Counselling in Sport: A Paradigm for Performance Development

Abstract

The British Psychological Society’s definition of the overall aim of the counselling psychologist is “to help people to improve their sense of well being, alleviate their distress, resolve their crises and increase their ability to solve problems and make decisions for themselves”. This introduction to counselling in sport will present a paradigm of interventions for athletes and coaches. Given the pressures placed upon today’s sportsmen and sportswomen, it is clear that counselling has a major role to play in sport, which is a multi-million pound business that can place considerable stress upon individuals in their quest for success. This is true of not only the competitive athlete, but also of the so-called recreational participant whose principal endeavour may be to attain, and then maintain, an “ideal” body image or level of self esteem.