Sport and Exercise
Sport psychology in practice: The early stages
Guidance to help sport and exercise psychologists manage the initial athlete-consultant meeting.
17 January 1999
These papers derive from a workshop on sport psychology in practice, which was borne out of a strong feeling within the BPS Sport and Exercise Division that the topic of the initial athlete-consultant meeting is not well covered in the literature. There are many texts to help the consultant teach and implement intervention techniques, yet little advice is provided on how to manage the first, and probably the most important meeting. It is logical to assume that the ability to build rapport and create a positive environment are key determinants of a successful sport psychology consultation.