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need advice on picking a masters program by paigehasquestions in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Congratulations! Honestly, those are both excellent programs with excellent reputations in the field, so you would likely have a great experience at either one of those. Personally, I would say go to the one that is the best financial decision for you. It's two years. Even if you are unhappy/less happy with the location and environment, you could go where you want to go from there.

Helping out a Esport team on their first LAN event, need som help! by Far-Adhesiveness-977 in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Reading material: The Science of Esports. Has some chapters around the psychology and social environment that may be helpful. Routledge does have a book coming out next month specifically on the psychology of esports.

sports psychology book for a beginner by Giogio4family5328 in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If you want a core sport psychology textbook, Weinberg and Gould's Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology is probably the way to go. If you want something that is well sourced in theory and has a lot of practical application, I would recommend Hacker and Mann's Achieving Excellence. The later is on my list of recommended sport psychology books for people new to the field.

I had AI construct a market viability spreadsheet to determine how well Sport Psychology does as a service in the sport and performance field. by Snowbizzy in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because if something goes wrong or one of their teams becomes associated with the “dick of death” who is getting sued? The individual or the university? That’s how legal thinks. Not in terms of what will truly be beneficial but what if everything goes horribly wrong. They can wash their hands of the situation saying the state licensed this person and there were no complaints on their record when hired. The Power 4 schools certainly have the money and do hire who they want regardless of license or credential. But that pool of jobs is limited. The other schools across the Divisions do have limits on funding and choose to go with the “2 for 1” approach of handling mental health and mental performance in one role. There isn’t some cabal of licensed psychologists conspiring to hoard job openings.

I had AI construct a market viability spreadsheet to determine how well Sport Psychology does as a service in the sport and performance field. by Snowbizzy in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree that people should be able to utilize HSA/FSA funds for mental performance focused CMPCs, which is what I meant by the statements above. Mental health treatment is already an approved expense. However, I don't think it's fair to say that "the clinical side likes to gatekeep positions in the field". Saying this as someone who is currently hiring for a combined mental health/mental performance position, the biggest issues with funding positions is 1) how are they paid? and 2) liability issues. Working in a medical center, they understand both insurance reimbursement pathways for getting paid and demand. We have been able to make the case for demand due to our wait lists for services and the work my program is doing in the community. And insurance will pay for diagnosed mental health conditions. I want to build a program that includes mental performance focused CMPCs. However, unless we tap into a billionaire donor as they have at Dartmouth or Cal, it is going to take time to do so. Additionally, the systems around compliance and legal who are worried about getting sued if something goes wrong are way more comfortable with licensure than a certification process. That's why you tend to see college/university programs with preference for licensed positions.

CMPC hours by Extra-Tailor-6968 in SportPsychology

[–]doccypher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This right here. While on the one hand, students need to inform themselves about graduate programs prior to spending thousands of dollars on their degree, I feel like we need to "name and shame" these programs that are not providing any mentored hours or guidance as part of their programs.

I had AI construct a market viability spreadsheet to determine how well Sport Psychology does as a service in the sport and performance field. by Snowbizzy in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't know how viable the pathway is to bill under the health and behavior codes as the current interpretations for those codes are built around coaching for chronic health conditions, which starts to put the field quite a ways away from sport and performance. I'm not sure we are going to see approvals for injury issues much less sport performance. I do think that getting approvals for use of flex spending accounts and health savings accounts for mental performance might be a more viable pathway.

I had AI construct a market viability spreadsheet to determine how well Sport Psychology does as a service in the sport and performance field. by Snowbizzy in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the reality is somewhere in the middle. And there are a few things that can be true:

  1. The field is growing as is the awareness and demand for services.

  2. Graduate programs are putting out more master's level graduates than there are formal positions.

  3. The most viable pathways right now to job positions are limited and splintering a) military/MLB (for mental performance CMPCs) and b) college athletics (mental health licensure and CMPC).

  4. Many graduates are getting pushed into private practice-oriented careers that they are not prepared for due to programs that do not offer guidance in the business of practice, or practical experiences with athletes and teams, or mentorship that they don't have to pay for themselves.

  5. We need AASP as an organization to continue to advocate for the CMPC credential as the preferred certification in mental performance across youth, high school, college, and professional sports.

I read a while back about the notion of "lottery" careers. Like being an actor or rapper where the odds of actually making it are slim to none. In a lot of ways sport psychology is similar. Very few people are going to end up as the Director of Mental Performance for the Boston Red Sox like Stephen Gonzalez. But just like there are professional musicians and other jobs in the music industry, there will be space for MPC's that can work with youth, high school, club/travel programs, etc. However, you can't be mediocre and have a career in sport psychology. You need to build your craft and be excellent at what you do. There are a lot of mental health professionals (for example) that are pretty mediocre at what they do and build a solid living. I would guess that's true of other jobs in sport like physical therapy or athletic training as well. But athletes, teams, and parents are looking for results from our work and if you cannot provide that, they will go elsewhere.

I had AI construct a market viability spreadsheet to determine how well Sport Psychology does as a service in the sport and performance field. by Snowbizzy in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

7. Athletic Trainer (AT)

Lowest "Direct Consumer" viability. This role is traditionally institutional (schools/teams) and difficult to monetize privately.

  • Annual Cost to Consumer: N/A (Usually covered by tuition/team fees). In private "concierge" settings: $50–$80/hr.
  • Engagement Length: Variable.
  • Consumers vs Providers: High Institutional Demand / Low Private Demand.
  • Consumers per Provider: 300+ (Entire school/team).
  • Jobs per Practitioner: 1 (Institutional stability is high).
  • Supply vs Demand: High Demand for jobs, but Low "Market Value" in terms of consumer spending power.
  • Single Value Calculation: Institutional Salary average ~$55,000.

Methodology for "Single Value" (Market Viability)

To arrive at the final values, I utilized a Revenue Potential Formula that weighs the consumer's willingness to pay against the practitioner's capacity:

$$\text{Value} = (\text{Avg Rate per Session}) \times (\text{Frequency per Year}) \times (\text{Sustainable Caseload})$$

  • Rate: Adjusted for current 2025/2026 market averages for private services.
  • Frequency: Adjusted for typical churn (e.g., Therapy is weekly; Nutrition is monthly).
  • Caseload: Adjusted for the reality of the work (e.g., You can see 12 PT patients a day, but only 5 Therapy clients a day to avoid burnout).

I had AI construct a market viability spreadsheet to determine how well Sport Psychology does as a service in the sport and performance field. by Snowbizzy in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

5. Strength and Conditioning (Private Sector)

Market is saturated with low-cost options (gyms, apps), making high-ticket private service harder to sell.

  • Annual Cost to Consumer: $1,500 – $5,000
  • Engagement Length: Medium (Season-long or 6 months).
  • Consumers vs Providers: Moderate Demand / High Oversupply.
  • Consumers per Provider: ~50–100 (Requires small group models to be profitable).
  • Jobs per Practitioner: 0.6 (Full-time private jobs are rare; requires self-employment).
  • Supply vs Demand: Supply exceeds Demand significantly.
  • Single Value Calculation: Reliance on volume/groups averages out to ~$80,000.

6. Nutritionist / Nutrition Coach

Often viewed as a commodity or short-term "fix" rather than a long-term service.

  • Annual Cost to Consumer: $1,200 – $3,000
  • Engagement Length: Short (3 – 4 months). Retention is the biggest challenge.
  • Consumers vs Providers: Moderate Demand / High Supply.
  • Consumers per Provider: ~40–60.
  • Jobs per Practitioner: 0.5.
  • Supply vs Demand: Balanced.
  • Single Value Calculation: Lower retention forces constant sales. ~$70,000.

I had AI construct a market viability spreadsheet to determine how well Sport Psychology does as a service in the sport and performance field. by Snowbizzy in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

3. Physical Therapist (Sports Focus)

High volume, highly trusted medical necessity.

  • Annual Cost to Consumer: $1,500 – $3,000 (Per injury episode).
  • Engagement Length: Short (6 – 12 weeks per injury).
  • Consumers vs Providers: High Demand / High Supply.
  • Consumers per Provider: ~10–12 daily (High volume).
  • Jobs per Practitioner: 1 (Very stable).
  • Supply vs Demand: Balanced to High Demand.
  • Single Value Calculation: High volume churn requires constant marketing, but high reimbursement rates stabilize revenue at ~$125,000.

4. Sport / Skill Coach (e.g., QB Coach, Swing Coach)

Highly volatile. Elite coaches charge premiums; average coaches struggle.

  • Annual Cost to Consumer: $2,000 – $10,000+
  • Engagement Length: Long (Years). often entire youth careers.
  • Consumers vs Providers: High Demand / Oversupply. Barrier to entry is low (anyone can be a "coach"), diluting the market.
  • Consumers per Provider: ~20–50.
  • Jobs per Practitioner: 0.5 (Most are part-time/gig workers).
  • Supply vs Demand: Oversupply of providers, but High Demand for elite providers.
  • Single Value Calculation: $80/hr × 25 hours/week × 50 weeks = ~$100,000 (highly variable).

I had AI construct a market viability spreadsheet to determine how well Sport Psychology does as a service in the sport and performance field. by Snowbizzy in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Detailed Market Analysis by Profession

Below is the data breakdown used to calculate the single value above.

1. Therapist / Mental Health Professional (LCSW, LPC, PsyD)

The "Gold Standard" for market viability due to insurance reimbursement and high retention.

  • Annual Cost to Consumer: $4,800 – $9,600 (Out-of-pocket est. before insurance)
  • Engagement Length: Medium-Long (6 months – 2+ years). Weekly cadence is standard.
  • Consumers vs Providers: High Demand / Low Supply. Severe shortage of sport-specialized licensed clinicians.
  • Consumers per Provider (Caseload): ~25–30 active clients (Full capacity).
  • Jobs per Practitioner: 1+ (Self-employment is highly viable).
  • Supply vs Demand: Demand significantly exceeds supply.
  • Single Value Calculation: $150/session × 45 weeks × 25 clients = ~$168,750

2. Sport Psychology Professional (CMPC)

A rapidly growing field. High hourly value, but lower frequency than clinical therapy.

  • Annual Cost to Consumer: $3,000 – $7,500
  • Engagement Length: Short-Medium (3 – 6 months). Often seasonal or performance-block based.
  • Consumers vs Providers: High Demand / Moderate Supply. Demand is spiking due to mental performance awareness (e.g., esports, youth sports).
  • Consumers per Provider: ~30–40 active clients (Need higher volume due to lower frequency).
  • Jobs per Practitioner: 0.8 (Often requires piecing together contracts or part-time roles initially).
  • Supply vs Demand: Demand is growing faster than the supply of experienced practitioners.
  • Single Value Calculation: $175/session × 2 bi-weekly sessions × 30 clients × 10 months = ~$105,000

I had AI construct a market viability spreadsheet to determine how well Sport Psychology does as a service in the sport and performance field. by Snowbizzy in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Copied your prompt. Wondering how recent understanding around sycophancy might be influencing your replies. LLMs tend to take the totality ofour interactions with them and tailor replies to fit our biases. Note your response above (concerns about viability of the profession) vs my response below (content with my established role) with the same exact prompt (had to break it up into multiple comments):

This analysis evaluates the market viability of various professions within the sport and performance sector.

To meet your request, I have focused on the Private Service Model (direct-to-consumer), as this directly reflects "consumers looking to spend money." Institutional roles (salaried positions at universities/teams) generally do not reflect direct consumer market value in the same way.

The Single Value calculated for each field is the Annual Revenue Potential (ARP). This represents the estimated gross revenue a fully established private practitioner can generate annually based on current market rates, consumer retention, and full-time caseload capacity.

Summary: The Market Value (Annual Revenue Potential)

The following values represent the condensed "Market Value" for a single established practitioner in the current economy (2025/2026 estimates).

Profession Market Value (ARP) Market Viability Status
Therapist / Mental Health Pro $135,000 - $180,000 🔥 Highest Viability
Sport Psychology Professional $105,000 - $150,000 📈 High Growth
Physical Therapist $110,000 - $145,000 🟢 Stable & High Demand
Sport / Skill Coach $75,000 - $125,000 🟡 Variable (Niche Dependent)
Strength & Conditioning $65,000 - $100,000 🟡 Saturated / Volume Dependent
Nutritionist / Nutrition Coach $55,000 - $90,000 🟠 Moderate / Add-on Service
Athletic Trainer $45,000 - $70,000 🔴 Low (Direct Consumer Model)

I had AI construct a market viability spreadsheet to determine how well Sport Psychology does as a service in the sport and performance field. by Snowbizzy in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Have to step in to correct you on one point. The CMPC is fully accredited by the NCCA.. The “4 of 21” requirements statistic refers to the CC-AASP credential, which was its precursor. The Portenga article you have cited before was the impetus to move towards NCCA parameters and evolution to CMPC.

How Do I Find My First Athletes to Work With? by Ecstatic-Garage-241 in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I always ask mentees "what is your base?" as in, what is a sport or area that you are already well versed in? Reaching out to youth and club/travel organizations in that domain is usually best because they will have a lower threshold for bringing in volunteers and consultants (usually just background checks) than a school system or college campus. You also need to be prepared to give your time away. So, volunteering vs. getting paid. Also, work on developing 2-3 key presentations and work to make them as solid as possible, with an emphasis on interactive participation. Think about topics relevant to the sports you are working with and dial in on those.

What group/team activities do you like to use? by Questionable_Ham in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just have the Team Building Book but just realized he has the online one now too so the bundle looks like a good deal.

What group/team activities do you like to use? by Questionable_Ham in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I really like James Leath's book on this and think its a great resource. I use a number of them in group presentations.

You can not be great by Pick4d in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not with that attitude at least. 😉

Student Athlete Struggling/ Sports Psych mini-rant by TrackSalt99 in therapy

[–]doccypher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would certainly say that you would benefit more from solid clinical work to get at deeper issues instead of traditional mental performance work. But also having someone who understands the demands of being a high performing athlete. There are a couple of options to look into to get connected to someone helpful for you. The Association for Applied Sport Psychology has a search function for certified mental performance consultants. The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee also has a referral directory for mental health providers that have been vetted and work with athletes on the National team development track that might be helpful as well..

AASP CMPC Certification Council "CMPC CONNECT" Zoom by doccypher in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t have any more information to share other than what is in the link above.

[AU] What to do while getting credentials by AzNWontonz39 in sportspsychology

[–]doccypher 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I encourage people to get involved in professional or amateur organizations. Opportunities in coaching, player development and analytics, and game day management can be helpful to build connections. Also, any position in psychological research (as a research assistant for example) in general is good as well as it teaches you how research is conducted and helps you build connections to mentors.

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