Sport psychologist in training
Students and graduates of sport-related degrees at Loughborough University are making a positive impact in the future of sport across a diverse range of career pathways.
Our degrees provide students with the skills and experience sought after by leading sporting organisations and elite clubs across the globe. By learning from internationally-leading researchers and taking the opportunity to apply their knowledge on placement, our students are fully prepared to enter their dream industry.
Sport and Exercise Psychology graduate, Brandon, discusses how his experiences at Loughborough have prepared him for his dream career as a Sports Psychologist, including the opportunity to gain practical experience by working for the Loughborough Applied Psychology Service (LAPS).
During my time working for LAPS I have been embedded in the Loughborough Lightning cycling team, which has been a great opportunity to work closely within a high-performance team.
Activities include delivering one-to-one cognitive-behavioural therapy to athletes, running group-based workshops, observing training, matches or races, attending supervision meetings and even helping to deliver seminars on the Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc programme.
To become a charted psychologist, you need 2-4 years of supervised practice as a Sports Psychologist in training, which can be a costly experience. The opportunity to work for LAPS not only provides me with the required experience, but also provides free stage 2 supervision which overcomes a huge financial obstacle.
Courses tailored for success
Our courses are informed by the expertise and applied experience of our world-leading academics. We pride ourselves on providing students with the practical skills and experience needed to succeed in their future career. Brandon explained how this approach has helped him:
My time at Loughborough has given me an extensive base of Sport Psychology knowledge which I use regularly when speaking to athletes, coaches, staff and parents. It has helped me develop the theoretical and practical skills that are needed to be an effective practitioner, including critically evaluating research and group presentation projects.
During the MSc programme, we regularly took part in role play activities where we practised setting up the delivery of one-to-one psychological support to athletes. This was a really useful activity as it allowed us to practise our interpersonal skills in a constructive environment and prepared me for doing one-to-one sessions with athletes in my current role.
Supporting students beyond their degree
Brandon has recently been offered a job as an Academy Psychologist at Aston Villa, which he credits to the teaching and placement experiences on his course, as well as the strong connections that Loughborough University has with major sporting organisations.
During my studies at Loughborough, I received a great level of academic support and continue to actively benefit from their expertise within my graduate job as they now act as my supervisors.
Loughborough’s Coach and Volunteer Academy was also beneficial to my success, as I volunteered as a ‘psychology performance support volunteer’, observing Loughborough men’s football team and giving feedback on possible areas for improvement.
Working for LAPS means I benefit from Loughborough’s sporting connections, giving me work opportunities which I wouldn’t have been able to access by myself. For example, we have worked with Aston Villa, Youth Elite athletes and the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme.
I now have an amazing opportunity to work as one of Aston Villa’s academy Psychologists on a 2-year long contract. As a keen football fan this is a great opportunity to develop my career in a sport I am passionate about.
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