Page 21 - Summer 2015 Newsletter

When Silence Isn’t Golden: Two Taboo Topics in

Sport and Exercise Psychology Ethics

Ed Etzel, EdD, CC-AASP, West Virginia University

Brandonn Harris, PhD, CC-AASP, Georgia Southern University

In 2006, Pope, Sonne, and Greene published a thought- The Law, Your Identity, and Your Work

provoking book on personal/professional topics that In regards to the irst relatively taboo topic, despite

therapists and counselors often encounter (but usually enduring controversy and recent discussions involv-

avoid talking about). Some of those topics included ing AASP, APA Division 47, and the Coalition for the

personal vulnerability, sexual attraction, feeling stuck Advancement of Graduate Training in the Practice of

or incompetent when working with someone, and en-
Sport Psychology, state and provincial laws and case

countering novel situations not addressed in any class law in psychology restrict the use of ‘psychologist’

or training. Rather taboo topics like these may remain or ‘counselor’, etc. as part of one’s professional title.

off the radar for some students and professionals in
These laws are speciic to the terms AASP members
Ed

can employ to describe themselves and portray our ield. Other readers may have thought: Those is-
ETZEL
the type of work that they do. Such laws have been sues don’t have anything to do with me because I’m

enacted to distinguish between professional provid- in applied sport psychology and not a therapist or

counselor.
ers, as well as to inform and protect the public from

unqualiied providers of services described in the law.
Well, perhaps this is true for some individuals.

State and provincial laws have been in existence for Nevertheless, the concept of taboos has some rel-

many years. Regrettably, they will likely not change evance for all AASP members’ work. Talking about

much, if at all, in the near future despite good inten- ‘stuff’ we do not want to address or do not know how to

deal with is important to doing good work for those we
tions, considerable debate, and inter-organization

communication. Uncomfortably, legal restrictions from serve and to avoid harming others. In particular, since

statutes and case law may encroach on one’s current the early days of applied sport psychology, two topics

title or one’s implied title and practice (Baillie, 2014). stand out that continue to be buzz on the listservs and Brandonn

Agree with them or not, AASP students and profes- fodder for conference hallway and social conversa- HARRIS

sional members must know these title and practice tions: (a) what you call yourself and how you describe

laws where they work and practice, as well as in the your services; and perhaps more importantly, (b) what

you actually do versus what you are competent to do
states or provinces outside one’s legal domain (e.g.,

state, province) that one might work (e.g., consult). in your work.

These laws were not made to pick on AASP members

AASP Newsletter // Summer 2015 // When Silence Isn’t Golden

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