Dr. Courtney Albinson was elevated to the role of Director of Sport Psychology Services in 2021 after developing Northwestern University’s inaugural sport psychology program at Counseling and Psychological Services starting in 2016. Dr. Albinson leads a multidisciplinary team of sport psychologists, mental performance consultants, and psychiatrists who serve as the primary providers of mental health and mental performance services for all Northwestern University varsity student-athletes.
Dr. Albinson is a nationally recognized leader in sport psychology, serving on the Executive Board of the Society for Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 47) from 2012-19, including as the Society’s President in 2017-18. Dr. Albinson represents Northwestern University on the Big Ten Conference Mental Health and Wellness Cabinet established by Commissioner Kevin Warren in 2019. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in the State of Illinois and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. Prior to her role as Director of Sport Psychology Services, Dr. Albinson served as the Associate Director for Sport Psychology (2016-21), and the Associate Director (2014-16) and Assistant Director (2010-14) for Outreach and Education at Northwestern University’s Counseling and Psychological Services.
Education
University of North Texas - Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, Sport Psychology Specialization
University of Minnesota – M.A. Kinesiology, Sport Psychology Specialization
University of Notre Dame – B.A. Psychology
Leadership
Big Ten Conference Mental Health and Wellness Cabinet Member, 2019-present
Co-Chair, Sport Psychology Professional Practice Guidelines Development Committee, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology, 2019-present
Past-President, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (APA Division 47), 2018-2019
President, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (APA Division 47), 2017-2018
President-Elect, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (APA Division 47), 2016-2017
Member-at-Large, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (APA Division 47), 2014-2016
Senior Program Chair, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (APA Division 47), 2012-2014
Publications
Wiese-Bjornstal, D. M., Albinson, C. B., Henert, S. E., Arendt, E. A., Schwenz, S. J., Meyers, S. M., &
Gardetto-Heller, D. M. (2012). Evaluating the dynamic model of psychological response to sport injury and rehabilitation. In J. H. Bastos and A. C. Silva (Eds.), Athletic Performance and Injuries. Hauppauge, NY: NOVA Science Publishers.
Albinson, C. B. (2006). Athletic trainers and psychological disorders among athletes: An examination of
their abilities to recognize, diagnose and intervene [Doctoral dissertation, University of North Texas]. University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu.
Albinson, C. B., & Petrie, T. A. (2003). Cognitive appraisals, stress, and coping: Pre- and post-injury
factors influencing psychological adjustment to sport injury. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 12, 306-322.
Hancock, P. A., Kane, M. J., Scallen, S., & Albinson, C. B. (2002). Effects of gender and athletic
participation on driving capability. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 8, 281-292.
Heniff, C. B. (1998). A comparison of life event stress, weekly hassles and weekly mood disturbance
between injured and uninjured female university athletes. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Minnesota.
Dr. Albinson is a nationally recognized leader in sport psychology, serving on the Executive Board of the Society for Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 47) from 2012-19, including as the Society’s President in 2017-18. Dr. Albinson represents Northwestern University on the Big Ten Conference Mental Health and Wellness Cabinet established by Commissioner Kevin Warren in 2019. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in the State of Illinois and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. Prior to her role as Director of Sport Psychology Services, Dr. Albinson served as the Associate Director for Sport Psychology (2016-21), and the Associate Director (2014-16) and Assistant Director (2010-14) for Outreach and Education at Northwestern University’s Counseling and Psychological Services.
Education
University of North Texas - Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, Sport Psychology Specialization
University of Minnesota – M.A. Kinesiology, Sport Psychology Specialization
University of Notre Dame – B.A. Psychology
Leadership
Big Ten Conference Mental Health and Wellness Cabinet Member, 2019-present
Co-Chair, Sport Psychology Professional Practice Guidelines Development Committee, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology, 2019-present
Past-President, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (APA Division 47), 2018-2019
President, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (APA Division 47), 2017-2018
President-Elect, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (APA Division 47), 2016-2017
Member-at-Large, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (APA Division 47), 2014-2016
Senior Program Chair, Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (APA Division 47), 2012-2014
Publications
Wiese-Bjornstal, D. M., Albinson, C. B., Henert, S. E., Arendt, E. A., Schwenz, S. J., Meyers, S. M., &
Gardetto-Heller, D. M. (2012). Evaluating the dynamic model of psychological response to sport injury and rehabilitation. In J. H. Bastos and A. C. Silva (Eds.), Athletic Performance and Injuries. Hauppauge, NY: NOVA Science Publishers.
Albinson, C. B. (2006). Athletic trainers and psychological disorders among athletes: An examination of
their abilities to recognize, diagnose and intervene [Doctoral dissertation, University of North Texas]. University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu.
Albinson, C. B., & Petrie, T. A. (2003). Cognitive appraisals, stress, and coping: Pre- and post-injury
factors influencing psychological adjustment to sport injury. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 12, 306-322.
Hancock, P. A., Kane, M. J., Scallen, S., & Albinson, C. B. (2002). Effects of gender and athletic
participation on driving capability. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 8, 281-292.
Heniff, C. B. (1998). A comparison of life event stress, weekly hassles and weekly mood disturbance
between injured and uninjured female university athletes. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Minnesota.