Q & A with MCC’s sports psychologist
Matt Wilhalme
Tishin Donkersley is the professor of the sports psychology class at MCC. She has a backround in clinical psychology with an emphasis in sports and a master’s degree in that field.Q: So what is sports psychology?
A: “Sports psychology is a compilation of research based methods and theories, utilized to understand and process the cognitive ability of the athlete, in order to apply the methods and theories to maximize the athletes peak performance and potential.”
Q: How is sports psychology practiced?
A: “You see many of the student athletes spending more time on the physical part of athletics not on the mental.
At the Division I level they have sports psychology classes in addition to in house psychologists available for the athletes.
At the professional or Olympic level it is a part an athlete’s program to work with a sports psychologist.
To me I do not see why the community college athlete should not have the same resources as the Division I schools.”
Q: Where did the sports psychology class come from at MCC?
A: “There was not a sports psychology type class here and basically I took it from dust and created and developed relationships with the athletic department.
I said hey we could really take this class and make it applicable to your athletes here, and that’s the point. We want to take the things they learn in class they can apply that to their games every week and rest of their lives.”
Q: Who takes this class?
A: “There is a blend of not only athletes but coaching or personal trainers, martial artists, boxers, golfers, swimmers.
The program has also grown to include students from the performing arts and musicians as well.
There is a waiting list and we have expanded it to three sections but they fill up so fast.
The athletes have really benefited from the knowledge they have gained from sports psychology not only to their own lives but, to their sports immediately.
It has become so well noted that the Exercise Science departments Ann Stine has now put sports psychology on the pathway to getting a coaching certification.”
Q: How are the students benefitting from your class?
A: “The integration of art and athlete is celebrated in our classroom. A football player learns from a musician, who learns from a baseball player, who learns from a softball player. To work together with both male and female artists and athletes is really a powerful thing.
How one person reaches their potential can help another reach their potential as well.
What we have found that they even start supporting each other by going to their games, going to their performances, hearing about their auditions, and celebrating them reaching their potential.”
Q: What are some of the methods you use in your classroom?
A: “We have had guest speakers come in, former NFL coaches, Willie Peete of the Chicago Bears, I have my yoga instructor come in, we are going to have some military fighter pilots come out.
We look at our resources of alternative medicines can help you balance yourself. We focus on finding a balance.”
Q: At the end of the day is it all worth it?
A: “Every time, you can see it on my face.
