Real Life with Dr. Dan

By Dr. Dan Friedman

By way of introduction, I would like to discuss a new client. She considers herself to be athletically inclined yet not an athlete. Her recent goal was to complete the Chicago Marathon in less than four hours. She trained utilizing a structured running program, documented her miles, and monitored her intake of food, fluids and how her body was responding to training. She reported during our first meeting that just steps past mile 16 she was overcome with doubt; doubts about herself, about running, about her time. She finished the race 6 minutes and 17 seconds past the 4 hour mark.

So, the question is: How much time does doubt cost?

Let us take this opportunity to highlight the unique field experience offered by the Argosy University Online Programs Sport-Exercise Psychology program. It is this application of classroom educational vignettes with actual clients that cements the learning experience.

The field experience involves working directly with athletes and teams. Current opportunities include working in college athletic departments, private sports psychology practice settings, youth sports settings and sports medicine facilities. Efforts are made to tailor experiences to students' career interests and objectives.

Several field experience-related activities exist, including attendance of practice and competitions, individual and/or group meetings with athletes and/or coaches, meetings with individual supervisors and preparation for individual and/or group meetings. Field experience requirements can be addressed through direct contact as a consultant in training. Students are responsible for securing individuals, groups and/or teams to be utilized for external field experience requirements, as approved by the Director of Practicum Training.

In addition to external experiences, students are expected to enroll and participate in two terms of seminar offered Fall I and Spring II terms. Seminar courses serve as supervision of external field experience experiences. Seminar facilitators will assist students in several essential aspects of Sport and Exercise Consultation, including the maintenance of up-to-date progress notes on athlete/coach meetings, group presentations and other appropriate consultation-related paperwork.