Psychology Support in Professional Esports: Practitioner Perspectives | ERNC26

Psychology Support in Professional Esports: Practitioner Perspectives on Challenges, Opportunities, and Applied Practice Oliver Leis and Lara Wunsch (Leipzig University, Germany); Amy Whitehead and Laura D. Swettenham (Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom) Presented at the Esports Research Network Conference 2026, University of Tsukuba, Japan, 15 to 17 September 2026. Theme: Bridging Gaming Heritage and Esports Futures: Transformations, Traditions, and Tomorrow. ABSTRACT Esports players work in high-performance environments where tailored psychology support may be central to health, performance and long-term development. More practitioners are entering the field, but licensed psychologists often remain hesitant, given the novelty of esports, limited professional recognition and the absence of evidence-based frameworks. This study explores what qualified practitioners actually experience when they deliver psychology support in professional esports. Eight practitioners working in high-performance esports, three women and five men, were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling: six licensed or accredited sport and exercise psychology practitioners and two licensed clinical psychologists, working across different titles and across Europe, North America, South America and Australia. Semi-structured online interviews were analysed using reflective thematic analysis. Preliminary findings point to short-term and reactive service provision, limited resources, frequent roster and staff turnover, difficulty gaining buy-in and uncertainty about how the role integrates into a team. Practitioners described adapting psychological expertise to esports-specific cultures while holding professional boundaries, alongside demanding schedules, high emotional investment and strain on work and life boundaries. Female practitioners reported sexism and additional pressure to establish credibility. For organisations, the implication is to integrate psychology practitioners proactively and sustainably rather than only in response to a crisis, with clearer role expectations, sufficient access to players and staff, and respectful team cultures. The full abstract appears in the ERNC26 Book of Abstracts. ABOUT The Esports Research Network is an international network of researchers working on esports across disciplines. ERNC26 was hosted by the University of Tsukuba, 15 to 17 September 2026, with over 160 participants from 30 countries and regions. Website: https://esportsresearch.net Conference: https://esportsresearch.net/ernc26 #ERNC26 #EsportsResearch #SportPsychology