The Value of Reflective Practice in Professional Development: An Applied Sport Psychology Review

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to situate the concept of reflective practice within the professional training and development of applied sport psychology (ASP) practitioners. In particular, to consider the progression of the field of ASP into professional status and examine the potential value of reflective practice as a mechanism to assist practitioners develop their effectiveness. The review initially outlines recent developments in professional training and development within ASP in order to frame the current environment in which neophyte consultants are trained and professional practitioners work before progressing to consider reflective practice, its definitions and relationship with experiential learning and professional practice. The use of reflective practice within sport psychology is then considered, with the final section of the review focusing on potential limitations of the available sport psychology literature and thus the rationale for further investigation.