When I reflect on my work in sports, countless situations come to mind where I’ve had to manage my own emotions. For example, there was the time when a coach suddenly collapsed on the sideline during a football match, needing immediate medical attention, while all the junior players stood there witnessing the scene. Or the time a fight broke out between two teams. Then there were the moments when I was traveling with athletes to international competitions, feeling like I should be doing something but realizing (after some hard lessons) that it was perfectly fine not to have anything specific to do. And, of course, there were the weeks when I packed my schedule with more meetings than I could handle because I knew athletes had important competitions coming up, traveling to deliver workshops, on top of my other commitments—teaching at university, and, most importantly, trying to be present for my kids. Each of these situations took a toll on my emotional balance and the ability to work with my emotions while working with clients.

I’m sure many of you have experienced similar or perhaps entirely different moments where you’ve had to cope with your emotions and engage in emotional labor. In sport psychology, emotional labor refers to the effort and self-control required to display the appropriate emotions—whether that’s confidence, empathy, calmness, or neutrality—when our personal emotions may not align with those expected in the moment. It’s called “labor” because it involves navigating emotional dissonance—a mismatch between what we truly feel and what we need to convey to support athletes, coaches, or teams effectively. This process can feel high stakes, as it directly impacts not only the trust and effectiveness of our professional relationships but also our ability to fulfill our role as a sport psychology practitioner.

Dealing with how we feel and regulating our own emotions is absolutely crucial to being able to support the athletes and coaches around us. But here’s the thing—when I think back to my education in sport psychology (and even my continuing education), the question of how to work with my own emotions was never brought up. The same holds true for the educational programs I’m involved in today. Sure, we teach most of the essential skills needed to work with athletes, teams, and coaches. And yes, self-exploration does occasionally play a part, but when it does, it’s often very limited.

The only space where discussions about managing our own emotions seem to happen is during supervision or intervision. Unfortunately, not all colleagues engage in these practices, which means they miss out on valuable opportunities to talk, share, and learn from others. These spaces are where we can acknowledge that a) feeling emotions in our work is normal (and even healthy), and b) we can learn strategies from others to regulate those emotions—or, sometimes, learn that it’s okay not to have all the answers. While we teach athletes how to regulate their emotions, it can feel surprisingly different when we apply those lessons to ourselves. This points to a crucial gap in the training of sport psychologists: we all need to develop skills in emotional labor.

This gap isn’t just anecdotal—it’s backed by research. A study by ​Hings et al. (2019)​ explored how to better prepare sport psychologists for the demands of applied practice. Through interviews with 20 individuals at different career stages—master’s students, trainees, neophytes, and experienced psychologists—the study revealed that emotional labor is a key aspect of practice but is often underemphasized in training. Master’s students understood the theory of emotional labor but struggled with practical application. Trainees viewed emotional labor as essential for professional survival but felt unprepared to handle it. Neophytes often grappled with self-care, while even seasoned practitioners acknowledged the need for ongoing learning in this area.

Reflecting on this, I believe it’s clear: managing our own emotions isn’t just helpful—it’s essential in applied sport psychology. If we prioritize emotional labor training, we can better navigate the complexities of our work with resilience and empathy. So, where do we start? Let’s look at two approaches: 1) strategies we can develop on our own and 2) strategies we can learn in groups or workshops.

There are several things we can do independently to strengthen our skills around emotional labor:

• Journaling for Self-Reflection: Writing down our thoughts and feelings helps us process emotional responses, analyze interactions, and identify patterns in how we manage emotional labor.
• Mindfulness Practices: Techniques like focused breathing, meditation, or body scans can enhance emotional awareness and promote balance.
• Learning Emotional Intelligence: Books, podcasts, and online resources provide valuable insights into empathy, self-regulation, and interpersonal dynamics.
• Gradual Exposure to Challenging Topics: Reading or listening to content about emotionally demanding situations can build tolerance and resilience over time.
• Practicing Boundaries: Engaging in self-directed exercises, such as setting boundaries, helps foster empathy while ensuring we safeguard our well-being.

On another note, working in groups or workshops also provides opportunities to learn from shared experiences and expert guidance:

• Role-Playing Scenarios: Practicing emotionally charged situations in a safe environment allows us to refine our responses with constructive feedback.
• Analyzing Cases Together: Discussing real or simulated cases helps us explore new approaches to managing emotional challenges.
• Supervision and Mentorship: These settings offer spaces to address specific emotional hurdles, learn coping strategies, and gain insights from mentors or peers.
• Workshops on Emotional Intelligence: Hands-on activities and facilitator feedback help deepen our self-awareness and emotional regulation skills.
• Diversity and Team Dynamics: Learning to navigate emotional labor in culturally sensitive or team-oriented contexts enhances adaptability.
• Conflict Management and Communication: Workshops teach advanced techniques to handle emotionally demanding situations effectively.

As sport psychologists, we often focus on the needs of the athletes and coaches we work with, but it’s equally important to address our own. Managing our emotions is not just helpful—it’s essential for sustaining our effectiveness and well-being. By incorporating both individual practices, like journaling and mindfulness, and engaging in group learning opportunities, like supervision and workshops, we can build the emotional resilience needed to thrive in our roles.

So, what about you? How do you manage your emotions in your work? What strategies have been most helpful, and where do you see room for growth? What are some books and podcasts you can recommend on the topic?