Who do sports psychologists work with?

Sports psychologists work with athletes, coaches, and injury rehabilitation specialists. Here is a closer look at the variety of professionals and organizations that a sports psychologist works with:

• Athletes. Sports psychologists work directly with athletes to help with any mental health concerns and to increase their overall athletic performance with activities like goal-setting, visualization, and self-talk. Sports psychologists may work with professional sports teams, college teams, or other sports-related organizations.
• Coaches. Sports psychologists work with coaches to inform them of their athletes' progress toward any goals or psychological breakthroughs. A sports psychologist might also assist a coach in improving their communication and leadership skills, and focus on issues like conflict resolution.
• Injury rehabilitation specialists. Sports psychologists tend to work alongside injury rehab specialists, such as physical therapists, trainers, sports team doctors, and other professionals that provide athlete care. When coordinating with these professionals, a sports psychologist focuses on mental wellness and improved performance for athletes.