Practical Supervision in Applied Sport Psychology

Paul McCarthy, PhD, leads the taught doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, UK. Paul is a BPS chartered psychologist, HCPC-registered sport and exercise psychologist, and Senior Teaching Fellow. In 2017, he developed the first taught doctorate in sport and exercise psychology in Scotland and the UK. Supervision accounts for a significant proportion of his current role on the taught doctorate programme and private practice. His research explores the practice of applied sport psychology and elements of emotion, attention, and motivation amongst sport performers. He served as editor of Sport and Exercise Psychology Review from 2013 to 2017. He has run his own private practice for the past 20 years, splitting his work time between academic teaching, supervising, researching, writing, and supporting clients from amateur to professional levels, especially in golf, football, rugby, gymnastics, and athletics.Zoe Moffat, PhD, is a practitioner psychologist working for an international professional sports organisation. She is a chartered sport and exercise psychologist with the British Psychological Society and a practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council. Zoe has published several peer-reviewed papers in sport and exercise psychology. She works with Paralympians, Olympians, and professional athletes in several sports (e.g., rugby, golf, netball, tennis).Lindsey Burns, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, UK. She is a BPS Chartered Psychologist, an HCPC-registered Practitioner Health Psychologist, and a Senior Fellow with AdvanceHE. Her research focuses on interprofessional working and collaboration, alongside interests in performance and wellbeing. Lindsey’s professional role spans academia and private practice, where she provides supervision to trainee and qualified psychologists, supporting reflective, ethical, and evidence-based practice across diverse settings.

“This proposal represents a ground-breaking addition to the field of applied sport psychology. Its unique blend of theoretical depth, practical guidance, and real-world insights makes it an excellent resource for both students and supervisors. This book has the potential to redefine the landscape of supervision in sport psychology, providing a comprehensive and accessible guide for students and supervisors alike.”Dr Robert Morris, Associate Professor in Sport Psychology at the University of Stirling and Senior Sport Psychologist at the UK Sports Institute, UK

• 1. What Is Supervision?. 2. The Supervisory Relationship. 3. Ethics and Professional Practice in Supervision. 4. Being a Good Enough Supervisee. 5. Being a Good Enough Supervisor. 6. Supervision in Practice: Choosing a Style. 7. Shaping a Supervision Session – Structure and Purpose. 8. Beginnings – Key Elements of Starting a Supervisory Relationship. 9. Middles – Navigating the Core of Supervision. 10. Endings – Terminating the Supervisory Relationship Effectively. 11. Forms and Format of Supervision. 12. Trainee Development, Difference, and Diversity. 13. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Supervision. 14. Professional Considerations in Supervision.