Sports Psychology

Professional Mission

A psychologist is committed to the value of preserving the dignity and welfare of every individual. To realize this end, he continuously utilizes his knowledge; skills and orientation to equip the individual to better understand himself and others. In the process, the psychologist hopes to facilitate the individual’s efforts to actualize his full potential within the context of growth promoting interpersonal relationships. While aware of his privilege to seek and discover the many facets of human behavior, he also willingly accepts the responsibility inherent therein to assist individuals become more effective a productive member of society

Code of Ethics

We abide by the principles of the Republic Act No. 10029: This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Psychology Act of 2009".
The State recognizes that psychologists have an important role in nation-building and development. It also acknowledges the diverse specializations of psychologists and the diverse functions specific to the varied specializations. It particular, it recognizes the significance of the psychological services that practicing psychologists provide to diverse types of clients, but also recognizes the need to protect the public by preventing inexperienced or untrained individuals from offering psychological services. Hence, it shall nurture competent, upright and assiduous psychologists whose standards of practice and service shall be excellent and globally competitive through the administration of inviolable, effective and credible licensure examinations and the imposition and promotion of regulatory measures, programs and activities that enhance their professional growth and well-being.

In terms of Privacy, the policy highlights the principle: Respect for dignity of persons that provides privacy for individuals, families, groups and communities. It treats your personal information as confidential. Everything being discussed with a Sport Psychologist or Psychometrician is private, except in a small number of circumstances where the above mentioned are required by law to make an exception.

Practice of Telepsychology Services

Online Mental Skills Assessment
Athletes will be asked to fill out a google form sheet for the unit to be able to identify potential difficulties at the earliest possible stage and provide necessary action to help them maximize their preparations and training. This will also be a basis that our athletes are fit and healthy both physically and mentally, to ensure that they are clear with their purpose for being in this circumstance and motivated enough to perform at their best.

Online Mental Training
The unit have adapted the mental skills pyramid from (Lesyck, 1998) and came up with a sustainability guide for our Olympic hopefuls with its primary importance is to occur during one of three phases: long-term development, immediate preparation for performance, and during performance itself. This will be implemented once a month and will be in close coordination with the coaches and performance specialists.

Monitoring of Progress
The unit will monitor progress from time to time to be able to identify the fraction of a percent extra that will help them boost the best possible performance they can do in Olympics. Data on all aspects of an athlete’s preparation is of significant value.

Mental Health Intervention
To support the mental health of our Olympic qualifiers and hopefuls, the unit will also be providing self-help activities that will cultivate balance of enjoyment and learning through mental breaks.

Fun and enjoyable activities are set to be individual and group.
Personal self-care checklist will be provided.
An online database with limitless options of sports movies, self-help books, game app recommendations and self-paced exercises will be made available for our athletes to browse upon

Online Counseling
While it is normal to feel worried, anxious, frustrated, sad, alone and other unpleasant emotions during this quarantine period, the unit are more than willing should our athletes wish to talk and share their feelings and experience.
Guidelines for availing online counselling:

Our professionals are available online during weekdays (8:00 am – 5:00 pm).
Please inform us beforehand for your preferred schedule and mode of on-line session: over-the-phone (details below), FB Messenger, Instagram and E-mail.

Facebook: @pscsportspsychology
Instagram: @pscsportspsych
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Online sessions will run from 30-45 minutes per session.
Similar to what we do in our office, all matters discussed will remain confidential so do not hesitate to contact us if you have concerns.
You may inform the nurse on duty or directly reach us thru the contact details provided below:

Name	Contact Number	Messenger
Karen Katrina V. Trinidad, Ph.D	09333600747	Karen Katrina Trinidad
Cely D. Magpantay, Ph.D	09228032797	Cely Magpantay
Rodel P. Canlas, Ph.D	09427295388	Rodel Canlas
Ryan Francis O. Cayubit, Ph.D	09175960239	Ryan Cayubit
Denise F. Ang, RPm	09151519645	Denise Fetalvero Ang
Marco Angelo D. Ayuste, RPm	09276008402	Marco Ayuste
Ben John Montaron, RPm	09453794497	Ben John Montaron

ONLINE FORMS
1. Level 1, 2 and 3 Mental Skills Assessment Form
2. Informed Consent for Participation in Online Counselling
3. Initial Intake Interview Form
4. Hopkin’s Symptom Checklist
5. Reflection forms

EMERGENCY GUIDELINES
Unit emergencies in a variety of forms may arise. In such situations, persons must contact the unit’s primary supervisor, Karen Katrina V. Trinidad, PhD, RPsy. If that person is not available then, the person on duty should try to contact another Psychologist or inform the Psychometricians from the unit. If no supervisory staff is reached at this point from the unit, then the person should contact the in-charge and supervisors of the Medical and Scientific Athlete Services of the commission.

Mental Disorders
A mental disorder may be defined as a significant impairment of an individual’s cognitive, affective and/or relational abilities which may require intervention and may be a recognised, medically diagnosable illness or disorder – this definition is informed by the World Health Organisation, 1996, Diagnostic and Management Guidelines for Mental Disorders in Primary Care: ICD - 10 Chapter V Primary Health Care Version.

Action
When there are instances where an athlete/coach/employee is at a psychological risk, the unit shall take the immediate course of action to attend to the client. Moreover, a range of information needs to be gathered from a number of sources, determined at least in part by the setting in which the client and family are being seen and the purpose of the assessment. With that, parents/relatives/guardian of an athlete/coach/employee can be present at all sessions where clinically appropriate. It is also necessary to inform the NSAs about the incident as well as the medical unit (physical therapist, nutritionists and others) that the client has an engagement into.

Interventions
The interventions that can be provided through this service shall be consistent with the following treatments as these are considered to have a strong evidence based

Behavioural interventions;
Parenting/family-based interventions; and
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Interventions.

The Psychologist can determine how many services to provide them however it should be ensured that the athlete/coach/employee receiving treatment must always be the focus of services and support. Hence, it is a requirement for the client to attend for a regular review and monitoring by the Psychologist during therapy.

Termination Phase
The successful termination of the psychotherapy relationship is each Psychologist’s goal. The ending phase includes a review and reinforcement of individual change which has occurred in the therapy; the Psychologist guides the departing client to a resolution of the relationships with the Psychologist; and the individual is helped to face future life demands with the tools provided in the therapy.

Referral Requirements
If the client needs medications for the psychotherapy to be more effective, referrals of a Psychologist to a Psychiatrist may be made face-to-face, by telephone, electronically or in writing. Where there is no diagnosed mental disorder, the referring Psychologist should document in the psychological report that there is evidence that an athlete/coach/employee is at a significant risk of developing a mental, behavioral or emotional disorder and would benefit from short term focused psychiatric strategies services.

OTHER POLICIES
The Sport Psychology Unit staff are expected to follow all policies and procedures of Philippine sports Commission.