Sport & Exercise Psychology Lab
Enhancing performance through cognitive and behavior skills training.
TCU’s Sport & Exercise Psychology Lab aims to investigate psychological factors related to participation and performance in sports, exercise and achievement-driven activities, emphasizing the integration of scientific and practical knowledge.
Students within the lab explore ways to improve human performance and assess the psychophysiological aspects of technology’s impact on physical activity. They are also involved in various applied sport psychology research endeavors.
Location
TCU Rickel Academic Wing
Room 257
Lab Members
Dr. Trocchio is the director of the sport and exercise psychology lab. By actively
involving students in her research ventures, she provides them with a unique opportunity
to gain hands-on experience and develop their skills. With her guidance and mentorship,
students are able to flourish and achieve their full potential.
Trocchio is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC®) and approved mentor through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). She provides mental performance training for athletes and exercisers of all ages.
Trocchio holds a doctorate in educational psychology with a focus on sport and exercise psychology from Florida State University. She also earned an master's in sport and exercise psychology from Barry University and a bachelor's in psychology from the University of Florida.
First year Master’s student with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Texas at Arlington. She plans to investigate the effects of mindfulness in group fitness on mental health in college students. Biancca’s goal is to become an Associate Director of Fitness at a university.
First year master’s student in the Sport and Exercise Psychology Lab with a Bachelor
of Arts in Psychology from Case Western Reserve University. Kysen’s thesis will examine
the effects of different durations of pre-exercise warm-up music on psychophysiological
and performance outcomes during a rowing task. Kysen's goal is to become a Certified
Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC). 
First year Master's student with a Bachelor of Science in Health, Kinesiology, and
Leisure Studies from Baylor University. Hailey’s thesis focuses on associations between
perceptual body image and drives for specific body types. Her goals are to obtain
a PhD in Clinical Psychology and to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant®
(CMPC) for a university or professional team.
Ph.D. candidate in the Health Sciences program with an emphasis in sport and exercise
psychology whose research interests lie in how to best aid esports athletes and video
game players to increase their physical activity habits and better their proficiency
in their video game performance. Her goal is to become a faculty member at a university.
Second year Ph.D. student with a Master of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in sport and exercise psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Movement Science with a minor in Psychology from TCU. Rebekah’s thesis investigated the effects of a four-week digital mindfulness intervention on a rowing task, specifically, the enjoyment of exercise and attentional allocation. Her goals are to obtain a doctorate degree to become a faculty member and become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC).
Lab Equipment
The Sport & Exercise Psychology Lab utilizes state-of-the-art equipment including:
- Aviron Interactive Rower
- Meta Quest 2 and 3 (virtual reality headsets)
- Thought Technology Biofeedback Peak Performance System
- Wearable Fitness Devices
- Laptops with Docking Stations
Current Projects
- Wearable technology and mindfulness to explore physical activity, mental health, and body Image in female college students - Project funded by Garmin Health X Labfront
- How to make exercise more enjoyable utilizing virtual reality, exergaming, mindfulness, and music
- Physical activity behaviors in adult video game players