CONFIDENTIALITY IN SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY 1

Confidentiality in Sports Psychology

Hannah E. Pines

Department of Psychology, Appalachian State University

Author Note

Hannah E. Pines: Is a Psychology major at Appalachian State University, Boone NC

We have no known conflict of interest to disclose

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Hannah E. Pines, Dept. of

Psychology, 222 Locust Street, Boone, NC, 28607, Email: pineshe@appstate.edu

CONFIDENTIALITY IN SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY 2

Abstract

Confidentiality is key for the mental rehabilitation of an athlete. The athlete will have obstacles

they may face in and out of competition. It’s important that privacy in therapy is respected and

imperative that the organization, and the coaches not pry the sports psychologist into disclosing

information. The information in therapy may not be shared with the coaches nor organizations

about mental obstacles with an injury. The referral to a sports psychologist should also respect

the boundary of confidentiality. If an athlete is willing to disclose information with a third party

he/she/they may do so with a consent form. Moreover, the athlete will be present in the media

and it’s crucial the sports psychologist goes over the confidentiality an athlete would like to

disclose; whether it is already in the media or not. It’s also important that the athlete is safe to

play in sports and the consent form between the sports psychologist and athletic trainer is

established along with limitations. The policy proposal being given is to create a set of universal

guidelines on what consent is in the sports psychology industry. The parties that will be included

are the board of The Association of Applied Sports Psychology and major sports organizations.

Together they will go over the consent forms, what may or may not be disclosed with third

parties, and establish the general knowledge of confidentiality between the sports psychologist

and athlete.

Keywords: athletes, confidentiality, consent forms, sports organization, sport psychology,

third party
CONFIDENTIALITY IN SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY 3

Confidentiality in Sports Psychology

Psychology has a numerous amount of ethical issues, but the common theme especially in

sports psychology is the identification of confidentiality. It’s a tricky subject in the field of sports

psychology because a sports psychologist is employed by a sports organization. A sports

organization such as universities and professional sports teams; develop their own contract of

confidentiality alongside the potential sports psychologist. This is an issue because it can deter

client-patient confidentiality and privacy may be broken due to the intent of the organization.

There is also the possibility that coaches, parents, and faculty may want to be involved in the

athletes' mental rehabilitation. It’s important that confidentiality is established between all parties

and respected by all parties.

An issue within the organization is that a sports psychologist may be hired to fulfill the

goals and needs of the organization (Moore, Z. E., 2003). It’s the duty of the sports psychologist

to help the athlete become better at their sport by working through their mental health issues and

limitations in competition. The basic break of confidentiality known in therapy is to warn those

who need to know about serious issues. Under this umbrella is that coaches may want to be

involved in the mental rehabilitation after an injury and know exactly why the athlete may not be

performing to their full potential after an injury (Stapleton, A. B., et al., 2010). A sports

psychologist may only disclose professional knowledge around a certain injury such as: ankle,

concussion, or ACL. Each one has their own research on the matter, but the confidentiality of the

specific athlete’s struggle with the injury is strictly between the athlete and sports psychologist.

Within confidentiality there is the issue of the referral and the confidentiality from the

referral to the sports psychologist. Either a doctor, coach, organization, or psychiatrist may want

an athlete to work with a sports psychologist. In the case a client-patient relationship forms, the
CONFIDENTIALITY IN SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY 4

referral must still be notified of the rule of confidentiality (Brown, J. L., & Cogan, K. D., 2006).

The athlete is the only one who may disclose what they feel is appropriate to a third party.

Furthermore, there is the establishment of working with an athletic department on the

rehabilitation of an athlete who has issues with mental health, experience with substance abuse,

or has other disorders. It’s important that the athlete is aware of the release of certain information

such as knowing if an athlete can compete under these conditions or if deemed fit. Another

instance is of whether an intervention needs to take place. An intervention consent is up to the

athlete, but can be vital in the mental rehabilitation of an athlete (Aoyagi, M. W., & Portenga, S.

T., 2010).

Another concern with confidentiality is the media. Athletes tend to be well known and

apparent on social media. magazines, sports networks, news broadcasts, and many others. It’s

imperative the sports psychologist are prepared for an athlete’s potential issues that are discussed

in therapy to be preyed on by the media (Aoyagi, M. W., & Portenga, S. T., 2010). The

boundaries of confidentiality will be tested by the sports psychologist and it’s their job to keep

the client’s information safe. It’s the sports psychologist's duty to establish what the media

already knows and what the sports psychologist has been told by the client. The sports

psychologist must also have a conversation with an athlete about what has been said by the

media; then determine what will be made confidential between the sports psychologist and

athlete.

In addition, confidentiality may be tested when an athlete performs well or doesn't

perform well in competition or practice (Brown, J. L., & Cogan, K. D., 2006). A coach, parent,

or member of the organization may come to the sports psychologist and ask how the athlete is

doing in therapy and what was discussed in therapy with the athlete. The sports psychologist
CONFIDENTIALITY IN SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY 5

must shut down the questions and re-explain confidentiality. The athlete will disclose what

he/she/they deems fit to discuss with third parties.

Policy Proposal

The policy proposal that should be made in this field is to have an established

confidentiality contract for any organization hiring a sports psychologist. This will prevent any

coaches, parents, and the organization from getting in the way of the athletes' mental

rehabilitation. This contract will be developed between major sports organizations and the

Association for Applied Sports Psychology. A board of directors will come together to establish

the guidelines of confidentiality that respects the boundaries of the patient-client therapy.

The guidelines should include that coaches, parents, and the organization may not pry the

sports psychologist nor athlete into disclosing private information in therapy. The organization

may not push the athlete's therapy in a rush in order for the athlete to play in the next game or

sooner than the sports psychologist deems or the athlete deems themselves ready.

There also must be guidelines on relationships between medical professionals such as

doctors and psychiatrists or what the athlete is willing to disclose to other professionals. In

addition, there may be certain consent forms that may be permitted if an athlete wishes to

disclose information to a third party.

Within the guidelines there will be consent forms on what a sports psychologist is able to

disclose with an athletic trainer. This is in regards to whether an athlete is safe to compete in

competition, practice, or work on athletic rehabilitation.

In addition, a consent form will be established between the patient and athlete in regards

to confidentiality. The athlete must be aware of the limitations of therapy such as substance

abuse that may be disclosed with a rehabilitation facility and medical professional.
CONFIDENTIALITY IN SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY 6

These basic guidelines will help to keep confidentiality intact and inform all

organizations of what is the definition of confidentiality within sports psychology. This will

ensure the athlete's information is safe and therapy will be a safe space for an athlete.
CONFIDENTIALITY IN SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY 7

References

Aoyagi, M. W., & Portenga, S. T. (2010). The role of positive ethics and virtues in the context of

sport and Performance Psychology Service Delivery. Professional Psychology: Research

and Practice, 41(3), 253–259. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019483

Brown, J. L., & Cogan, K. D. (2006). Ethical clinical practice and sport psychology: When Two

worlds collide. Ethics & Behavior, 16(1), 15–23.

https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327019eb1601_3

Moore, Z. E. (2003). Ethical dilemmas in sport psychology: Discussion and recommendations

for practice. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 34(6), 601–610.

https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.34.6.601

Stapleton, A. B., Hankes, D. M., Hays, K. F., & Parham, W. D. (2010). Ethical dilemmas in sport

psychology: A dialogue on the unique aspects impacting practice. Professional

Psychology: Research and Practice, 41(2), 143–152. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017976