Becoming a Mindful Sport Psychology Consultant: Defining, Developing, and Integrating Mindfulness into Practice

Sport psychology consultation is a problem solving situation and process (Sears, Rudisill, & Mason-Sears, 2006) in which sport psychology consultants (SPCs) are interpersonal and content communicators. To date, research in applied sport psychology has not examined consultants from the perspective of consultants as communicators in problem solving situations. Additionally, it remains unclear how consultants\u27 graduate education and applied training experience relates to certain communication skills, such as mindfulness, cognitive flexibility, and communication flexibility. Yet, these skills, and its influence on consultants, have garnered interest for further study in professional practice literature (Baer et al., 2008; Davis, 2013; Poczwardowski & Sherman, 2011). Therefore, this study examined the relation between graduate education and applied training and three consultant skills: (a) mindfulness, (b) cognitive flexibility, and (c) communication flexibility. Professional consultants (n = 157) and graduate level consultants (n = 72) completed an online survey, which included three brief questionnaires (i.e., educational background, mindfulness exposure, and demographic questionnaires) and three scales: (a) Comprehensive Inventory of Mindfulness Experiences-beta (Bergomi, Tshacher, & Kupper, 2013a), (b) Cognitive Flexibility Scale (Martin & Rubin, 1995), and (c) the Communication Flexibility Scale (Martin & Rubin, 1990; 1994).;Results from structural equation modeling indicated a partially mediated model in which mindfulness mediated the relation between mindfulness exposure and cognitive flexibility and communication flexibility. Mindfulness exposure also directly related to communication flexibility. Applied training directly related to cognitive flexibility and communication flexibility. However, the revised model was not significantly different than the hypothesized theoretical model and demonstrated poor model fit. Mindfulness did not significantly differ between type of graduate education, thought cognitive flexibility and communication flexibility did.;Additionally, participants (n = 7) were interviewed regarding how they developed mindfulness and its role in their applied practice. Following a grounded theory approach (Charmaz, 2014), results suggested that after exposure to mindfulness, participants engaged in self-directed learning. Integration of mindfulness into consultation occurred in client-directed and SPC-directed ways and reflected SPCs\u27 definitions of mindfulness.;These results aim to: (a) contribute to the on-going discussion about sport psychology training and (b) inform professional development programming in graduate programs and professional organizations, (c) understand the role of mindfulness in consultation

2019 Scholars at Work Conference Program

Program for the 2019 Scholars at Work Conference at Minnesota State University, Mankato on March 29, 2019

Scholarship in Service: Integrating Disciplinary Knowledge and Skills into University Service

This presentation will outline how two faculty members used their discipline knowledge to facilitate the work of a large group of stakeholders during the summer sessions designed to develop the University’s Integrated Graduate Enrollment Management Plan. Workgroup participants’ experiences were analyzed using a survey based on the Input Mediator Output Input Model (Ilgen, Hollenbeck, Johnson, & Jundt, 2005). The IMOI model, its application to workgroups and committees, and the aggregate results from workgroup members will be shared

A case series of triplet anti-hormonal therapy in androgen receptor-positive recurrent adult ovarian granulosa cell tumor

Therapeutic options for recurrent adult granulosa cell tumors (AGCT) are limited. After examining the hormonal pathways involved in FOXL2-mutated granulosa cell tumor development, a novel treatment regimen was utilized for recurrent AGCT: a combination of an androgen receptor antagonist, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor agonist, and an aromatase inhibitor for hormonal blockade. In this case series, seven patients at our institution were treated with bicalutamide 50 mg orally once daily, Leuprolide acetate 7.5 mg intramuscular (IM) injection every 4 weeks, and a daily oral aromatase inhibitor. These patients had recurrent AGCT with androgen receptor positive tumors and had failed prior aromatase inhibitor therapy. All patients had undergone multiple surgical resections and many cycles of chemotherapy. Patients were monitored for toxicities and for response to treatment. Of the seven patients receiving the triple therapy, six saw clinical benefit. Two patients demonstrated a partial response and four patients had stable disease. One patient had progressive disease on the regimen. For the two patients who had a partial response to the triple therapy, there was strong expression of the androgen receptor (AR) noted on tumor immunohistochemistry. This drug combination was well-tolerated except for severe hot flashes in one patient. In conclusion, the triple therapy combination of an androgen receptor antagonist, aromatase inhibitor, and GnRH agonist demonstrated measurable responses in patients with recurrent AGCTs after multiple previous treatments. A prospective clinical trial is planned to further investigate these findings