Chosen career path
Almost 5 years ago now I finished my last set of exams at school, with the aspirations of becoming a sport psychologist. In Ireland there are no bachelors sport psychology programmes offered so I applied to the next best option, Sport Science at the University of Limerick. Following this I moved to London to complete a MSc in sport and exercise psychology.
During my undergraduate degree I completed a placement with a Gaelic football academy as a strength and conditioning intern. During this experience, I relished working with the younger groups where the players’ enjoyment was at the forefront. I was lucky in that the head of the strength and conditioning at the academy was very tuned into the importance of sport psychology. His rapport with each player was very strong, despite working across 5 teams. He would puck around with the players during warm ups, checking in on those injured or going through stressful times. The players had a lot of respect for him and listened to what he had to say while being able to joke around with him at the same time. This experience highlighted to me my desire to work in youth sport and that my relationship with my clients would always be at the forefront.
For the last 5 years I have run a business walking and caring for dogs from my home in Dublin. Over the years my business has grown and I have carried it over to London with me, branching out with a new set of clientele. One of the most enjoyable aspects of my work is the flexibility, I am my own boss and fit my schedule around my needs. Although this comes with stress and pressure to keep up with everything, it has allowed me to simultaneously perform well at university, spend lots of time with my family and friends while funding myself throughout the year. This is something that is reflected in the work of a sport and exercise psychologist. You run your consultancy and choose how much work to take on and how to prioritise your time.
The second aspect I enjoy is the dynamic nature. I’m outside, in my own home or I’m house sitting in someone else’s. Each dog that I care for is different and I have to adapt to their needs while also getting them to respect my boundaries, which can be challenging when I’m minding several at once! When dealing with several clients during the day as a sport psychologist you must juggle your approach, as they will all be at different stages. You may meet clients in a variety of settings and deal with a host of different issues which is an environment I thrive in.
The experiences above along with others have affirmed to me that working as a sport and exercise psychologist is a route which I aspire to pursue and will provide me with great satisfaction and enjoyment in my work.
The next steps
The info below is adapted form the BPS Candidate handbook
Upon finishing my MSc the next stage on the road towards becoming an applied practitioner is to complete the BPS stage 2 (QSEP) pathway. This builds on the academic components developed during your MSc. Stage 2 entails structured supervised practice over a period of 2, 3 or 4 years, depending on your availability and access to appropriate development opportunities. Striving to further development in three aspects: professional practice, consultancy and research and communication. Your practice will be supervised by a suitable individual from the register of supervisors. The goal is to achieve competency to practice independently in a variety of settings.
The flexibility of the qualification means there are no restrictions on the type of work that can do, so long as you can demonstrate how it relates to the following 4 key roles.
Cost
Enrolment fee: Amount: £120 (£100 + VAT)
Qualification fee: £6217.20 (£5181.00 + £1036.20 VAT)
Third party fee: Costs related to supervision, travel, accommodation and professional indemnity insurance.
In order to meet Society’s standards, 460 days (over two to four years) of sport and / or exercise psychology-related activity are required. In order to meet the requirements of each key role and series of competencies, it is expected that your plan of training will be focused on a number of relevant areas including consultation, research, CPD (e.g. conferences, workshops). An example of how time may be allocated can be seen in the table below.
After successfully completing the written portfolio and subsequent viva assessments, this qualification will enable you to apply for Chartered Membership of the BPS, full membership of the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology, and will also be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Action plan
Below is an outline of some things I would like to achieve within the next 5 years. However I will focus on year 1 and getting started with stage 2 for the rest of this action plan.
Experience with different people and settings
While spending some time at home and travelling I plan to participate in a wide range of activities in different settings. Some examples include: to deliver a workshop Junior Irish Touch Team (any age group they propose across women, men and mixed teams), volunteer walking group…while in Australia I will look out for any opportunities to work in a sports setting, particularly with youth.
Finding a supervisor
One of the next steps to progress onto stage 2 is to choose a supervisor, I have selected potential supervisors from the BPS register that would be appropriate for the work I plan to engage with. The three supervisors I have highlighted are Dr Gavin Breslin, Dr Andrea Firth-Clarke and Dr Chris Harwood, see the figures below for an outline of their interests and work. After this I will move forward to the other elements in my 5 year plan outline.
