Rapport, also called therapeutic alliance, is when a practitioner and an athlete trust and work well together. It’s an important relationship that helps bring about positive changes (Bordin, 1994). In sports psychology, the bond between a mental performance consultant and an athlete is crucial for success (Sharp et al., 2014). Good rapport means both parties understand and respect each other, allowing the athlete to feel empowered and engaged in the process (Sharp et al., 2014). This connection can be built by creating a comfortable environment, being empathetic, and helping the athlete understand their role in therapy (Johnston et al., 1998).
Bordin, E. S. (1994). Theory and research on the therapeutic working alliance: New directions. In A. Horvath, & L. S. Greenberg (Eds.), The working alliance: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 13 37). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Johnston, F., Van Hasselt, V., & Hersen, M. (1998). Rapport and empathy reflection. In M. Hersen, & V. Van Hasselt (Eds.), Basic interviewing (pp. 41 56). Mahwah, JN: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates.
Leach, M. J. (2005). Rapport: A key to treatment success. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 11, 262 265.
Sharp, L. A., Hodge, K., & Danish, S. (2014). Sport psychol- ogy consulting at elite sport competitions. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 3(2), 75 88.