Conversation with David Brailsford CBE
Last night I went to ‘a conversation with David Brailsford CBE’ at Sheffield Hallam University. Dave Brailsford is the Performance Director for GB cycling and has transformed the fortunes of the team and the sport. It was very interesting to listen to the topics and his views on these. It had a strong psychological feel and some principles he highlighted were worth noting. He highlighted the CORE principle that aims to give ownership to the athlete. The C stands for commitment, the O is for ownership, the R stands responsibility and the E stands for excellence. The first 3 need to be present for the final one to be achieved. He also highlighted the CHIMP model that was developed by Steve Peters (GB cycling psychiatrist) which is an interesting model to explain human behaviour. This model links parts of the brain to different behavioural outcomes and can be applied to every environment where there is some form of human behaviour . The Chimp is the emotional element and the frontal lobe is the logical element.Power of Blogging
Just got my weekly stats and after my recent blog the hits to my profile have increased on the hits the previous week by around 50%. I hadn't added anything for a while and sometimes struggle for things to write about and the time to write them but I will certainly blog more now!Sport Psychology part Team GB's success
Sport Psychology has been mentioned by Team GB’s cyclist Victoria Pendleton as an important component of her success in Beijing 2008. She said:“I can honestly say that I don’t think I’d be here if it wasn’t for (sports psychologist) Steve Peters and the work he has done with me,” she said. “I’m really lucky to have a team around me. Mark Simpson, my strength and conditioning coach, knows me better than I know me, so credit to him too.
Its great that support teams are recognised and I wonder as a result of the great success of Team GB will more money be assigned to support teams of athletes in the build up to London.
HPC Regulation of Applied Psychologists - Thoughts and Reflections
I am writing this to hopefully get this clear in my head so this is how I see the current situation and some of my thoughts. If I have got anything wrong just let me know! The Health Professions Council (HPC) is a register of health professionals who have to meet certain standards relating to their training, professional skills and behaviour (http://www.hpcheck.org) and the Government are implementing placing applied psychologists on this register. So to use the title ‘applied psychologist’ you must sign up to the HPC register. This has got to be a good thing for the profession and continue its development and evolution and personally for each psychologist will see themselves develop as they have to undergo certain CPD requirements. Currently the only route that is being considered for the training required to becoming an applied sport psychologist is the BPS route with the end result of becoming chartered. What about the BASES SE process? BASES have responded (http://www.bases.org.uk/newsite/news123.asp) to say that their training is comparable to the BPS. If the HPC do not recognise BASES SE then potentially the profession could lose or miss out on the people that come from a sports background (coaches etc) who do not have a generic psychology background, myself included coming from a sport science/sport development background. I understand the need for the generic background and think that Sport Psychology is in a transitional period of development here in the UK but undertaking my training during this time is confusing as the goal posts always seem to move. I have investigated doing a conversion course to allow me work towards being chartered through the BPS but this will knock me back a few years on my career path.Reflecting on the BASES SE process
I am just about to start bringing together and writing up what I have done so far in order to complete my 2nd of the BASES SE process and thought this would be a perfect opportunity to reflect on the year and share. The year has had ups and downs like any good rollercoaster and this has been mirrored by my motivation for the experiences and processes I have had and I am going through. The year has made me realise many things about sport psychology, the process of SE and more importantly myself as a practitioner. This year has reinforced my desire to work in the profession but has been, at times, hard work and very time consuming. It has emphasised the need for effective time management and maintaining my life balance between family, work, myself and sport psychology. There have been instances where I wondered if I have done enough or read the right articles and books but towards the end of the year I understand that only so much can be completed whilst keeping everything else in balance. It has made me start to question who I am as a practitioner and develop a philosophy of practice. It has also allowed me to add different tools to my sport psychology tool box and made me self aware of my strengths and what I still have to do to improve.After a recent meeting with my supervisor I appreciate the importance of what he brings to the table in my development and the relationship we have. He was able to give me a new lease of life after a major recent set back and he was able to put into perspective what had gone on and as I left the meeting I felt like I a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. His ability to recognise that and put everything into perspective will be invaluable in my continued development. The meeting also emphasised some of the other things that a practitioner needs that are not always taught in courses at university. These tools include the ability to network which is a skill that is so underestimated and the person skills of the knack to be humble enough to understand yourself and what you bring to the sport psychology table and not ‘big yourself up’ at every opportunity. Also the ability to work hard and have the desire to want to improve and learn new things is essential in working towards becoming accredited in sport psychology just as they are in everyday. Finally, the SE process should be seen as a journey which involves small but meaningful steps to reach the final destination of becoming accredited.
