Sport Psychology

     Sport Psychology is the study and application of the various psychological, behavioral, and emotional processes that influence sport performance.   These processes interact in a unique and individualized way to affect the outcome and experience of every athlete in sport.   No two athletes have the same experience and through the process of Sport Psychology, we are able to pinpoint the exact triggers and influences that shape the competitive arena of sport.

     Sport Psychology can positively affect you in many ways.   You can learn to manage competitive stress, learn to control concentration, or improve your confidence.   Through increasing your communication skills, you can foster a unified team environment.   Perhaps learning to effectively relax and relieve tension is your top priority.   Regardless of your sport concerns and desires, a Sport Psychology consultation can help you maximize your athletic abilities.

     It is my mission to help you realize your potential as an athlete and a person.   Every technique and skill I teach to my clients can crossover into the various aspects of your life.   Sport is often said to teach life lessons and I believe it does exactly that.   As a valuable resource for athletes, coaches and teams, it is my mission to educate and positively influence this population on the field of Sport Psychology.   I want to help you learn to effectively cope with the less-than-ideal situations in sport and life, to be proactive in your journey to achieve, and empower you to create your own opportunities for success.

     Browse the various pages of this site to learn about some of the myriad influences of sport.   If you have a specific issue in your own sporting life, feel free to contact me via email or phone for a confidential consultation.   I will team up with you to identify the source of the concern and develop a realistic strategy for its adjustment.   Best of luck in your journey and I hope your sport involvement is as rewarding as was mine!

How the Process Works

     Through careful study, Sport Psychologists are able to help athletes maximize their performance by manipulating the various psychological, behavioral, and emotional factors of performance.   Part of managing one’s psychological, behavioral and emotional factors is first learning to identify less-than-ideal aspects of training and competition.

     Through a Sport Psychology consultation, I am able to help you identify those negative aspects of your sporting life, develop a plan to counter them, and implement that plan to overcome the negative effects of these influences.   Sport Psychology is not just about responding to potentially harmful factors of sport, however.   I also help you to identify the positive qualities of your athletic abilities and then maximize their effects.   Sport Psychology is a flexible process that is able to adjust and blend a mixture of ideas and perspectives to reach your desired goals.

     The first step is for you to contact me with your sport concerns and/or questions.   Whether you have a simple one-time question or a desire for an in-season/off-season consultation, contact me today to learn how I can help you with your needs!

Athletic Assessment

     This phase is designed to determine your exact needs as an athlete.   Through a multitude of assessment strategies, we will determine the specific areas of your sporting life that significantly affect your performance.   Parts of this phase include:

1. a personal interview
2. mental skills questionnaire(s)
3. observation (practice or competition)

     In addition to the processes listed above, your athletic history/context is explored to determine where you have been, where you are now, & where you want to go.   Lastly, your specific goals and timetables are evaluated to determine a realistic plan of action for your desired outcome.

Program Development

     This phase includes the creation of a Psychological Skills Program (PSP) designed to address your specific needs.   From the results and data of Phase 1 (Athletic Assessment), you and I formulate the best plan to maximize your strengths and renovate the less-than-ideal areas of your preparation and performance.

     Additionally, you will receive a written summation including your personal “Sport Psych Prescription” and proposed syllabus for the intervention phase of the consulting process.   The intervention can include, but is not limited to, any of the sport psychology skills outlined on this website, as appropriate to your needs.   The PSP will coincide with the mutually agreed upon length of the consulting relationship.

Intervention

     This phase is the “action” section of the process. Literally, this is where most of the work is done.   We work the plan developed in the first two phases, with adjustments made as necessary.   The exact length of intervention depends on athlete needs and time availability.

     As this phase comes to an end, the final aspect of the PSP is the post-intervention testing, which compares and contrasts the original questionnaires from Phase 1 (Athletic Assessment).   The PSP concludes with an exit interview and a complete written summary of your progress, including any future recommendations.