Navigating Choppy Waters: The QSEP Voyage from Multiple Perspectives

The Society’s Stage 2 Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP) has been developed to provide an appropriate training route for those seeking to forge a career within our relatively fledgling domain. QSEP represents a positive advancement for the personal and professional development of aspiring practitioners, whilst also ensuring greater transparency for service users regarding the competence of Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologists. Although QSEP has evolved into a rigorous and fairly standardised process of professional training, there remains a great deal of variation in the approaches to supervision and subsequent experiences of candidates. The aim of this symposium is to provide a descriptive and reflective account of a particular model of supervision being adopted at one host institution within the UK. In paper 1, Andrew Manley will provide an overview of this institutional model of supervision, setting the scene for the remainder of the symposium. Paper 2 will be delivered by Ross Shand, who will offer a reflective account of his QSEP experiences under this institutional model. In paper 3, Charlotte Hinchliffe will outline her role in the development and functioning of the Applied Sport Psychology Special Interest Group, as it looks to become an integral part of the institutional supervision model. Paper 4, delivered by Andrew Manley and Susan Backhouse, will provide a reflective summary of the QSEP process from perspectives of two Supervisors and Assessors. Finally, Jo Hudson will act as discussant, offering some conclusions and implications based on the presentations. The primary aim of this symposium is not to advocate a specific approach to QSEP supervision as an example of “best” practice, but rather an opportunity to share some insights regarding the benefits and challenges of operationalising a particular model of supervision from the perspectives of Trainees, Supervisors, and Assessors.