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Review
Title: Clinical Sport Psychology
Format: Hard cover
Released: Approx dec 2005
Authors: Frank Gardner, Zella Moore
Publisher: Human Kinetics
ISBN:0-7360-5305-0
Targets: Sports psychologists, s. psych. teachers, psychology researchers, sports scientists,
and policy makers
Score: 5 out of 5
The authors suggest that this text is aimed at sports psychologists, sports
psychology researchers and sports scientists. I fall into the sports
scientist category.
Throughout the book the authors advocate an evidence based, ethical approach
to sport psychology. The text gives numerous references to the research
literature and therefore acts as an excellent narrative review assessing
both research data and theoretical development. It is also highly critical
of many aspects of current practice, outlining the theoretical and ethical
errors that underpins much of it. I especially appreciated this honest
approach as I am a firm believer in the need for evidence based practice.
After an introduction, the book outlines a theoretical model for the
interaction of performance and psychological issues - the 'Integrative Model
of Athletic Performance (IMAP)'. I found this chapter slightly confusing
since it seemed to go off on tangents, and the rest of the text makes little
reference to IMAP. However, the model seems sound and I think a second
reading will help in seeing it as underpinning the authors' approach in the
rest of the book.
The real meat of the book begins with chapter 3 where they introduce a
classification system for assement of client conditions - the Multilevel
Classification System for Sport Psychology (MCS-SP). This represents a
fundamental shift in sports psych practice as it groups clients into those
only needing performance development, those with subclinical issues, and
those with clinical issues. They present the rationalle behind this system
brilliantly and explain the danger of applying performance enhancement
without tackling underlying sub clinical or clinical issues. These themes
are developed throughout the book.
Next they present assessment strategies, giving an overview of the role of
interviews (structured and unstructered) and psychological tests. They give
lots of practical advice and integrate this with the MCS-SP protocol.
Perhaps in future editions (this book will last!) this section could be
expanded to give a thourough list of appropriate tests available rather than
selected references. This is a bit of a nit-pick though.
In the next chapter they review Moore's published systematic review into
traditional sports psychology techniques, with depressing findings. This
represents a significant result and should shock the profession.
Next they present early findings of their research into
mindfullness-aceptance-commitmance (MAC) treatments for performance
development. They precede this with a theoretical (including research
findings) look at why traditional techniques may not work, presenting a
possible fundamental flaw. The data they provide on the MAC is very
interesting but they stress the research is in its early stages and not
ready to be applied (for example, the sample size used is currently way to
small). However, I fear that some may ignore these caveats and look to
apply the techniques already. I think the presentation of the chapter could
have been more careful with this in mind. However, as a chapter for
researchers, it was very interesting and exciting.
In the next 4 chapters they examine evidence based approaches for tackling
sub-clinical and clinical issues. These are very interesting and emphasises
the need for integration of clinical psychology into sports psychology.
Other chapters include advice on case formulation, ethics (very important),
training, and future directions. There are a lot of example scenarios,
highlightling subtle concerns for psychologists and giving practical
suggestions.
As a sports scientist I would have benefitted from a glossary in the back
explaining some of the terms they use. It wasn't too bad (and there's
always wikipedia) but the book does assume a lot of prior knowledge. Also,
the authors use the word 'holistic' a lot which in the UK is generally used
only by 'alternative health' people and therefore the antithesis of what
this book is all about. And I spotted 'ongoing' several times which made me
wince each time. A word of warning - curiously, the text is very slightly
smudgable.
This book is hard hitting and to the point. It skillfully (with lots of
references, theoretical and ethical discussions) shows the fundamental
errors in current practice, and presents the way forward that everyone
should adopt. This book should be mandatory for all practicing and aspiring
sports psychologists, trainers, psychology researchers, sports scientists,
and policy makers.
One final note - Zella Moore's picture is the best author photo I've ever
seen!