Ethical Decision-Making in Sport Across Levels of Influence

This presentation is CEU Eligible

This presentation will explore ethical decision-making in sport as a dynamic, context-driven process across athlete, organizational, and interdisciplinary levels. The session is designed to be conversational, with brief framing insights followed by interactive discussion throughout. 

Dr. Angel Brutus is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Certified Mental Performance Consultant currently serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Synergistic Solutions, a clinical, sport and performance consulting firm designed to curate professional development experiences for practitioners working in high performance domains. She is a former member of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Psychological Services/Sports Medicine leadership team where she assembled and supported a team of qualified staff directly servicing the mental health/mental performance needs of Team USA athletes. Since her departure from the USOOPC, Dr. Brutus continues to support Team USA athletes as a member of the delegation’s mental health and mental performance directory. She is also a member of the NFLPA’s wellness directory and independently supports NBA/WNBA professional athletes. She was the inaugural Assistant Athletic Director of Counseling and Sport Psychology for Mississippi State University where she provided direct clinical and performance enhancement services, served as an administrator and developed programming to address MSU’s sports culture.
 
Dr. Angel Brutus operates at the intersection of culturally-responsive, ethical and legal practices necessary for successfully engaging in the field of counseling and sport performance psychology. Her penchant for ethically inclusive practices has served as the bedrock for her involvement and development of organizational best practices, guidelines, policies, and procedures in various organizational systems.

Despite all of Dr. Brutus' professional obligations, her heart and attention are focused on her role as parent, spouse, daughter and community member. She thrives from curating spaces of belonging and connection and can't wait to support your journey!

Join us on August 13 at 12:00pm ET

Where the Money Meets the Mind : NIL, the Transfer Portal, and Athlete Mental Health

This presentation is CEU Eligible

College athletes now navigate performance demands alongside personal branding, financial decisions, public scrutiny, and the possibility of transferring. This 50-minute, clinician-focused session explores how NIL and the transfer portal can affect anxiety, identity, belonging, family relationships, team dynamics, and financial stress with attention to disparities affecting Black athletes. Participants leave with practical assessment questions, family-engagement strategies, scope-of-practice guidance, and referral approaches for supporting athletes through high-stakes transitions.

Clinical emphasis: practical assessment, family engagement, athlete autonomy, culturally responsive care, and coordinated referral.

Dr. Leon Banks, PhD, LCSW is an Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia School of Social Work, where he serves as Director of the Sports and Social Work Lab. His research and scholarship focus on the intersection of mental health, sport, and social justice, with an emphasis on collegiate athletes, coaches, and the broader sport environment. Dr. Banks has emerged as a leading voice on the psychosocial implications of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), examining how financial pressures, public visibility, social media, cyberbullying, and gambling influence athlete mental health and well-being.

Building AI Literacy in Social Workers in Sports Practice

This workshop is CEU Eligible (5 CEU Credits)

This full-day online workshop is designed for social workers in sports practitioners who want to engage confidently and responsibly with artificial intelligence in their professional practice. Whether you are AI-curious or already experimenting with tools in your work, the purpose of this workshop is to build your AI literacy from the ground up. The workshop will cover what AI is, how your clients are already using it, and how you can integrate it meaningfully across the consulting process.

Crucially, the workshop addresses the ethical and regulatory obligations that practitioners must navigate, including the emerging landscape of AI as a medical device. By the end of the day, you will leave with a clearer understanding of where AI fits in contemporary social work in sports practice, what the profession needs to be cautious about, and how to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving context. All of which is grounded in both cutting-edge evidence as well as the extensive experience of the leaders who are engaged in AI in and through their work. 

The workshop is suitable for trainees and practitioners at any career stage, as well as anyone interested in technology-informed, evidence-based practice. It is designed as a foundational program, providing the knowledge and critical frameworks needed to engage with more advanced and specialist AI applications as the area develops.