Why do you need a Mental Performance Counselor?
Mental Performance Counselors play an integral role in assisting athletes perform at their optimal level. This is done through various means, including developing an understanding of each athlete’s motivations, strengths and weaknesses. Helping athletes find ways to handle stress and pressure related to being an athlete (on and off the court/field/floor) can help improve the way in which athletes perform. The end result of mental performance counseling services is a better individual, athlete and team player.
Amateur, elite and professional athletes have it tough due to the competitive nature of the game and the training requirements thus causing psychological stress and pressure which at time becomes overwhelming for them. This can result in either poor performance or frequent injuries.
Elevated Minds® offers sports counseling services to high school, college, and professional athletes.
If you are interested in scheduling a FREE 15-minute consultation, contact us at elevatedminds@me.com.
Transitioning away from sports
Building a positive mindset
Coping with the pressures of being an athlete
Loss of enjoyment
Overcoming mistakes
Fear of failure
Building effective routines
Competition stress
Managing performance anxiety
Coping with injury and rehab
Uncertainty about the future
Ability to focus
Burnout
Alcohol and drug use
Confidence building
Performing in high pressure situations
We can work on whatever you are finding difficult whether it is sport or other areas of life. This isn’t about getting rid of things that make you good at what you do, but helping you use your emotions in a constructive way to help you do better in sports and in life.
Brainspotting and Athletic Performance
Brainspotting is an amazing type of therapy that allows the sports counselor and the athlete client to locate, focus, process and release experiences and symptoms that may be out of reach of the conscious mind. Brainspotting can been very effective in freeing athletes of performance (mental) blocks as well as encouraging peak performance. Brainspotting can result in physical healing and pain reduction as well as providing freedom from emotional suffering.
Athletes often suffer from the snowballing effects of traumas throughout their lives caused by injuries, humiliating experiences, poor performance, parental pressures to outperform, abusive coaches, etc. These traumas can reach critical mass and become debilitating resulting in limited performance. Trauma memories are usually stored in the unconscious mind and in our bodies. They cannot always be addressed through more conventional therapy methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Depression
Coping with disappointment
Effective communication
Active listening
Assertiveness skill training
Destructive patterns of behavior
Focus and determination
Overcoming mental blocks
Leadership skill building
Focus on personal improvement and stop worrying about what others are doing
Reduce overly high expectations of self that interfere with performance
Reducing negative self-talk (i.e. “get out of your head”)
Relationship issues
Signs you may need to seek Mental Performance Counseling:
Nervousness before games
Fears about being judged by peers or the coach if you do not perform to their expectation
Perfectionism – overly focused on mistakes
Physical symptoms of anxiety, such as muscle tension, breathing changes, increased heart rate, stomach aches or trouble concentrating, irritability, etc.
Self-doubt
Negative self-talk
Difficulty focusing during meets or meets
Better performance in practice than in games or meets
What is Mental Performance Counseling for Athletes and what does a Mental Performance Counselor do?
Mental Performance Counseling is a specialized field of work in which counselors are concerned with the wellbeing and mental functioning of athletes – with an emphasis on the mental component of athletic performance. Mental performance counseling often engages athlete clients in activities that revolved around problem solving, overcoming mental barriers/blocks, confidence building and increasing motivation.
Mental Performance Counselors focus on improving mental health and wellness performance of athletes. Mental skill training is the process that provides the methods and techniques to improve performance by developing self-confidence and creating a positive mindset through goal setting, positive self-talk, visualization, imagery, self-efficacy, motivating athletes, developing pre-performance routines, helping athletes improve focus and employing strategies to help them manage their overall mental health and wellness.
COMMON AREAS OF FOCUS IN MENTAL PERFORMANCE COUNSELING