The short answer is anyone. Applied sport psychology is used in business, in the performing arts, in the military, and of course in sport and physical activity. Sport psychology is not about fixing something that is ‘wrong’ with you. It is about your desire to grow and get better.

I want to be clear in saying mental skills training is not only for the elite athlete or performer. If any individual is learning how to set appropriate goals, focus constructively, increase self-confidence, visualize success and react positively to setbacks, we can except that their performance and personal development will progress faster than those individuals who did not receive similar training.

Ask yourself:

• Do I want to be better at what I love to do?
• Do I want to be more consistent?
• Do I want to create better relationships with my colleagues, coaches or teammates?
• Do I want to understand myself more fully?
• Do I want to be more resilient?

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of the above then applied sport psychology can help you in those pursuits.

Mental skills training programs encompass two major components: skills and techniques.

Mental skills are qualities to be obtained, as opposed to techniques, which are the procedures employed to develop these skills. For example, goal setting is a technique used to enhance motivation (skill), while thought control (technique) is used to develop focus (skill). The four core techniques of mental skills training programs are goal setting, thought control, visualization, and physical relaxation.

Through one-on-one meetings or group workshops, specific and relevant techniques are taught that will help develop the following skills: self-awareness, motivation, focus, self-regulation, and self-confidence. In addition, positive living skills such as interpersonal skills (communication), and lifestyle management skills (stress/anxiety management, time management) are developed throughout a mental skills training program.

The development of a mental skills training program involves:

• Analysing unique physical, technical and logistical demands of the sport in order to determine critical areas of focus for mental preparation and training.
• Identifying psychological strengths and weaknesses of the athlete as related specifically to their sport.
• Determining and teaching specific mental skills and techniques.
• Constant and continuous evaluation of program effectiveness.

Whether you are working one-on-one as an individual or collectively as a group or team, the process will always be led by the following four stages: needs assessment, program development, evaluation and adjustment. Within that framework, I will work with you to determine what best fits with your unique circumstances and goals.

The process of sport psychology consulting may include, but is not limited to:

• Developing a greater understanding of yourself.
• Learning how to take responsibility for and control over your thought process, which impacts your behaviour, choices and outcomes in sport and life.
• Gaining knowledge and insight on personal motivations.
• Setting goals for your sport as well as your daily life that you would like to achieve.

Individual sessions are approximately 50 minutes to an hour in length.

Because everyone is unique, it is impossible to say with certainty how many sessions will be required to help you achieve your goals. With that said, here are some guidelines:

• Don’t expect a quick fix. Becoming a mentally strong athlete is analogous to rehabbing an injury or developing physical strength. It takes time, commitment, effort and patience. You would never expect to recover from ACL surgery by hitting the squat rack once or twice and I would suggest you employ that same mindset when thinking about sport psychology.
• Be prepared to commit to 5 sessions. These introductory sessions are critical in developing self-awareness and will give you the opportunity to learn about the different mental skills and techniques. You will be creating a solid foundation on which future work can be built.

Consulting relationships can run from a period of weeks to a period of years. In general, the initial series of sessions are scheduled closer together so you can build momentum in your skill development.

Individual success in consulting largely depends on your willingness to be open and honest. In addition, you must be willing to apply the techniques and applications agreed upon during the sessions.

Expect to:

• Be honest and open.
• Express concerns; ask questions and show a willingness to work together.
• Apply techniques and complete any mutually agreed upon assignments.
• Come to consulting sessions free from the influence of any substances.
• Cancel 24 hours in advance unless you become ill or there is an emergency.

• Treat you with kindness and respect.
• Develop a plan with you to help you achieve your goals and objectives.
• Seek confidential consultation with other professionals when appropriate.
• Help you to find an appropriate referral if necessary.
• Continue to update skills and knowledge. She will return calls and emails within 24 hours in most cases.

A Sport Psychologist can:

• Help with overcoming fear, injury, set-backs, losses, poor performance, etc.
• Assist with returning from injury
• Work together to set a standard of performance (consistency)
• Help with continuing to perform at your peak

You will not necessarily have to learn new skills. Most of the mental skills and aspects of sport psychology are already familiar to most athletes – you will recognize them through self-reflection if not by name. Sport psychologist can assist in refining, improving, sharpening, and making you more aware of skills such as goal setting, awareness, psyching-up, relaxing, self-talk, imagery, confidence, motivation, team cohesion, and focus and attention.

Once we arrive at a clear understanding of the purpose of the meeting, the number of sessions can better be determined. A goal of all sessions is to help develop independent management and coping strategies overcome struggles.

A sport psychologist can be seen as similar in some respects to a physical therapist and in other respects to a personal trainer. In one specialty you are returning your body to regular functioning after an injury or set back. In the second specialty you are likely fully healthy but looking to enhance your strength, stamina, endurance, agility, health, and/or performance. A sport psychologist provides therapy when needed and training when desired so that the mind and body working together are at their peak in all areas of performance.

Sport psychologists have additional training, education, and experience working with athletes of all types: from cricket, football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics, diving, badminton, hockey, taekwondo, skating, squash, track & field, swimming, wrestling, etc. They are also qualified to work as a psychologist in all areas of mental health, including anxiety, fear, adjustment, depression, relational problems, eating issues, attention difficulties, substance use, etc. However, sport psychologists generally work less with severe mental illness issues and more with performance enhancement and peak performance.