Sport and Exercise Psychology Professional Doctorate Portfolio

Simpson, AK (2026) Sport and Exercise Psychology Professional Doctorate Portfolio. Doctoral thesis, Liverpool John Moores University.

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Abstract

This portfolio demonstrates my experiences and development across my time on the Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University. Through the combination of experiences in ethics, consultancy, research, and teaching, this portfolio intends to meet British Psychological Society (BPS) Stage 2 requirements and standards as outlined by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
My three applied case studies explore some of my work across different contexts. Case study 1 discusses my experiences navigating conflict in a sporting organisation. Case study 2 focuses on my work facilitating rational emotive behavioural therapy (REBT) with a youth swimmer. Case study 3 illustrates my work navigating culture in a local authority leisure service context. These experiences demonstrate my journey to working towards and developing a congruent philosophy of practice.
For the last half of my journey through the professional doctorate, I have been embedded in a local authority where the focus of my work has been using physical activity as a tool to address health inequalities. My systematic review is a first step towards understanding what interventions are effective in improving parenting skills and mental health in parents facing multiple disadvantages and identifying parenting interventions that may be worthy of exploring in a physical activity context. My first empirical paper explores the role of physical activity in supported housing for residents living in recovery and homelessness provision. My second empirical paper explores barriers, facilitators, and pathways to participation in a local authority exercise referral scheme through co-design workshops.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Exercise Psychology; Sport Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV561 Sports
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Date of acceptance:	9 June 2026
Date Deposited:	21 Jul 2026 08:45
Last Modified:	21 Jul 2026 08:45
DOI or ID number:	10.24377/LJMU.t.00028976
Supervisors:	Tod, D, Thomas, L and Eubank, M
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28976

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