in developing client-led, values-based interventions that aim to facilitate holistic athlete development.

In this epilogue to the special issue, we provide a summary of four case studies in esports. Specifically, we draw attention to (1) interventions with teams and esports athletes, (2) coach support and development, and (3) practitioner development. We explore these areas in relation to the case studies presented in the special issue, providing a structured analysis and discussion of the experiences shared in these case studies and shedding light on how sport psychology is applied in esports. Lastly, we offer future research and practice opportunities for those intending to practice or currently practicing in the realm of esports.

The role of sport psychology practitioners in contributing to the drafting process of athletes in teams, by providing their input on athletes’ psychological makeup, has become a common practice. Similar to traditional sport, esport organizations also engage in drafting periods to identify the next talents. Yet, a paucity of literature exists examining practitioners’ experiences of operating during such trial periods in the esport context. In this case study, we outline our process of being involved as sport and exercise psychologists in training during a professional National Overwatch team draft period for the 2023 Overwatch World Cup. As a supplementary resource to help staff during the selection process, we created player psychological profiles by assessing their psychological qualities through formal observation. Following the trials, we established an after-care service to support released players to monitor their well-being. We discuss the various hurdles we experienced during the trial period as sport and exercise psychologists in training by sharing a series of reflections.

This applied case study aims to explore the experience and multicultural reflections of a trainee sport and exercise psychologist working with a professional, multicultural esports team. We showcase the context of the case with a League of Legends team, consisting of five players, along with the intervention conducted. The case is supplemented by critical reflections on practice in a multicultural context from learning logs and applied practice notes with the T-R-E-E-S model for multicultural practice in sport psychology. This study delves into several critical aspects, namely: (a) recognizing multicultural elements, (b) customizing interventions to the dynamic esports environment, (c) scrutinizing how language and culture impact team cohesion, and (d) considering individual boundaries in personal-disclosure interventions. Finally, as one of the first case studies to reflect on multicultural practice in esports, we provide key recommendations and implications to promote multicultural work in research and applied practice in esports.

This reflective case study presents the experience of a trainee sport and exercise psychologist during a period of applied consultancy with an injured runner. This was the trainee’s first consultancy experience attempting to practice from a Rogerian/classic person-centered perspective. As a trainee, his sport psychology delivery process followed academic and professional training models. After identifying an incongruence relating to the client’s identity as a runner, Rogers’s rejection of formulation and intervention led to tensions. Drawing on sport and counseling psychology literature to guide reflection and approach, maintaining a relationship between client and practitioner consistent with Rogers’s necessary conditions of change was the intervention. The trainee’s reflections consider being challenged by conflicts between philosophy and training requirements, their limited practice experience, and responding to the client during sessions that sometimes felt inconsistent with person-centered principles. Ultimately, the client reported moving toward being a more authentic self by contextualizing running as only one aspect of their life.