The Role of the Mind in Peak Performance

The mind plays an essential role in achieving peak performance in sport and the performing arts. Building mental and emotional resources, and removing mental and emotional blocks, helps athletes and performers reach their full potential.

Bringing awareness to habitual ways of thinking, feeling, and acting and actively learning and practicing more effective approaches can lead to improved performance and overall well-being.

Why Sport Psychology? Gaining the Competitive Edge

Think about what it takes mentally to perform consistently at your very best, especially under pressure when it counts most….

According to sport psychology research and the experience of elite athletes and coaches, peak performance requires:

• focus (the ability to put your mind where it needs to be)
• emotional control
• the right level of energy (not too amped up or chilled out)
• confidence, and
• a gameplan to handle bumps in the road.

Achieving this will give you a competitive advantage over your opponents.

How Does Sport Psychology Work?

Sport psychologists teach athletes and teams specific mental skills and strategies that have been proven to optimize athletic performance.

We’re mental coaches, serving as part of your support team.  Sport Psychology techniques include:

• goal setting
• relaxation training
• mental imagery
• observing and controlling self-talk
• communication skills
• mindfulness training
• biofeedback, and
• EMDR-PEP (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing-Performance Enhancement Psychology).

Through workshops and team-building activities we also enhance team dynamics, spirit, cohesion, and communication.

Who Can Benefit from Sport Psychology?

It’s for any athlete, performer, or team that wants to get better in their sport and in their lives.

Let’s face it—the word “psychology” sometimes makes people nervous and brings up images of therapy, couches, and even pills. Some think it’s only for people or athletes with “problems.” But the amazing thing about sport psychology is that it can help even the toughest, strongest, most well-adjusted athletes perform better and enjoy their sport and life more by coaching them to systematically use mental skills to achieve performance excellence.

When athletes are having trouble performing up to their maximum ability, psychological barriers may be getting in the way. Perhaps they’re feeling too anxious, getting distracted, losing confidence or motivation to train, or struggling with injury, a slump or a case of the yips. Working with a sport psychologist at these times to identify and remove performance blocks and psychological barriers can result in major improvement, often in a short time.

Does Sport Psychology Work?  Some Real-World Answers

Hundreds of sport psych research studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of our methods. But why not hear it directly from some of the athletes and teams who have benefited? Click the links below to read real-world stories of how sport psychologists have helped athletes and teams at all levels, from Olympians to college teams to recreational athletes.

What’s the Next Step?

Sport psychology is my passion—I love working with athletes, teams, and coaches and helping high performers reach the next level of performance. I would love to hear your story, talk with you more about what I do, and discuss how sport psychology might help you. Contact me to set up a free initial consultation and find out more about the services I offer to individual athletes, teams and groups, and sport psych students and professionals.