Sports Psychologist Career
Nowadays sports psychology is a growing profession and a new progressive field. More and more athletes seek the services of psychologists, trainers and coaches who can help them with the mental aspects of sports training. No doubt that motivation, concentration and focus are very important for everyone, who wants to achieve a goal.
Becoming a sports psychologist is now a perfect career choice these days. There is a great amount of degree programs and certificates in sport psychology that you can get online.
Online Programs in Sports Psychology
- Master of Arts in Sport-Exercise Psychology – Argosy University Online
- MS in Sport Psychology – Capella University
- MS in Sport Science – Athletic & Sports Business Administration – University of Central Missouri
The Areas of Sports Psychology
Applied Sports Psychology
Applied Psychology focuses on delivering performance-enhancement skills like visualizing, positive thought, goal setting and managing emotions and arousal. Practice in this area would normally involve working in an athletic setting, such as a sporting facility or athletic institution. If you choose an applied sports psychology, then you’ll work directly with athletes, helping them to acquire mental training techniques.
Clinical Sports Psychology
Sports psychology
Clinical Psychology deals with treating psychological problems that many athletes suffer from. Clinical sports psychology involves counseling work to diagnose and treat a wide variety of psychological based issues facing the athlete. They may include: substance abuse, depression, eating disorders, anger and anxiety. However, you should keep in mind that a professional in this field must become a skilled clinical and counseling psychologist beforehand.
Researches in Sport Psychology
If you are interested in the research aspect of sports psychology, then an Academic Sports Psychology can be the best choice for you. After getting a psychology degree, you’ll get a possibility to work at academic institutions in the lab. Researchers of sport psychology provide valuable data to professionals out in the field.
Sport Psychology Degree Programs
Academic programs that may prepare you for a career in Sports Psychology include:
• Specialized Training in Sports Psychology (Master / Doctoral programs)
• PhD in Counseling or Clinical Psychology with additional training in sports psychology
• Master’s level Counselor or Therapist with additional training in sports psychology
• Advanced Training in Exercises Science/Fitness with additional training
If graduates want to work with athletes, then they should get a Masters degree. A master’s degree is sufficient for academic athletic counseling, coaching, and health promotion. Psychology doctoral degrees are required for academic sport sciences, academic and clinical/counseling sport psychology.
A legitimate sports psychologist must have a doctorate and the requiring training and license to practice sports psychology. Proper credentials ensure that practitioners in the field are competent and tested at what they do.
Career Possibilities for Sport Psychologists
There is a wide range of career possibilities for everyone who wants to work in such field as sport psychology. They may include:
• Counseling athletes
• Coaching professional athletes
• Coaching a general student population
• Coaching mentally or physically disabled students
• Counseling compulsive exercisers and people with eating disorders
• Teaching sport psychology at a college
• Conducting research at a university
Other Psychology Career Options
Featured Online Programs
- BS Public Health- Health Psych & Behavior - Walden University
- BS Health Studies - Psychology and Behavior - Walden University
- BA - Psychology - Mental Health - Southern New Hampshire University
- BA/Health Care Studies - Psychology - Ashford University
- MS - Applied Psychology - Mental Health Psych - University of Liverpool
- MA - Health Psychology - Northcentral University
- MA - I/O Psych - Healthcare Leadership - The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
- MS - Sport Psychology - Capella University
- MS Psychology - Health Psychology - Walden University
- PhD in Psych - Health Psychology - Northcentral University
- PhD Psychology - Health Psychology - Walden University
Argosy University offers the Master of Arts (MA) in Sport Psychology program. This degree program is part of Argosy University’s American School of Professional Psychology. The goals of the program include developing student competencies in the following areas: theoretical foundations, helping relationships, individual and group skills, normal and abnormal behavior, sport sciences, research and evaluation,
The psychology degrees that are offered at Capella University. Master of Science and doctorate levels. The psychology programs at The Harold Abel School of Psychology.
It is true that a bachelor degree is the first step on the way to become successful psychologist. It is also true that a masters degree in psychology is the next step. A master’s degree, roughly speaking, is a degree of a specialist who works in a specific area of psychology: Family Counseling School Psychology Sports Psychology Clinical Psychology Industrial-Organizational Business
Applied psychology includes the areas of clinical, industrial-organizational, occupational health psychology, human factors, forensic and engineering psychology, school psychology, sports psychology and community psychology.
People who choose this online Sport Psychology specialization are often seeking performance improvements or career advancements in school coaching or in life coaching or instructional positions in park and fitness clubs, sports camps, or wellness programs.
