Practitioners’ Use of Motivational Interviewing in Sport: A Qualitative Enquiry

Mack, Rory; Breckon, Jeff; Butt, Joanne; Maynard, Ian

doi:10.1123/tsp.2019-0155

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Providing ample emotional support could be improved by developing the coach-athlete relationship in order to help ease the power dynamics at play. Training in motivational interviewing, for example, could be an appropriate intervention to target relationship building and communication (Mack et al, 2021). While this would be a positive step, further avenues and layers of support should be available away from those stakeholders.…”

Section: Applied Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It’s all about opportunity”: From professional contract to first-team regular

Swainston¹,

Wilson²,

Jones³

2021

Journal of Applied Sport Psychology

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The purpose of this study was to explore the junior to senior transition from professional contract to an established first-team player in an English men's professional football team. Six players were purposively sampled across four suggested phases of transition: preparation; orientation; adaptation; and stabilization (Pehrson et al., 2017). A series of three interviews explored their past and current experiences, as well as their future ambitions. Eight higher-order themes were developed using thematic analysis: performance culture; opportunity; organizational strategy; contracts; relationships; motivation; power dynamics; and dual career. Several general adaptation factors found in previous research were present, along with four unique findings. The current study sets the opportunity to play within the first team as the primary factor in career progression. Without the opportunity, a 'grey period' develops when a player is in an undefined phase without specific goals. This complex transition is further complicated by the short-term nature of contracts, which influences motivation and the ability to see the big picture. Throughout the transition, receiving support from key stakeholders was challenged by their role as gatekeepers of playing time and future contracts.Organizations should seek to manage transitions through a hands-on approach, providing the necessary support throughout the grey period, while being aware of the limitations of support from those with power over opportunity. Future research should look to explore the suggested grey period and the challenges that develop without continual opportunity.

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Section: Applied Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It’s all about opportunity”: From professional contract to first-team regular

Swainston¹,

Wilson²,

Jones³

2021

Journal of Applied Sport Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Crucially, the eighth stage discusses the importance of recognising when MI is not working with a given client, or is not the optimal approach for the presenting issue, and should be put aside in favour of an approach which may be more effective. These eight stages in learning MI may be of value in designing MI training curricula and ongoing support of the MI learning process, evidenced by a number of them repeatedly cited in a systematic review of studies reporting MI training for general health care practitioners (Söderlund, Madson, Rubak, & Nilsen, 2011), in addition to being described as essential by participants in study two of the current res earch project (Mack et al, 2021). Miller and Mount (2001) showed that one workshop on MI (15 hours contact time over two days) was enough to sustain significant practitioner MIconsistent behaviours at 4 month re-test, but this effect was not large enough to initiate significant change in client outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study reported in this chapter has been published: Mack, R.,Breckon, J., Butt, J., & Maynard, I. (2021).…”

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confidence: 99%

Exploring applications of motivational interviewing in sport psychology

Mack¹

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The clear reporting of relational and technical principles, skills and processes which underpin intervention delivery in applied sport psychology is often missing, in favour of intervention content. Repeated calls have been made for what has been described as an interface between counselling psychology and sport psychology, to fill this gap (e.g., Andersen & Speed, 2010; Petitpas, Giges, & Danish, 1999; Poczwardowski, Sherman, & Henschen, 1998). More specifically, practitioners might consider immersing themselves in a counselling approach for greater understanding of the therapeutic alliance and its components, arguably the most important predictor of behaviour change in consultation with athletes (Andersen, 2006). While limited guidance exists for applying counselling methods to sport psychology (e.g., Katz & Hemmings, 2009; Murphy & Murphy, 2010), a specific counselling approach with a clear training pathway has yet to be suggested. Motivational interviewing (MI; Miller & Rollnick, 2013) is one counselling approach which contains the relational and technical active ingredients for fostering strong therapeutic alliances with athletes, and immersion in this approach could support practitioners in learning the therapeutic methods required to develop these interpersonal relationships and work from an athlete-centred perspective (Andersen, 2006; Holt & Strean, 2001). Additionally, applied sport psychologists are increasingly reaching beyond the psychological skills training and psychoeducation which have been dominant in the discipline, instead beginning to learn and apply specific psychotherapies, such as rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT: Wood, Barker, & Turner, 2017) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT; Shortway, Wolanin, Block-Lerner, & Marks, 2018). An integration of MI with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is becoming better understood in clinical and counselling psychologies (e.g., Geller & Dunn, 2011; Westra, Arkowitz, & Dozois, 2009), and such an integration may prove fruitful for sport psychology interventions. The purpose of this thesis was therefore to formally propose and explore MI as a valuable, efficacious counselling approach to underpin applied sport psychology practice. Three studies were undertaken in this endeavour. Study one explores the current use and understanding of MI among chartered sport and exercise psychologists in the UK. Findings indicated that certain aspects of the MI approach are being used in sport psychology consultancy, but there are gaps in the knowledge and application of the approach. Study two explores how MI is being applied in sport contexts by a global sample of practitioners who are proficient MI practitioners and trainers. Findings indicate core and auxiliary components of MI are valuable for enhancing intervention work with athletes. Study three outlines the design, implementation and evaluation of an MI for sport psychology workshop series attended by early career sport psychologists. Findings indicate increased MI adherent practice post-training, and perceived value of MI for enhancing applied practice. This thesis concludes that MI presents one counselling approach suitable for integration into sport psychology practice, with the potential to enhance relationships and interventions with athletes.

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Practitioners’ Use of Motivational Interviewing in Sport: A Qualitative Enquiry

Cited by 2 publications

References 40 publications

“It’s all about opportunity”: From professional contract to first-team regular

“It’s all about opportunity”: From professional contract to first-team regular

Exploring applications of motivational interviewing in sport psychology

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