Page 17 - Summer 2015 Newsletter

Fiennes. I found it inspirational, awe-inspiring, and it had fabulous with a sport that I didn’t know much about. This method has served

insights into a mentally strong mind under great stress, plus it really me well over the years.

makes you glad to be warm when reading it.
STEVE MELLALIEU

They say you learn the most from your biggest mistakes. Early in
What has been one “Eureka!” moment in your consulting career?
my career I was offered the opportunity to work with a professional

CHARLIE BROWN
athlete in a sport that I had not consulted in before. Unfortunately,

A few years back, I was returning from an AASP convention where the approach I adopted, which had been successful with previous

clients, was ineffective and lead to an extremely unsuccessful
there had been heated discussion over a number of themes that

have consistently been points of contention in the organization. consultation. This experience drove me to analyze the nature of my

When I consult, I am acutely aware that each organization in which failure, and began for me what has been a key focus in my subse-

I work is a unique culture. It dawned on me that the majority of quent practice to date. That is to continually seek to understand,

issues that we have within the organization are attributed to the respect, and foster the quality of the therapeutic alliance with my

different cultures in which our members live and work. While we clients.

have made strides as an organization to be more culturally sensi-

tive to issues of race, gender, class, and sexual preference, I think

we have been blind to biases we have related to the broad cultures
They say you learn the

of the settings in which we work. The cultures of academia, insti-
most from your biggest mistakes.
tutional settings, therapy, and free market performance consulting

are incredibly different. I believe this cultural insensitivity is the
— Steve Mellalieu

major source of conlict and dificulties within the ield.

JACK LESYK

Early in my career, I was invited to conduct a half-day mental skills
ALISON RHODIUS
training workshop for equestrian performers. At that time, my work
During my work at the Olympic Games in 2004, I realized I couldn’t

with this sport was very limited. I contacted two of the top eques- (and didn’t need to) try to help everyone all the time. I was work-

trian trainers and competitors in my area and asked if I could inter-
ing with athletes from more than one nation and thought I had
view them. They were happy to oblige. I spent about two hours with
to do more than usual (it was my irst Games). I quickly realized

them, asking about every aspect of their sport, including a “stream that I needed to keep doing what I had already established with

of conscious” account of what it’s like to compete in a show jump- the clients I worked the most intensively with in the months before

ing event. Using what I gleaned from this interview, I was able to Athens. It helped take the pressure (my own) off me, reminded me

plan and carry out a half-day workshop for about twenty riders, not to strive for perfection, and kept me focused on doing great

including the two whom I had interviewed. The workshop was very work with them in the moment.

well received and I felt validated that I knew how to begin working

AASP Newsletter // Summer 2015 // Professional Practice Corner

17
IN THIS ISSUE
VISIT US ONLINE:
WWW.APPLIEDSPORTPSYCH.ORG