Faculty Directory

Christopher Stanley

Christopher

Stanley

Christopher Stanley

Assistant Professor

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  • Online
Department
Sport & Performance Psychology (SPP)
Institution
University of Western States
Office Phone
971-418-9071
Email
Biography

Chris Stanley is part of the Sport and Performance Psychology faculty at the University of Western States (UWS). Prior to UWS, he was Associate Research faculty at Florida State University, as well as full-time Psychology faculty at institutions in North Carolina and Florida. Throughout his career, he has been involved in a variety of collaborative research projects and applied activities related broadly to human performance and development in athletic, health, psychosocial, and educational domains. In addition to teaching academic courses, he has given an array of performance-based lectures at conferences and events for audiences of athletes, families, coaches, and psychologists. In terms of writing and scholarship, he has dozens of peer-reviewed publications and has authored three books. One book - Reach Every Athlete - focuses on coaching athletes with hidden disabilities and conditions. His most recent book - Right from the Start - focuses on mental performance skills and strategies for youth and adolescent athletes and performers. In practice, Chris has been involved with USA Track and Field (USATF) since 2014 and has been appointed to numerous international teams at the highest level of athletic competition, including being on staff at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and Paris. Chris consults with a variety of athletes and professional organizations, including lead mental skills and performance consultant with the elite program at the Atlanta Track Club. He is also a Track & Field coach at a local high school. On a personal note, Chris is married with three children, two dogs, and two cats. He enjoys running, reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Education History
Degree Institution Year
BS University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL 2001
MS Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 2004
PhD Loyola University-Chicago, Chicago, IL 2008
Professional Memberships
Role Organization
E-Board/Member Association for Applied Sport Psychology
Community Involvement
Role Organization
Lead Sport & Performance Psychology (2020-2024 quad) USA Track and Field
Chair, Psychology Services Sub-Committee USA Track and Field
Mental Skills and Performance consultant Atlanta Track Club (elite)
Publications
Book

Stanley, C. (2025). Right from the Start: Mental Performance Skills for Youth and Adolescent Athletes. Dubuque, IA: Innovative Ink/Kendall-Hunt.

Stanley, C. & Baghurst. T (2023). Reach every athlete: Coaching players with hidden disabilities and sensory impairments. NY: Morgan & James.

Chapter

C. Stanley (2019). Impact of parents on young athletes. In J. Taylor (Ed.) Comprehensive Applied Sport Psychology (pp. pp. 342-351). London, UK: Routledge.

Journal

Stanley, C. & Stanley, L.H.K (2024). Should sport psychology professionals care about hidden disabilities and conditions?. Sport and Exercise Psychology Review, 19 (2), 2-16. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpssepr.2024.19.2.2.

Waite, L., Stanley, C.T., Zuleger, B., & Shadle, A. (2021). Evaluation of the Sport Psychology service delivery model for elite USATF athletes: Findings and recommendations. The Sport Psychologist, 36 (1), 47-60. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2021-0069.

Robbins, J.E., Stanley, C.T., Spence, A, & McLamb, B. (2021). Wellness, life satisfaction, and stress among university students and faculty: Campus-based results and program recommendations. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 92 , 42-50. https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2020.1838363.

Rancourt. D., Brauer, A., Palermo, M., Choquette, E.M., & Stanley, C.T (2020). Recommendations for adapting a comprehensive mental health screening program for broad dissemination. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 11 (1), 57-67.

Stanley, C. (2025). Right from the Start: Mental Performance Skills for Youth and Adolescent Athletes. Performance Enhancement and Health, 8 (1), doi: 10.1016/j.peh.2020.100168.

Licenses
CMPC #316, AASP