Abstract

We begin this book with the topic of relationships because we believe that in applied sport psychology there is no aspect of service that is more important or central to the quality and outcomes of the collaborative work than how the two parties involved get along with each other. The issue of establishing therapeutic relationships or working alliances, between psychologists and their clients forms the underlying connective thread throughout most of the chapters in this book. The editors did not think they were being redundant in having authors repeat the relationship importance litany over and over again. Rather, they were being emphatic.