What is a Typical Day Like for a Sports Psychologist?

Psychologists can work with a variety of different patients, from school-aged children to adults, within their chosen career path. If you have always had a passion for sports but you know you were destined to be a psychologist, you may want to consider pursuing a career in Sports Psychology. A sports psychologist works to train an athlete mentally rather than physically. They can consult with a wide variety of patients who are competing in several different sports, and treat professional athletes for many psychological conditions that can affect the athlete’s performance. Your responsibilities as a sports psychologist can vary based on your specialty, your position, and the professional you are working with. Read on to learn what a day in the life of a sports psychologist is like.

What Will Your Work Environment Be Like?

A day in the life of working as a sports psychologist will depend upon where you are working. There is not just one place that you can work as a specialist in this field. You could be working for a high school or a college sports team, where you would typically report to work on-campus to treat adolescent and college-aged patients. There are also government bodies and facilities who directly employ sports psychologists within their facilities. You could also work for a professional sports team, internationally for other countries training for competitive events, and in your own private practice. In addition to reporting to the site where you treat patients, you typically have your own office you can report to to conduct your research. Many psychologists within the field also have an exam room to handle consultations.

The Tasks Performed By a Sports Psychologist

One day is never the same when you are working within the specialization. One day you could report to the location of a sports team to consult with an athlete who is struggling with issues outside of the field that are affecting their performance on the field. Another day, you could work with an athlete to help treat a patient with their issues on staying mentally focused and in the game. One a daily basis, you can perform a patient consultation, research treatment options, and recommend treatment. You can also act like an athlete’s support system and provide the patient with coping mechanisms while they are in the game so that they can improve their performance. It is not uncommon to follow a patient who is undergoing treatment for observation purposes.

Sports psychologists earn between $41,850 and $71,880 per year, with the average salary reported to be $55,000. As a professional who participates in helping professional athletes succeed, sports psychologists are very important members of an organization. Consider the work environment you would be comfortable with, map out the requirements to becoming a professional in the field, and then enter the field as a Board Certified Sports Psychologist Diplomat. Be a member of a collaborative team, teach, treat and consult, and enter an exciting field that is diverse and challenging.