Sport and exercise psychologist

Career path and progression

You could work for a local health authority, or on a GP exercise referral scheme. You could also assess exercise programmes in workplaces, prisons or psychiatric settings.

With experience and further study you could:

• become a senior psychologist
• work as a consultant
• move into lecturing or research

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
• knowledge of psychology
• customer service skills
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• sensitivity and understanding
• excellent verbal communication skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to enjoy working with other people
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Psychology - Sport and exercise psychologists use psychological theories and techniques every day to help athletes manage motivation, confidence, anxiety, and recovery from injury. They assess clients' mental states, develop coping strategies, and apply models of behaviour change to improve performance and wellbeing.
• Physical Education - Sport and exercise psychologists work directly with athletes, coaches, and teams, so they need a strong understanding of sport, physical performance, and training. Knowing how the body responds to exercise and competition helps them design psychological interventions that fit the demands of different sports.
• Biology - Sport and exercise psychologists need to understand how the body works – including the nervous system, stress hormones, and the physiological effects of exercise. This helps them explain the connection between physical activity and mental health, and support athletes recovering from injury.
• Mathematics - Sport and exercise psychologists use statistics to design research studies, analyse data from assessments, and measure whether their interventions are working. Understanding statistical methods is essential for interpreting psychological tests and contributing to evidence-based practice.

Also relevant

• Sociology - Sport and exercise psychologists consider how social factors – such as team dynamics, group pressure, and cultural background – affect an athlete's behaviour and motivation. Understanding how people interact in groups helps them advise coaches on communication and team cohesion.
• English Language - Sport and exercise psychologists need excellent communication skills to build trust with clients, write detailed assessment reports, and explain psychological concepts in ways that athletes and coaches can easily understand. Active listening and clear verbal communication are central to their counselling work.
• Business - Sport and exercise psychologists who work as consultants or in private practice need to manage their own client base, market their services, and handle finances. Understanding how organisations work also helps when advising sports teams or designing workplace exercise programmes.
• Philosophy - Sport and exercise psychologists deal with ethical questions around client confidentiality, consent, and the boundaries of their role. Philosophy's focus on ethics, logical reasoning, and critical thinking supports the kind of reflective practice that is central to professional psychology.