Country representatives
2023 - 2027
The Country Reps Project aims to connect young specialists in sport psychology all over Europe and the World.
~ coordinate European links between young researchers, educators and professional practitioners ~
~ promote and facilitate a cross-national cooperation for research, education and applied work in Sport and Exercise Psychology ~
Get in touch with your Country Rep today!
Who are our country representatives and what does ENYSSP mean to them?
You'll find the answer in this video (created by our Country Reps).
Country Rep Coordinator + Netherlands Rep
As country representative coordinator Age is responsible for recruiting new country representatives as well as coordinating the efforts of our existing reps. He is the direct link between the ENYSSP MC and our members and therefore indispensable for our network.
Age works as an applied sport psychologist in formation at the VSPN (Dutch association for sport psychologists) as well as for the School of Sport and Exercise at HAN University of Applied Sciences. There, he teaches future sport professionals and PE teachers in research and the field of sport and exercise psychology.
Netherlands
Brazil
Fernanda Serra de Queiroz
Brazil
Fernanda Serra de Queiroz, MSc, Mphil, is currently undertaking her PhD studies at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Her research and applied interests are life-skills interventions for youth, mindfulness, and psychoanalysis. Fernanda is a member of the Brazilian Sport and Exercise Psychology Society and a student member of the Australian Psychological Society College of Sport and Exercise Psychology. She is a registered psychologist in Brazil and Australia, and she has experience working with amateur and professional athletes in a variety of sports.
Polina Hadjiyankova
Bulgaria
My name is Polina Hadjiyankova and I have been a professional basketball player for 14 years. In 2005 I was awarded with a full athletic scholarship (NCAA Division 1). After I graduated in 2008 from Iona College (New York City) I played in professional clubs in Spain, Germany, Bulgaria, Switzerland, and Italy. I have been a member of the Women's Bulgarian National Team. Unfortunately, in 2016 due to a serious injury I had to end my basketball career.
Since then, I decided to continue my education and work in the area of sports psychology. Currently, I hold a Bachelor degree in Psychology from Iona College and Masters degree in Sports Psychology at the Nation Sports Academy in Sofia. Currently, I am at my last year as a Ph.D. student. I am a member of the Association of Psychologists in Bulgaria. At the moment I have my private practice ( PoliSport ) working with all kind of athletes and coaches. I am also working as consultant for two soccer academies located in Sofia. I am part of the staff of the Bulgarian National Basketball Wheelchair Men’s team.
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Bulgaria
Canada
Alayne Hing
Canada
Alayne Hing founded Elite Edge in 2006 after graduating with an M.Sc. in Sport/Performance Psychology from the University of Edinburgh. Alayne is a professional member of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA), the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and is the Canadian Representative for the European Network of Young Specialists in Sport Psychology (ENYSSP). Alayne has worked with various teams and individual athletes, and in addition to private clients, she is currently affiliated with the Canadian Sport Institute-Calgary. Her clients include individual Olympic & carded athletes, professional athletes, Speed Skating Canada (Long & Short Track), Cross Country Canada, Canadian Youth National Climbing Team, Canada Winter Games, Canada Summer Games, Tennis Canada, PGA, and CIS athletes.
Alayne is dedicated to work with both individual athletes and teams within the provincial, national and international sport systems to help them reach their peak performance with confidence. Her focus is on diversity and inclusion through sport. Topics of specialty include Motivation/Activation, Relaxation/Anxiety Reduction, Imagery/Visualization, Deliberate Practice, Ideal Performance State, and Pre-Performance Routines.
Czech Republic
Martin Ptáček
Czech Republic
Hello, my name is Martin. I am a sport psychologist from Brno and a PhD student at Masaryk University. My research aims to assess the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment training in sport psychology. Before my psychology studies, I used to play ice hockey in Czechia and Norway. Great memories and life experiences, but most importantly, it helped me to find my passion for sport psychology. Besides ENYSSP, I am an Association of Contextual Behavioral Science member. Feel free to contact me anytime if you have any questions or want to discuss any topic.
Luka Škrinjarić
Croatia
Luka is a certified sport psychologist, based in Zagreb, Croatia, and is an owner of a company MentalniTrening, specialized in working with professional athletes.
He received a master’s degree in psychology in Zagreb, in the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb. Since then, he has been working with more than 540 athletes and is a member of Croatian sport psychology specialists’
division under the Croatian psychology chamber and a vice president of the Croatian sport psychologist’s section.
Luka is continuously developing his knowledge about mental preparation and peak performance. So far, he has a degree in neuro-linguistic programming and is in education to become a cognitive behavioral psychotherapist.
His main interest is helping his athletes to reach their full potential, reach their goals and advance in their performance, having in mind their psychological well-being and fulfillment.
Croatia
Anu Nässi
Finland
I have a European Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology (EMSEP) from the University of Jyväskylä (Finland). Since 2014 I have worked as a sport psych consultant with a focus on using the MAC-approach. I am on the board of the Finnish Association of Sport Psychology (SUPY), and I often help organize the association's annual fall seminar. Ota ihmeessä yhteyttä jos haluat lisätietoja tästä loistavasta kansainvälisestä yhteisöstä!
Finland
Estonia
Laur Nurkse
Estonia
Laur studied mathematics for a year after which he decided to go spend the next year in the Estonian military. Military mentality got him hooked to psychology and moreover to sport and performance psychology. Next up was receiving a Bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Tartu, Estonia. And now finishing the EMSEP Masters in University of Thessaly and University of Jyväskylä. Sport wise swimming and football have followed him throughout his life - having been a lifeguard in open seas and indoor pools for 4 years in the past. First meeting with football was as a player in the younger ages until reaching the U-17 Estonian national team. Secondly, as a coach for adolescents for 3 years with Estonian Football Association coaching badges and National Olympic Committee certificate. Lastly, now as a sport psychology consultant for various football clubs and the Estonian Football Association. He still holds academic research aims in mind, however when applied work is concerned, then performance psychology of football certainly takes the main stage.
Valentin Roux
France
My name is Valentin, I’m currently in my last year as a PhD student at the University of Grenoble Alpes in France. My research focuses on the understanding and the enhancing of the quality of the coach-athlete relationship in order to improve sport performance in high-level context.
In addition to my research and academic activities I have been handball coach since 2013. By this way, I try to connect theory and practice to enhance performance.
I’m also an active member of the French Society of Sport Psychology as students’ representative position. My missions are to connect and develop new networks for students in sport psychology. By joining ENYSSP, I hope to extend this mission and build a better connection between French and European students.
France
Germany
Elena Breyer
Germany
About: M.Sc. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, German Sport University
Cologne, Cologne
Elena did her bachelor’s degree in sport science, holds a master’s degree in sport psychology and is currently studying for a bachelor´s degree in psychology to further deepen her psych- knowledge. After finishing her M.Sc. Psychology in Sport and Exercise (German Sports University Cologne) she is now working as scientific associate and doing her PhD, both at the German Sports University Cologne.
She is also working as an applied sport psychologist with athletes and coaches in different kind of sports.
Her research and applied work focus on the menstrual cycle and (mental) performance as well as the prevention of interpersonal and sexual violence in sports.
If you have any questions about ENYSSP and/ or sport psychology and are looking for an exchange in any of these or related topics, feel free to reach out to her!
Vasilis Xernos
Greece
I have been always interested in sports, and I have been following sports news ever since I was a child. As a child and adolescent, I have been an amateur athlete in swimming, karate, football, and volley. I studied psychology at the Panteion University of Athens, and completed the European Master Psychology of Exercise at the University of Thessaly. Today I collaborate with athletes, coaches and sports directors of different sports and ages, and, at the same time, I constantly enrich my knowledge in the sciences of psychology, sport psychology, and the art of psychotherapy.
I strongly believe that connecting with people from Europe and beyond as well as exchanging sport-psych-related knowledge and practices with colleagues enhances the evolution of sport psychology: the field we try to serve and promote with passion.
Greece
Hungary
Máté Smohai
Hungary
Lecturer, Károli Gáspár Protestant University, Hungary.
Sport psychology Consultant
I used to have bad stress-managing experiences on the basketball court although I was a good player and member of the Hungarian national youth basketball squad. Nobody could help me handling my nervousness and anxiety. Not my friends, not my parents, not even my coach. So I decided to be an expert of the mental aspect of sports in order to help other athletes who are in a similarly difficult situation. Who are talented, motivated, but often perform below their capacities due to lack of confidence.
I finished my Master’s degree in psychology at Budapest (Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church) in 2010. Then I completed a 2-year postgraduate specialist training in sport psychology (Semmelweis University).
Since 2013 in my private practice I have been working with different kinds of athletes, mainly basketball and volleyball players. In 2015 I finished my PhD in psychology (University of ELTE). My main vision and goal is to bridge sport psychology research and practice for supplying athletes with meaningful evidence-based techniques and mental training.
Adi Alhadeff
Israel
I am a gaming psychology executive with 14+ years of Product leadership, UX Design and Agile Team building. Business specialization in Gamification Mechanics, Balanced Game Designs, Go-To-Market strategies and Growth.
Currently practicing my passion of applying Sport and Performance Psychology consulting for Business executives and Sports teams within traditional and Esports settings.
Academically, I am an Adjunct Professor of Gaming User Experience Design, Gaming Product Management and Esports Psychology for M.A. in Game Design.
Israel
India
Sahil Pawade
India
Hello, My name is Sahil Pawade. I am a 24 year old from India. I have a master’s degree in Human movement sciences from the Vrije University, Amsterdam. Before starting my degree, I was a tennis athlete. I have played tennis for 7 years at a high competitive level but it ended due to an unfortunate injury.
Currently, I am working on my Ph.D application and working as a freelancer sports performance coach in Amsterdam. My work revolves around junior athletes who plays mostly cricket, tennis and hockey. I am big fan of applied sports psychology and in future, I would like to actively work with athletes on the field to solve their problems and provide them with solutions that will improve performance.
I am always looking forward to work on projects and with people from different sports and skill-backgrounds. So, feel free to reach me and tell me about your journey.
Clarissa Ulcigrai
Italy
Hello! My name is Clarissa Ulcigrai and I am from Trieste. Sport is one of my biggest passions in my life and so is Psychology. I have been into sport since I was 3 years old and I never get fed up with it! I practiced artistic gymnastics and track and field for many years at a competitive level, and I am currently an athlete and an athletics coach as well. I have always been interested in how human mind and human behaviour work and that is why I studied Psychology at the University of Trieste. After my bachelor’s degree I decided to move abroad, where in Plymouth I finished my Msc degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2019. During my experience in the UK, I worked with fencers and basketball players, both with adults and teenagers. In 2022 I finished my first level master’s degree in Sport Psychology at Iusve, Venice, where during my placement I worked a lot with children and coaches in basketball. In 2016 I went for the first time to ENYSSP conference in Warsaw and I understood straight away how important this conference is. It is an opportunity to build up a network by meeting many people from all over the world, with different backgrounds and different stories to know, and share knowledge about Sport Psychology.
Italy
Italy
Francesca Messi
Italy
Hi! My name is Francesca and I’m from Trieste. I am a sport psychologist and a psychotherapist in training. Iam also an alpine skiing instructor, after having practiced it for 12 years at a competitive level; alpine skiinghas been in my life since I was 3 years old, and I couldn't think of a life without it. Sport psychology hasbeen my interest since I was a freshman: I wanted to combine my studies with my passion for sport. Thus,after obtaining my Master Degree in Psychology at the University of Trieste, I attended a post-graduatespecialization course at the Center for Sport Psychology and Human Performance "Umbro Marcaccioli" inTurin. Currently I’m working with athletes and coaches of both individual and team sports. What I loveabout my job is to deal with young athletes and their coaches to build together the best strategies to copewith the stress of competitions and allow them to enjoy sport, practicing it with more serenity.
Frank Muller
Luxembourg
Frank Muller received a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Luxembourg and then moved to Berlin to get a Master degree in Sport Psychology. Frank has played basketball on the top elite level in Luxembourg as well as college basketball in the USA. He was a member of the Luxembourgish National Team. Frank has worked with elite (youth) athletes from different sports, such as basketball, handball, cycling, volleyball, swimming, soccer, tennis and table tennis. Furthermore he runs workshops and seminars in various sports psychology-related topics and was a lecturer in sport psychology at the Humboldt University of Berlin. Right now he works in Luxembourg as the sports coordinator and sports psychologist of an international youth basketball project, as well as independent sports psychologist. His personal areas of interest include performance enhancement, coping with pressure, mindfulness and the use of sports as a tool for social inclusion.
Luxembourg
Bernice Sant
Malta
Malta
Dr Bernice Sant is a Performance, Sport and Exercise Psychologist and a keen fitness and sport enthusiast who has successfully obtained a Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), an MSc in Sport Psychology also from LJMU, another MSc in Performance Psychology from the University of Edinburgh. Dr Bernice Sant is a British Psychological Society Chartered Member as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist, Health Care and Professional Council registered and awaiting warrant as a Sports and Exercise Psychologist from the Malta Psychology Profession Board. Currently she is a Consultant and Lecturer with Learning Works, practices sport and exercise psychology within MOVE Clinic and as a freelance, and a supervisor at the University of Malta for B.Sc Sport and Physical Activity students and Masters in Teaching and Learning Physical Education students.Throughout the past 8 years, her research was based on the fields of Mindfulness in Sports, Sport Injury Anxiety, Injury Rehabilitation in Sports, Resilience, Performance Anxiety, Self-Reflection, Physical Activity Motivation and Behaviour Change. All of the research areas were chosen purposefully in line with Bernice’s personal life. As part of the applied work, Dr Bernice Sant used to work/still working with various athletes and/or organisations, including, and not limited to, LJMU Scholarship Elite Athletes, Liverpool Football Club, Basketball Scotland, Young Driver Excellence Academy, Maltese National Futsal Team, Professional Thai Fighters, and competitive athletes across a lot of different sports such as CrossFit, Athletics, Football, Futsal, Gymnastics, Basketball, among others.
Karim Boukallouch
Morocco
Holding a master’s degree in sport psychology in 2007 paved my way towards pursuing my doctoral studies in the same field in 2015 at Mohammed V University (Faculty of Human Sciences). Additionally, and in parallel with my academic studies, I received additional diplomas as the European Diploma in Mental Training of Top Elite Athletes in France and Belgium and the European Master in Sport and Exercise Psychology (an intensive course) in 2012 and 2017 respectively, to mention but a few.
My research interests focus on stress coping strategies and mechanisms, cognitive processes (attention, concentration, reaction time, decision making, etc.) and also the psychological aspects of motivation and explanatory styles.
My particular skills include examining and assessing behavior by using psychological tests. I do have a particular know-how in psychological tests such as Vienna test system (VTS) and analyzing behavioral, emotional and cognitive disorders. Furthermore, I have the ability to accompany athletes attain more mental strength (motivation), mental stamina (perseverance), mental agility (flexibility) and resistance to stress.
My applied experiences include positions as a sport psychologist for Raja Athletic Club Professional Football (2008-2010) and Karate Moroccan National Team (2015) as well as individual sportpsychological consultancy in other disciplines (Football, Shooting, Athletics, Basketball, Free fight MMA).
Morocco
Netherlands
Lars van der Heijden
Netherlands
Hello, My name is Lars and sport is my passion. From my childhood I am an active Waterpolo player on a recreational level. As a child I was “talented” but I never made it to the top. That is where my passion for performance and psychology started. I am a sport psychologist in formation at the VSPN (Dutch association for sport psychologists) just like Age. This is where I got to know ENYSSP. I love to share knowledge an ignite each other’s passion for sportpsychologie. I work as a practioner and as a teacher where I try to learn my student the power of sport in a social context. In my opinion sport is more than performing. For more information about ENYSSP and/or sport psychology in the Netherlanfs please contact me or my associate Age Scheper.
Marcus Manalo
Philippines
Marcus is currently an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines Department of Sports Science and the sport psychology consultant for the Philippine Boxing and Bowling Teams and the Lyceum of the Philippines University Basketball Team. He is the former co-chairperson of the Sport and Exercise Psychology – Special Interest Group of the Psychological Association of the Philippines. He has worked with athletes and coaches from various sports and competition levels. He finished his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and postbaccalaureate diploma in Exercise and Sport Sciences at the University of the Philippines Diliman and his master’s degree in Exercise and Sports Sciences with concentration in Exercise and Sport Psychology at Texas Tech University.
Philippines
Romania
Zsofi Nemeti
Romania
Hello! I am Zsófi, a graduate of the master’s program in Public and Clinical Health Psychology from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Currently, I am a doctoral student at the University of Bucharest, focusing on sport and extreme sport psychology, particularly mental health and emotional regulation in elite and extreme sports athletes. I’m also a clinical psychologist and a psychotherapist.
With a deep enthusiasm for outdoor sports, I ski professionally and have been a ski instructor for 6 years. This experience has sparked my interest in the benefits of adventure therapy. Throughout my studies, I’ve successfully navigated the worlds of sport and psychology, giving me a unique perspective on how psychological and emotional factors influence mental health in both daily life and sports performance.
The challenges I’ve faced as an athlete and student/sports event organizer have taught me about perseverance, determination, stress management, and mental focus in the face of uncertainty. I’m excited to expand my knowledge in sports psychology, delve further into my research, and help people closer to nature through personalized treatments for their mental health challenges.
Konstantin Bochaver
Russia
Hello! My name is Konstantin “Kostja” Bochaver, I’m a sport psychologist from Moscow, Russia. I learned social psychology in Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, and in 2012 I defended PhD thesis about coping behavior in difficult life-situations of youth. Since 2010 I work at the Department of Psychology in the Moscow Center of Sport Technologies and continue my scientific work in the Research and Practical Center of Sport Medicine and Medical Rehabilitation as a research fellow. I have a regular practice too, because I was invited as a “psy coach” in the Russian National climbing team. Currently the major topic of my scientific and practical interest is coping behavior in sport and an mental toughness. I am really happy to join ENYSSP as a country representative and I hope that there will be strong and positive connection between European and Russian professionals and students.
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Mohammad Maldosari
Saudi Arabia
I am Mohammad Aldosari from Saudi Arabia. I obtained my master degree in Physical Education from King Saud University, I am a Ph.D.
Right now I am a PhD candidate at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. My research interests in the field of psychosocial aspects of sport and physical activity.and I have lectured in the College of Sport Sciences and Physical Activity at the University of King Saud since 2004. I hope to bridge the gap in the Arab world between science and sport and meet the challenges in the field of sports psychology.
Luka Dragicevic
Serbia
Hi, I'm Luka from Serbia. As a kid, I trained in various sports and remember struggling with performance anxiety. This personal experience sparked my interest in the mental aspects of athletic performance.
I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Serbia and a Master's in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of Thessaly. I'm also an Advanced Oxygen Advantage Breathing Instructor and hold a Nutritionist diploma.
I believe in the Biopsychosocial model and its importance in understanding and improving athletic performance. My experience spans various sports, including football, basketball, and tennis, but I currently focus mainly on combat sports.
I am working towards FEPSAC SASP certification and becoming a REBT psychotherapist, always aiming to enhance my skills and knowledge. My goal is to support athletes in reaching their full potential through a balanced and integrated approach.
Serbia
Singapore
Jeevi Pillai
Singapore
Jeevi received her Bachelor of Psychology degree at James Cook University (Australia) and completed her Master of Science degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Bangor University (UK). She has been in the Sport Psychology field for about 5 years and is currently a Sport and Exercise Psychologist in Training (SEPiT; SEPAR) under BASES. Jeevi works with the National youth athletes of Singapore from various sports including Netball, Kayak, Gymnastics, Sailing and Fencing, focusing on performance, well-being and long-term development. Some of her key interests include Transition, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Team Sports.
Jeevi has been involved in the dance fitness world for 8 years as an instructor, programming director and a performer. She recently decided to dive deeper into African Dance Revolution (ADR) with “Afrowithjeevi” and bring a different kind of flavour to the dance fitness world in Singapore with the tagline “Dance. Connect. Push Boundaries.”
Apart from Sport Psychology and African dance, Jeevi makes sure to allocate time for her solo travels and is always looking forward to the next adventure to explore the globe. Jeevi strives to have psychology, dance fitness and traveling continue to interact and play prominent roles in her life.
Sloavakia
Andrea Poláčková
Slovakia
I completed Master’s degrees in Psychology in Slovakia and Sport and Exercise Psychology in Finland. My main research focus has been on equestrian sport in which I am still active. To work on my professional and personal growth, I regularly participate in different conferences and workshops. I have an integrative coaching training (INTECO) completed in the Czech Republic. In my applied practice, I work mostly with people from the sport environment. I also have experience working with children on autistic spectrum disorder. Currently, I am based in the UK and partially in Slovakia. Except for ENYSSP, I am also a member of the Slovak association of sport psychology.
Brent Chad Levenson
South Africa
Brent is ENYSSP’s signalling beacon at the southern tip of Africa. He was fortunate enough to achieve a double European Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology (EMSEP) from Lund University (Sweden) and Leipzig University (Germany) in 2015. His qualitative MSc Dissertation explored a football coaching perspective of imagery.
He’s currently based in his hometown of Cape Town, not far from Stellenbosch University, where he completed his undergraduate studies in Sport Science and Psychology in 2011. He has been the SA country rep since 2014, the same year in which he gained invaluable sport psychology knowledge and experience with elite athletes through Staffordshire University (UK).
South Africa
Rodrigo Ferreira
Portugal
Sloavakia
Hello! My name is Rodrigo, and I’m from Porto, Portugal. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Sport Sciences and a Master's degree in Sport Psychology and Human Development from the Faculty of Sport - University of Porto.
As a dedicated Sport Psychology Professional, my purpose is to positively impact athletes' lives through a holistic ecological approach, focusing on their well-being and development beyond performance. I am particularly passionate about the psychological dynamics of football and the concept of dual careers, helping student-athletes manage the complexities of balancing their academic and athletic pursuits. I have experience working with student-athletes from various backgrounds around the world and have also been a youth football coach, which has deepened my understanding of sports as a powerful tool for promoting human development, education, and well-being.
I had the pleasure of attending my first ENNYSP gathering at the FEPSAC 2024 Congress in Innsbruck, where I had an incredible experience connecting with fellow professionals.
I am always open to exploring new collaborations, and I’d be thrilled to connect with anyone who has ideas or projects that align with my expertise. Let’s work together to promote the positive impact of sport psychology!
Portugal
Anna Jordana
Spain
My name is Anna, and I am from Catalonia. I am graduated in Psychology and I took a master’s degree in Neuroscience. I have always been involved in sport and performance activities such as football, human towers and music.
I am currently developing my PhD in sport psychology as a member of the research group Grup d’Estudis de Psicologia de l’Esport (GEPE) at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, where I also teach in the subject of sport psychology. My research topic is the role of functional and dysfunctional beliefs of elite athletes throughout their sports career, although my areas of interest are more extensive (e.g., women's sport, performance activities, dual career).
Before my full-time PhD dedication, I was working in the Athlete Support Service at the High Performance Centre in Sant Cugat del Vallès. In 2017 I did the European Master in Sport & Exercise Psychology in Trikala (Greece), and as part of my International PhD, I did a research stay in the group Sport Psychology and Mental Support at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium).
Marta Borrueco Carmona
Spain
Hello! My name is Marta and I am from the Balearic Islands. I have been living in Barcelona for 10 years since I moved there to study my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the Universitat de Barcelona. Once I finished my degree, I did two master’s degrees, one in Sport and Exercise Psychology and one in Research in Health Psychology, both at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
I am a member of the research group Grup d’Estudis en Psicologia de l’Esport (GEPE) at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, where I am currently undertaking a PhD in sport psychology and teaching in the fields of psycholinguistics and sport psychology. Although my PhD is focused on the role of the coach and its influence in athletes’ development throughout their athletic career, my research interests also include the role of the parents in youth sport and the peculiarities of women’s sport, especially in football (or soccer, whatever you prefer), since I have been coaching young girls teams for the past few years, besides being a player for more than 15 years.
Spain
Sweden
Emma Nilsson
Sweden
Emma Nilsson received a B.Sc in Psychology from Lund University. She was at the time a soccer coach and was struggling to help her players mentally and chose to continue with a Master's degree. She moved to Oxford, OH, to study sport psychology and leadership at Miami University. After graduation she got a summer internship position at IMG academy where she spent the summer teaching youth athletes about leadership and got to practice her presentation skills. She is currently running her own private practice in Sweden where she consults with individual athletes, coaches and teams. She is also a performance coach at UPotential where she is presenting online. Her areas of interests are mainly leadership, performance enhancement, and cohesion.
Stephanie Müller
Switzerland
I am an applied psychologist, coaching both individual athletes and teams from different sports such as hockey, tennis, and shooting, especially in youth elite sports. I also work in business and life settings, helping people to develop their inner strength and achieve their goals.
I have a Master’s Degree in Sport Sciences in Sport and Exercises from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland and a Master’s Degree in Business and Organizational Psychology from the University of Bern, Switzerland. I am member of the SASP and FSP.
Switzerland
Turkey
Ezgi Aypar
Turkey
I did my bachelor in psychology and later studied sport and exercise psychology at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland. I played basketball and now I combined my two enthusiasms sport and psychology. Currently, I am living in Ankara/Turkey and working at Olympic Training Center
Tulio Barbosa
United Arab Emirates
Tulio obtained his Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology and his Bachelor’s degree in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences from Brunel University London. He has since worked as a Sport Psychology Consultant with athletes from a range of sports, including football, athletics and fencing. Most recently, he has been supporting UCL’s Elite Athlete Programme, which is designed to assist a select number of gifted and talented athletes who continue to compete at the highest level while studying at University. Since attending the last two editions of the conference, Tulio feels passionate about growing ENYSSP’s profile amongst the sport psychology community in the UK. In his spare time Tulio enjoys playing football, and exploring new places and cuisine.
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom - Scotland
Rhys Maredudd Davies
United Kingdom based in Scotland
My name is Rhys Maredudd Davies, and I am a Clinical Psychology PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. My research focuses on adaptive thinking and mental health in athletes and retired athletes. The aim is to improve the understanding of how the context of the individual, influences their mental health risk and protective factors.
Prior to engaging in the PhD, I was an international canoe slalom athlete and a canoe slalom coach. During this I have been fortunate enough to work at a range of experience levels: from world champions to grassroots level athletes. I use this experience and the contacts within sport to ensure my research ecologically valid and useful to those involved. Additionally, I am a volunteer consultant with the British Canoeing Performance Wellbeing Group – a team that reviews the Governing Body athlete funding and selection policies. Here we help promote a psychologically safe environment for Athletes and Coaches at a policy level through theory and practice informed recommendations. My aim is to help connect early career sport psychology researchers and practitioners (particularly those based in Scotland), with the international community of ENYSSP.
Piotr Piasecki
United States of America
Piotr is excited to be a bridge for ENYSSP members interested in what is occurring in the USA and for USA located individuals interested in ENYSSP and beyond.
He is currently a counseling psychology PhD student at Boston University who is specializing in sport and human performance. Piotr lectures an intro to sport psychology course and is a lab manager of the Performance Recovery and Optimization (PRO) Center. Piotr has conducted and continues to do research in group dynamics, mindfulness, and works on creating programs that cultivate human flourishing. His applied approach is client-centered and heavily influenced by positive psychology and sensorimotor psychotherapy. His goal is to create space for flourishing and ultimately have his clients thrive in their professions and lives.
Piotr has a Master of Human Kinetics degree, specializing in sport and exercise psychology from the University of Windsor, Canada. He also has a Master of Arts degree, specializing in rehabilitation counseling from Adler University in Chicago. He is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and a Certified Mindfulness Instructor through Koru Mindfulness.
United States of America
Ireland
Julian Hoare
Ireland
Hi, my name is Julian and I'm in my final year of my Master's degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology with Setanta College in Ireland.
Despite beginning my career in Finance, I began the master's last year due to a strong interest in the field which I finally decided to pursue. I attended my first ENYSSP conference in 2023 when it was held in Limerick.
While I'm still exploring different areas of sport psychology, I'm developing an interest in applied sport psychology. I have a particular interest in athletes who are approaching a transition in their athletic career, be it from youth to senior level, amateur to professional, competition to retirement etc.
Line Maj Sternberg
Denmark
Line Maj Sternberg holds a Bachelor's and a Master degree in Sport and Health Science, and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Southern Denmark. Her research focuses on youth sport environments and gender perspectives. Research interests include supporting athletes to thrive and perform at the same time. Along with her PhD, Line works as a sport and performance psychology consultant for a number of teams and individuals. This varies from talent development to elite athletes. Line has worked as a sport psychology consultant since 2015. She became interested in sport psychology because she wanted to help athletes succeed while also being able to thrive as a person.
Denmark
Zuzanna Gazdowska
Poland
Zuzanna Gazdowska obtained her PhD in psychology at SWPS University in Warsaw, she is a sport psychologist, lecturer at SWPS University in Warsaw and owner of Athlete’s Cards/Karty Sportowca brand. She is the member of sport psychology section of Polish Psychological Association. She works within solution-focused brief therapy approach. Her research and applied interest is mental skills training.
Poland