Sport psychology
Your body is trained. Your technique is there. But at the decisive moment your thoughts falter. Sport psychology helps you develop your mental strength: the difference that makes the difference.
What is sport psychology?
Sport psychology focuses on the mental side of sport and movement. Performance is not determined by physical capacity and technique alone; the mind plays at least as large a part. Concentration, handling pressure, trusting yourself, recovering after disappointment: these are skills you can train.
You do not have to be an elite athlete to benefit from sport psychology. Recreational athletes who get stuck, people who lost their confidence after an injury, or team members who want to improve the group dynamic: everyone can benefit.
Sport psychology also helps with mental health complaints that arise from sport, such as overtraining, burnout, performance anxiety or coming to terms with the end of a sporting career.
Scientific basis: sport psychology is a recognised specialisation within psychology (APA Division 47). Meta-analyses show that mental skills training (visualisation, self-talk, concentration techniques) significantly improves sporting performance (Weinberg & Gould, 2018). Psychological skills training is used at every level, from recreational to Olympic.
Who is it for?
Related complaints
Related treatments
Frequently asked questions
Is sport psychology only for elite athletes?
Can sport psychology help with burnout caused by sport?
How does a sport psychologist differ from an ordinary coach?
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Sources: Weinberg & Gould (2018), Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology · APA Division 47 Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology