Welcome
Asking for help with anything can be difficult, especially when dealing with a mental health concern. Athletes are often expected to “tough it out” or “suck it up.” When dealing with minimal discomfort, that may work. However when faced with a medical concern such as depression or anxiety, toughing it out does NOT lead to getting better.
“You don’t have to be sick to get better”. - Michael Josephson
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What is Counseling & Sport Psychology and what’s the difference?
Counseling is defined as, "a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals." Counseling involves helping people make needed changes in ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving, and is a goal-based collaborative process, involving a non-judgmental, supportive counselor who works with a client in telling his or her story, setting viable goals, and developing strategies and plans necessary to accomplish these goals. For some people this process takes a small amount of time, in some cases as little as one or two sessions; for others, the process may last longer.
An extremely important part of counseling is confidentiality, which means that the information discussed in session will be accessible only by you and your counselor, with a few exceptions. Please speak with your provider to learn more.
Sport & Performance Psychology is a service with the primary goal of facilitating optimal involvement, performance, and enjoyment in sport and exercise. Practice in the field of applied sport and performance psychology usually involves a combination of individual and group consulting or counseling depending on the needs of the athlete. Although there are many specific concepts within applied sport and performance psychology (e.g., goal setting, concentration, motivation, relaxation, imagery), the general goal is to teach mental skills necessary to perform consistently in training and competition, increase adherence to exercise programs, and to help athletes realize their performance potential.
Our Vision
Our department aspires to nurture and support the overall wellbeing of student-athletes who have chosen to compete for Mississippi State University by advancing wellness and student development through engagement and commitment to excellence and collaboration.
Our Mission
- Assist student-athletes with maximizing their potential in multiple domains (academic, sport, & personal);
- Help student-athletes keep sport in perspective and strengthen abilities to navigate multiple intersecting identities as an emerging adult, sport-competitor, and college student;
- Support student-athletes as they strive to build healthy relationships with multiple stakeholders (self, family, sport/non-sport peers, coaches, athletics support staff, instructors and campus-partners) and;
- Prepare student-athletes to make a meaningful contribution in their future endeavors transitioning into/out-of sport competition.
Our Philosophy
Person-first services are our main goal. Many sport psychology principles transcend sport and can have a long-lasting influence on an athlete’s life long after sport-competition is complete. The Department of Counseling & Sport Psychology (CSP) works within MSU Athletics in a collaborative manner that maximizes student-athletes’ opportunity to optimize performance and mental wellbeing. Whether it is clinical, personal or performance-based concerns, our dually trained professionals in clinical and sport-performance psychology strive to provide comprehensive, holistic services as members of an integrated team.
Why Services for Student-Athletes?
College is viewed as a critical transition period marking an individual’s movement from adolescence to adulthood. Along with performing well academically, while in college, there is the expectation that individuals will become more self-sufficient by separating from their families of origin, choose a career path that will lead to a future occupation, assume more responsibility over the choices and events in their lives, and acquire the basic skills necessary to become productive members of society. For many, this is a daunting task; however, for student-athletes, these tasks are often complicated by additional psychological and social factors.
For the average college student, some of the adjustments that are typically faced when starting college include:
For the average college student, some of the adjustments that are typically faced when starting college include:
- living away from home (which also means living away from their primary social support group);
- adjusting to new roommates and potentially a new city;
- adjusting to increased academic responsibilities and demands;
- time management; and
- cultural adjustment/shock (for International students, students from underrepresented groups on predominantly White campuses, and students transitioning to urban/rural environments different from their home).
In addition to these “normal” developmental tasks faced by their non-athlete peers, student-athletes also have to navigate the changes that come with making the transition to collegiate level sport participation. Some of these may include:
- adjusting to new teammates, coaches, and a new athletic system;
- increased athletic responsibilities;
- athletic injury with associated demands and;
- potential changes in their athletic role (e.g., an athlete who started in high school is now coming off the bench or is not getting playing time).
Along with making the initial transition into collegiate sport, two of the most unique and challenging issues generally encountered by student-athletes are:
1) Balancing their academic and athletic roles, and
2) Dealing with athletic retirement and transitioning out of competitive sport participation at the end of their collegiate career.
As one can imagine, the student-athlete experience can be complex, but rewarding. Whether it lasts for one semester or four to six years, there is value in accessing services and utilizing available resources throughout the collegiate sporting career.
1) Balancing their academic and athletic roles, and
2) Dealing with athletic retirement and transitioning out of competitive sport participation at the end of their collegiate career.
As one can imagine, the student-athlete experience can be complex, but rewarding. Whether it lasts for one semester or four to six years, there is value in accessing services and utilizing available resources throughout the collegiate sporting career.