Beyond Performance: Treating the Person, Not the Player in Clinical Care for Athletes

Description

Dr. Malveaux will focus on how psychologists without formal sports specialization can competently support athletes by applying established, evidence-based clinical skills to mental health concerns that are not inherently performance-focused, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, eating disorders, and identity-related transitions such as retirement or unexpected exit from sport. She will also address how sociocultural factors in sport—including discrimination, bias, gender and sexuality-related stress, immigration status, and financial vulnerability—may present clinically and influence mental health and treatment engagement. Finally, Dr. Malveaux will review ethical considerations for working with athletes and will review a structured framework for determining when consultation, referral, or collaborative care with appropriately trained specialists is clinically and ethically indicated.

Continuing Education Information

1 CE Credit, Instructional Level: Intermediate

1 Contact Hour (New York Board of Psychology)

Disclosures: Dr. Malveaux has developed an online anxiety profile quiz, an anxiety-focused educational guide, and a time management guide. These resources may be referenced or briefly previewed during the presentation; however, they are not required for participation, and no sales will occur during the educational activity. Generative artificial intelligence tools were used in the organization and structuring of this educational presentation. All final content, clinical framing, and educational decisions reflect the presenter’s independent professional judgment and expertise.

Learning Objectives:

1. List distinctions among sports psychology, mental performance coaching, general clinical psychology, and sports psychiatry, including training pathways, credentials, and ethical scope of practice.
2. Apply established clinical interventions to address mental health concerns commonly encountered in athletes that are not inherently performance-focused, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, eating disorders, and identity-related transitions.
3. Describe how sociocultural factors in sport (e.g., discrimination, bias, gender and sexuality-related stress, immigration status, and financial vulnerability) may present clinically and influence mental well-being.

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CE Disclaimers

The National Register of Health Service Psychologists is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The National Register maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

The National Register of Health Service Psychologists is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0010