A qualitative exploration of neophyte sport psychology practitioners self-care experiences and perceptions

Scholars from the psychology and mental health professions have previously identified value of self-care for enhancing practitioners personal professional well-being, fitness to practice. Despite these advances, in sport has received limited attention scholars, with few extant studies investigating senior practitioners’ self-care. As such, there currently exists little understanding how neophyte understand, experience enact In current study, we aimed better understand SPP early individuals’ development. Grounded ontological relativism, recruited 18 self-identified white SPPs residing United Kingdom (12 females 6 males), aged between 24 52 years (Mage = 31.94, SDage 7.81), take part semi-structured interviews which explored their experiences enacting during training. Five main themes were constructed following a reflexive thematic analysis data. These were: (a) What means SPPs, (b) The cornerstones self-care, (c) facilitates neophyte’s (d) hurdles that neophytes face (e) actions implement. findings contribute nascent body literature exploring within populations serve illuminate SPPs’ they perceive interactions profession impact ability lack emphasis on training pathways employment settings as well key considerations development greater awareness future cohorts is discussed.Lay summary: this study Sport Psychology Practitioners (SPPs). Analysis interview data meaning mechanisms, such self-awareness, underpin facilitating challenging aspects related engaging self-care.APPLIED IMPLICATIONSNeophyte be benefit positive work-life balance holistic development.The mechanisms self-awareness psychological flexibility one’s practices may beneficial promoting effective neophytes.Greater efforts employing organizations, regulatory bodies educational institutions are needed communicate importance