Page 14 - Winter Newsletter 2015

Words from the Wise: “I Was Always

Looking for What I Could Contribute”

Burt Giges, MD, CC-AASP, Springield College

Interviewed by Tanya Prewitt-White, PhD, CC-AASP, Adler University, on behalf of the Newsletter Committee

Dr. Burt Giges received his MD degree from New York University College of Medicine, and graduated irst in his

class. After having an extensive career in medicine, he became formally introduced to the ield of sport psychology
Burt
at the age of 65. Since then, he has published a few articles and several book chapters; appeared in sport psychology
GIGES
intervention videos; facilitated workshops throughout the United States; and served as AASP President. With Dr.

Giges lovingly referred to as “a sage in our ield,” this article provides excerpts from an interview conducted with

him regarding his experiences and wisdom as they relate to sport and exercise psychology.

Q: What skills do you feel every consultant Q: What techniques or approaches do you alternating following and leading. I will

must hone?
most use as a sport psychology consultant?
usually start the interview with a question and

follow what the athlete says. With listening
Burt: The ability to listen is absolutely key. To Burt: I don’t like to start with techniques.
and looking, I might pick up something that
be very aware and self-aware of what is going There is an important step before that, and
represents an opportunity to go a little bit
on in inside one’s self so that it doesn’t get in that is the approach. What helps to determine

deeper, or in a little bit different direction
the way of the athletes. So, self-awareness the athlete’s actual experience will guide
than the athlete is currently going. I call
is high on my list; hence, all of my writing and what techniques I decide to use.
those “entry points.” If I hear an entry point,
videos on that. Listening, awareness, and the
First of all, I have a modest goal for each I will switch from following to leading, and I
ability to focus would be important, not just
session, and that is to help the athlete to will ask some question or make a comment.
to the athlete, but also the consultant. Being
make a beginning shift in how the athlete
able to zero in on what the athlete is actually Then I switch back to following, when I listen
views his or her situation - just a beginning.
to the athlete’s response to my intervention,
experiencing in this moment. If the consultant
I like beginnings because if you can see comment, or question. So, I alternate between
is distracted by his or her own inner
yourself taking a step in the direction of following and leading and then back again.
experience, it is important to be aware of that,
change, long before you get to the goal, it
set it aside, and come back to the athlete. I I also pay very close attention to the language
helps you understand that you know how to
also give a high priority to what the athlete is that is used because I believe that language
change. With the knowledge that you know

experiencing right now. So, that’s not exactly how to change, you’ll be encouraged to not only expresses what we are thinking and

a skill of a consultant, but a perspective or feeling, but it can also contribute to what we
take another step and another step. Then,
approach. Also, by experience I mean what are thinking and feeling. For example, if I hear
eventually you reach your goal. So, that’s why
is the athlete thinking, feeling, wanting, and an athlete say, “I’m so stupid,” the athlete is
I like beginnings.
doing. Those are the components of what the expressing frustration, disappointment, or

athlete is experiencing.
The other thing about my approach is
displeasure. But in seeing one’s self as stupid,

AASP Newsletter // Winter 2015 // Words from the Wise: “I Was Always Looking for What I Could Contribute”

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