The development of sport psychology professionals: a glance into the international landscape

The literature on sport psychology practitioners’ professional development has primarily focused on Anglo-Saxon cultural and linguistic contexts, limiting our understanding of development in other regions. This study aimed to explore the professional growth of sport psychology practitioners from diverse cultural backgrounds outside these traditional environments. Sixteen practitioners from 16 countries across four continents, each dedicating at least 30% of their time to applied sport psychology, were interviewed using a developmental interview. Through reflexive thematic analysis, themes related to their development were constructed and presented as a four-scene composite vignette. The findings highlight the unique challenges and barriers faced by practitioners in countries where sport psychology is less established, providing valuable insights and guidance for professionals and informing organizations on supporting development in similar contexts.