Six Years Up: Applied Sport Psychologists Surviving (and Thriving) after Graduation

Abstract

Our purpose was to explore ways in which practitioners developed professionally after graduate school. We re-interviewed 4 female and 3 male consultants 4 years since their postgraduate sport psychology studies; they had been interviewed 3 times during their training. Since leaving university, participants' professional practices had evolved, such as increased coherence between their behaviors and beliefs, born from having negotiated service delivery challenges. Also, participants had experienced reduced anxiety and increased perceived competence. Participants' accounts were congruent with counselor development theory. Knowledge about students' possible developmental changes after graduation may assist educators and supervisors in preparing future practitioners for their careers.

Acknowledgments

Mark B. Andersen and Daryl B. Marchant are with the School of Sport and Exercise Science and the Institute of Sport, Exercise, and Active Living at Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.