Dr Misia Gervis
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Summary

Misia gained a degree in Psychology in London, and then went on to study in America to gain her masters in Sport Psychology. She completed her PhD at Brunel which examined the issue of emotional abuse in children’s sport. Misia has been a member of the College for many years and was commended on her teaching ability by receiving the Vice Chancellors Teaching Excellence Award 2003.

Misia has been an active sports psychologist for many years; she was a founder member of the British Olympic Association Psychology Advisory Group. She has worked with many international athletes and coaches from a variety of sports in her capacity as sports psychologist. This has included working with National Governing Bodies and attending World Championships in a number of sports. She was also an international gymnastics coach and has represented her country on numerous occasions in this capacity, including World and European Championships.

Misia was appointed by The Football Association in July 2002 as a psychology consultant with specific remit to develop sports psychology through coach education. Currently, several courses are running as part of the FA learning programme, she has also taught on the prestigious Pro Licence. Misia was the sport psychologist to the women’s senior national team football and accompanied them to the World Cup in 2007 and the European championship 2009 where they were runners up in the final. More recently she has developed bespoke sport psychology programmes within the men’s professional game as well as being immersed in a pro club working with players, coaches and managers. She is also currently providing psychological support for a number of international athletes in a variety of sports.

Misia has been involved in coach education for many years, and has been instrumental in developing undergraduate and postgraduate courses in coaching and sport psychology at Brunel University London. Misia mainly teaches on the postgraduate programme focusing on the applied aspects of sport psychology and athlete welfare. . Misia primarily teaches on the postgraduate programme, specifically delivering on the BPS accredited programme. She is also supervising a number of stage II trainee sport psychologists as they prepare to become accredited practitioners.

Misia is committed to enhancing the coaching process and the coaching experience for athletes. Currently she is researching into the emotional abuse of elite child athletes by their coaches, and through this work takes an active role in the Child protection in Sport Unit as a member of their Research and Evidence Advisory Group. She is currently working within BASES to prepare the expert statement on safeguarding in sport.

Examples of media coverage

• www.telegraph.co.uk/.../World-Cup-2010-Fabio-Capellos-new-thinking-could-finally-shrink-Englands-inhibitions.html
• www.telegraph.co.uk/.../World-Cup-2010-Gordon-Banks-admits-to-Wayne-Rooney-fears.html
• http://www.bucs.org.uk/news.asp?section=8&itemid=2332&search=
• www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/.../Mum-the-football-hooligan.html
• www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/.../article2138937.ece
• www.news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/3241024.stm