Bridging the Gap and Finding Purpose: An Approach for Debriefing in Applied Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology

Debriefing has been defined as a multifaceted process that influences and increases learning, motivation, emotional recovery, and purpose. In applied sport, exercise, and performance psychology (SEPP), debriefing can be used to increase awareness, assess the effectiveness of consulting sessions, and to provide a space for athletes to reflect on successes and failures. Although debriefing is a common practice in SEPP, there is little information or research on the process of debriefing. The purpose of this paper is to (1) define debriefing in SEPP and (2) introduce an approach to debriefing that involves both the client and consultant. The authors propose the 3Cs Debriefing Approach, which includes the Client, the Consultant, and Collaboration as the basis for debriefing in SEPP.