| This thesis looks to develop a deeper understanding of the athletic retirement process by applying depth psychology elements to specific components of athletic retirement. It uses a mixed-method approach, heuristic and hermeneutic, to demonstrate the healing possibilities and the clinical benefits of connecting depth psychology with athletic retirement. The study asks: What does athletic retirement for athletes look like from a depth psychology viewpoint? The study focuses specifically on the author's experience of how depth psychology healed her struggles of athletic retirement. The individuation process, a prominent component of depth psychology, is examined to deepen the understanding of healing by repurposing the pain of athletic retirement into the power of a new sense of self and new journey in life. This research finds a positive relationship between depth psychology and athletic retirement, although a limited focus on the connection between the two in current professional programs and clinical frameworks exists. |
