title: Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology
Creators: name: Kiemle-Gabbay, L
Publisher: name: Liverpool John Moores University
Year: 2023

description: This portfolio provides a rich account of the academic and applied experiences and development of a trainee psychologist, studying for the Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) between January 2018 and June 2022. Included is a practice log of the trainee’s consultancy, research, dissemination activities and relevant experiences over the four year training period, and submissions related to applied consultancy (consultancy case studies), teaching and training (teaching and training case study), reflective practice (reflective diary, teaching diary, reflective commentary, research commentary), and research (two empirical research papers and a systematic review). The included works demonstrate how the trainee successfully meets the required competencies (ethics and professional standards of practice, consultancy, research and dissemination) for the qualification, as outlined by the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Stage two programme accreditation criteria and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)standards for approved programmes in sport and exercise psychology. The practice log highlights all activities related to the required competencies undertaken by the trainee over the course of her training. The reflective practice diary provides a curated insight into the challenges and triumphs of the trainee’s journey, whilst the accompanying reflective commentary both ‘zooms in’ on specific critical moments during training and ‘zooms out’ to place these reflections within the wider context of professional development. The three consultancy case studies detail diverse experiences of applied sport and exercise psychology practice. They demonstrate the trainee’s integrative use of theoretical knowledge and psychological intervention strategies. The first case study documents her experience working with Police Scotland and academics on the development phase of the Sport Integrity Initiative (SII) to target serious organised crime within Scottish sport. Her work with a youth gymnast, underpinned by behavioural therapies (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; CBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; ACT) comprises the second case study. The final case study details remote consultancy conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic; a Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Psychological Skills Training (PST)-based intervention with international and national youth water polo teams. The teaching case study and accompanying diary relate to the trainee’s experiences providing psychoeducation and consultancy on a High Performance Sport Development Programme (HPSDP) at a high school in Scotland, and other teaching and dissemination-related activities. The two empirical papers and systematic review highlight the trainee’s diverse, quantitative and qualitative doctoral research skills. The exploration of menstruation and its associated stigmas, and the barriers to physical activity participation experienced by Trans and non-binary people demonstrate her motivation to conduct research with real-world impact extending beyond academia. Through this, she seeks to contribute to discussion and action that aims to inform policy, raise awareness of under-explored issues and improve quality of life for vulnerable, stigmatised and minority populations within sport and exercise.