In sports, like in everyday life, confidence can be enough to encourage better performance at work and inculcate higher self esteem. Professionals with careers in psychology are sometimes expected to educe these feelings by analyzing the behavior of their clients. In some cases, a good sports psychologist may be the difference between an average team and a champion.

This year, some Philadelphia Phillies team officials have called upon sports psychology as they attempt to defend their World Series championship, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Notably, the doctors have been asked to weigh in on the performance of closer Brad Lidge who has slumped heavily after enjoying a nearly perfect 2008 season.

Former Phillies pitcher Don Carman, who now works as sports psychologist in Tama Bay, Florida, told the news source that the main goal of the counseling is to provide athletes with the skill to "hand over their ability to their subconscious" thereby rejecting any ancillary fear, anger or doubt.

Research by University of Pennsylvania psychologist Martin Seligman, in fact, suggests a link between a team's understanding of losses as temporary and arbitrary to personal performance and future wins.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment of psychologists will grow 15% until 2016, which is faster than the average for all occupations.