When you are struggling with your mental game, how do you know who to hire or where to turn for help? Hiring a professional to help with your mental game should be like hiring any other professional, right? Wrong!
The answers to these questions are not simple or easy to understand. Why though? Are not sports psychology professionals like other professionals? After all, we are talking about your “mindset,” “mental game,” “mental toughness,” “mental efficiency,” or “mental health,” right?
NOT All Sports Psychology Professionals are the Same!
The truth is that not all sports psychology professionals are the same. In fact, those working in the sports psychology profession are widely diverse on their education and experience backgrounds. There are no state governing policies that regulate the field of sports psychology like other professions. For example, the American Psychological Association (APA) recognizes the field of sports psychology as a sub-discipline of psychology. Meaning, sports psychology is a recognized skill composed of psychological knowledge applied specifically to sport. The APA states, “The APA recognizes sport psychology as a skill acquired after a doctoral degree in one of the primary areas of psychology and a license as a psychologist. This proficiency does not include those who have earned a doctoral degree in sport psychology but are not licensed psychologists.”
So, what does the APA statement mean? It means the APA only recognizes a sport psychologist as someone who is a licensed psychologist with specialized training in sport psychology. If someone holds a doctorate in sports psychology, yet not licensed as a psychologist, then the APA excludes these persons. And herein lies the confusion.
Sports psychology is a sub-discipline of psychology and therefore does not have its own regulating or governing body. There is no specific license granted to “do” sports psychology. You cannot get a “sports psychology license!” Can someone with a doctorate in sports psychology who is unlicensed as a psychologist still do sports psychology, like working with athletes on their mental game? Yes! However, it is against the law in all states to use the word psychologist or identify yourself as one when you are not licensed to do so. Which means, if someone wanted to do sports psychology, and did not have a license as a psychologist, they could not call themselves a sports psychologist. Wait! What? This ambiguity creates a mess of confusion for athletes, coaches, and administrators who seek to hire such a professional. Let’s look at some important distinctions…
License Vs. Certification? Educational Vs. Complete?
Is it important to have a license to do sports psychology? I argue Yes! Once a person obtains a license from a legal granting authority (e.g., the State of Missouri, Division of Professional Registration), the state holds them to a higher standard to practice a particular profession within the designated scope of that profession. Operating at this higher standard is what separates them from others within the profession who are unlicensed. Would you see an unlicensed person to diagnose your knee injury? Probably not. Why? Because you know that a licensed physician is held to a higher standard—meaning the amount of education and training required to obtain this high standard supersedes other persons who do not have the same education and training. So, why would you see an unlicensed person to help you with your mental game, the psychology of your sport? Which brings up an important...yet unresolved point…
Many unlicensed practitioners argue that a person does not need to have a license to work with athletes. Many who do not have a license argue they can do sports psychology from a strictly “educational” perspective, while others, mostly licensed professionals, argue athletes deserve treatment from a holistic perspective. The former focuses exclusively on educating athletes about performance related issues (e.g., motivation) while the latter treats athletes from a biopsychosocial model, focusing more on how these three areas (i.e., biological, psychological, sociological) affect an athlete’s performance and overall well-being.
So, what is the difference between those who educate and those who treat you holistically? A Lot! For instance, a person wanting to obtain a license as a professional counselor in Missouri must earn a Master’s degree in psychology or a counseling related field that includes academic coursework in psychology, counseling, and a 600-hour internship. Once they graduate, the person must pass a national board examination. Once they pass this exam, they must then obtain 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience, with at least 1,200 hours of the 3,000 hours doing one-on-one counseling, or group counseling to satisfy the states requirement. Once the person completes the hours, he or she must pass a state jurisprudence examination and a fingerprint-based background check. All states have similar requirements. And, all states have specific requirements for those wanting to obtain a license in psychology (i.e., a psychologist). For those who do sports psychology with an educational perspective, they often do not have the additional supervised experience, specific educational background, or license in psychology or counseling field.
Be cautioned: People who graduate with a degree in sports psychology and do not go on to obtain a license, can do or provide educational sports psychology with little to no experience.
Here is an example list of the titles unlicensed practitioners often use when doing sports psychology. This list is not all-inclusive:
Mental Fitness Coach
Mental Performance Coach
Mental Skills Training Coach
Mental Resilience Trainer
Mental Coach
Master Mental Game Coach
Cognitive Enhancement Specialist
Performance Psychology Coach
Performance Enhancement Consultant
What about certification? Is it important? Yes! But a license and certification are not the same thing. It is important to understand the difference, especially if you are seeking a professional in the sports psychology field. Why? Because as stated before, no state regulates the sports psychology profession—meaning there is no license specifically required to be a “sports psychologist.”
Certification is a credential usually granted by an organization that confirms a person has attained a certain level of knowledge that they, the organization, not a state, deem qualifies you for a specific line of work. In the sports psychology field, the certification Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) offered by the Association for Applied Sports Psychology (AASP) is the gold standard. AASP recently revamped their entire certification process to make it more structured and stringent. In a nutshell, AASP states, “Individuals with a master’s or doctoral degree in sport science, psychology, or a closely related field who have met specific course requirements, passed a certifying exam, and have completed an extensive, mentored applied experience” can qualify for certification. The mentored applied experience means how many hours are spent working with competitive sports populations or non-sport populations (e.g., performing artists). However, the applied experience required for earning the CMPC certification totals just 400 hours. And of those 400 hours, a person must earn a minimum of 200 hours in direct client contact (i.e., working one-on-one with clients). Thus, a person with a Master’s degree, or PhD, and the CMPC certification, with only 200 direct client hours, can hang their shingle out and do sports psychology. Even less, a person with just a Master’s degree in sports psychology, and no CMPC certification or state license, could also promote themselves doing sports psychology.
A person who chooses to obtain a license and the CMPC certification do so earning more direct client hours. How? Because, as stated earlier, to get a license a person must do an internship (e.g., 300 hours direct client contact) as part of their academic program, and, once graduated, they must then acquire more direct hours (e.g., 1200 hours) as part of a state need for a license. Now compare this to someone just earning the minimum (i.e., 200 direct client hours) for the CMPC certification. There is a significant difference in experience (200 hours vs. 1500 hours), especially if someone seeking a license and the CMPC certification earns all their direct client hours with competitive athletes or other performers.
In sum, a license proves you are licensed to work in your profession (e.g., as a psychologist or counselor). Unlike a certification, a license is a legal designation, with a clear set of guidelines and requirements for each profession. That means if a person does not have a license for a particular profession that requires one, he or she could be subject to fines, or, sometimes, face jail time, especially if the person is putting public safety at risk. Because of these risks, states impose strict requirements (i.e., passing a state board exam, fingerprint background, more direct client hours under supervision) for securing a license. A certification does not hold a legal designation; therefore, the organization granting the certification determines the guidelines.
What Changes Are and Are not Happening in the Sports Psychology Profession?
Many universities have realized this lack of experience and educational gap and now offer a dual program in sports psychology and counseling, or a dual program in sports psychology and counseling psychology (e.g., John F. Kennedy University, Ball State University, University of North Texas). Some programs even offer course plans leading to eligibility for the CMPC certification. Even though these universities and others have taken a step in the right direction, the steps do not solve the question (To educate or treat completely?) and arguments that follow as to how a person can do sports psychology without a license or certification.
Obviously, there is still a way to go before the sports psychology profession comes to terms with how it wants to define itself and the necessary qualifications, but, until then, here are my tips to help you find the right professional!
My 7 Tips for Choosing the Best Sports Psychology Professional!
Ask the practitioner you choose to work with if they are licensed as a psychologist or counselor. If they fall under one of the titles mentioned previously, chances are they do not have a license. A licensed professional has a higher, legal standard, undergoes a criminal background check, and has more initial training. If someone is not licensed, yet has worked successfully in the field for many years, you could consider this in your decision. Considering the years brings me to my next tip…
Ask them how many years of experience they have working with athletes like yourself? If the person is new, and does not hold a license, chances are he or she lacks experience. The lack of experience and how it plays into what you are seeking will determine whether you hire someone.
Are they certified through the Association of Applied Sports Psychology? The CMPC is gaining ground as a prerequisite for hire that colleges, universities, and professional sport organizations are now wanting. Are they board certified? As I stated before, a person may hold the CMPC certification but only have 200 direct hours of experience working with athletes or your population group. You will have to weigh whether this minimum number of hours is satisfactory or not for hiring them.
If they obtained a doctorate, what was their dissertation on? I find it relevant to know if someone spent a great deal of their interest, time, money, and sanity researching and writing on a topic within the field of sports psychology that relates to me and my issues.
Has a client or other ever sued them for malpractice (if they hold a license), or has the person ever had their license suspended/revoked? If the person is unlicensed, yet certified, have they ever had their certification suspended or revoked?
Did they take part in sports? Although not a need, it does make sense to ask. Would you not want to know if the person actually played competitive sports? Whether he or she understands the nuances of competitive sports competition or other performing professions? And finally, …
What approach does the person use and is it evidence-based? Ask them what their underlying philosophy is and how does it determine their theoretical approach? Many use a theoretical approach that everyone else is using without even understanding or knowing its fundamental philosophical foundations. Ask the person what applications from their theoretical approach do they use for interventions? Are these evidence-based? If so, can they offer you some research to explore? This question might not be at the forefront; however, it is important to know how the person will be working with you, or the reason behind their recommendation for a particular intervention.
So, the next time you are in need to hire a professional to help you work on your mental game or mindset, take time to ask the questions about their education, experience, certification, and license (EXCeL) so you can make an informed decision as to whether they are the one to help you excel in sport and in life! Thanks for reading, and Live Life. Live Sport!
“What other questions would you ask to determine if a sports psychology professional is the right one for you?”
Please share this post with other athletes, coaches, or anyone else you believe might benefit from reading it, and please, as always, feel free to leave me a comment.
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