A mental performance coach teaches the mental skills that help you perform: focus, confidence, handling pressure and consistent routines. It can help with the nerves that show up around competition, but it is skills training and not treatment for an anxiety disorder.
What you work on
- Pre-game and pre-shot routines so you start the same way every time
- Focus and getting your attention back after a mistake
- Confidence built on preparation, not on the last result
- Pressure skills such as breathing, self-talk and imagery
- Goal setting for a season, a comeback or a tryout
- Returning from injury and trusting your body again
Performance nerves
Feeling tight, overthinking or playing well in practice and worse in games is common. Coaching helps you understand what your body is doing under pressure and gives you tools to use in the moment. Most of the work is practising those tools until they are automatic.
When coaching is not the right starting point
If worry, low mood, panic or sleep problems affect your daily life and not just your sport, talk to your family doctor or a regulated mental health professional such as a psychotherapist or psychologist. A coach does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 9-8-8 any time, or call 911 in an emergency.
Who it is for
Competitive youth and adult athletes, teams, and people in other high-pressure roles. You do not need to have a problem to benefit; many athletes use it the way they use strength training.
How it works here
Mental performance coaching at our Gloucester clinic uses sport psychology techniques and is offered as single sessions and as packages. Athletes come to us from Orléans, Beacon Hill and across Ottawa’s east end. Fees are on our Pricing page.