In this episode, we unpack how the stress of navigating insurance systems can mirror, and even amplify, the same psychological mechanisms that increase risk for injury in sport. Drawing on the stress–injury model, we explore how chronic stressors like financial uncertainty, delayed pre-authorizations, and lack of organizational support heighten overall stress. Through the lens of the multilevel model of sport injury, we zoom out to see how these pressures operate not only at the intra- and interpersonal levels but across institutional, cultural, and political layers. Whether you’re an athlete, practitioner, or consultant, this episode invites reflection on how institutional factors, not just personality, history of stressors, or coping resources, as noted within the stress-injury model, can shape well-being, recovery, and overall return to participation performance.

In this second episode of a two-part series, I discuss how to educate and mentally prepare clients for waking up from surgery and navigating pain management. I frame the conversation through my own lived experiences—sharing what I wish I’d known beforehand to avoid feeling mentally blindsided. From the first moments in the recovery room to strategies for effective pain control, this episode offers practical insights you can pass on to your clients so they feel informed, empowered, and ready for the realities of post-surgical recovery.

In this first episode of a two-part series, I share my personal journey through surgery—highlighting the lessons I learned through trial and error—so you can better educate and support your clients. Whether it’s their first surgery or one of many, there are key conversations to have that can empower them to advocate for their needs. From managing pre-op anxiety to preparing a support person to show up effectively, this episode offers practical strategies to help you guide injured clients on what to expect and how to speak up for themselves leading into surgery.

In the spirit of working smarter, not harder, I spliced the introduction of this episode with a full episode I already recorded for my other podcast--Nutcracker Syndrome podcast--where I used Chapter 18 from our textbook to inform the episode's topic: How to Support Someone with Nutcracker Syndrome.

I hope by listening to the content of this episode, as it's geared toward an applied audience, you get a better feel on how to apply the content from this chapter. I hope you enjoy listening!

In this episode, given the intimate connection between relaxation and imagery, I wanted to speak about them together. I provide more details into the various relaxation techniques and imagery scripts you can use + how I used them as both a professional in the applied sport psychology field but also as a personal technique while navigating Nutcracker Syndrome.

Below are a few relaxation/imagery resources for your files:

• Diaphragmatic Breathing Demonstration⁠

• ⁠Pain Management Relaxation/Imagery⁠

• ⁠Healing Relaxation/Imagery⁠

• ⁠Loving-Kindness Meditation (Compassion)

I hope you enjoy listening!

Welcome back to the Psychology of Sport Injury & Rehabilitation podcast. In this episode, I speak about both chapters 14 & 15 together as these interventions and the ones to come in the upcoming chapters all meld together.

For chapter 14: I provide more context for how to navigation performance goals given that injured clients might not be able to engage in technical and tactical development and/or physical conditioning in the same way. I also offer CLEAR goals as another goal-setting modality that can help bolster the SMART goals you set with clients.

For chapter 15: I discuss the subjective nature of the terms "positive" and "negative" and offer more neutral language to use to ensure you are not imposing your own biases onto your clients. I also break down System 1 versus System 2 in a way that's hopefully more digestible than the figure looks.

I hope you enjoy listening!

Welcome back to the Psychology of Sport Injury & Rehabilitation podcast! This episode piggybacks off the last given that patient education closely meshes with helping client's cope with their injury; however, there are a few new components that I highlight throughout this episode that can help you better approach your patient education endeavors with a client such as emphasizing, once again, the importance of using assessment FIRST to determine your plan of action, implementing that plan, and the evaluating whether the plan worked as efficiently as needed. I further share my experience as both a patient + professor in the psych of injury space to hopefully help bring some of the content of this chapter to life. I hope you enjoy listening!

Welcome back to the Psychology of Sport Injury & Rehabilitation podcast! In this episode, I highlight a few aspects of chapter 12 such as helping us to see how primary and secondary appraisals are much more complex than simply considering how the client appraises the injury; we must also consider how surrounding others use their primary and secondary appraisals, which will also impact the client's appraisals. Additionally, and as already noted within chapter 11, there are multicultural considerations to always be aware of when trying to connect with clients. I hope you enjoy!