2018 Volume 58 Issue 2 Pages 166-173
Japan Institute of Sports Sciences (JISS) actively engages in research and consultations with athletes to support them to be competitive internationally. “Individual consultations” are conducted as one of the supports at JISS, where certified sport mental training consultants and clinical psychologists are in charge. Although consultants are assigned with a role based on the athlete’s main complaint or requests, there are times when the athlete’s demand is beyond what the consultant is able to meet. When this happens, a team of two or three consultants from certified sports mental training consultants, clinical psychologists, and psychosomatic medical doctors work together to support him or her. As some athletes face a variety of psychological issues and challenges, it is ideal that the staff consist of a variety of specialized areas to deal with the issues. JISS is the only institution in Japan which makes it possible. The cooperation of different psychological fields is essential in supporting elite athletes who are competing internationally.
