Perform At Your Best

"I’m Not Crazy—Why Should I Need Mental Skills Training?"

You arrive early to every practice and stay late, reviewing hours of game film. You train for hours each day and tell yourself you're ready for competition. You hit the weight room, fuel your body with the right nutrients, and meet with your coaches to review your game plan.

Then game time comes—and suddenly, your palms sweat, your heart races, and negative thoughts about your performance flood your mind. Your confidence fades. You feel frustrated, angry, and disappointed. You wonder: Why do I keep falling apart under pressure, even after all the work I’ve put in?

The answer? Mental skills training. It’s the missing piece of the puzzle.

Think of it this way: it’s the jelly to the peanut butter in an athlete’s training. Your physical training is essential—but mental training is just as important. To perform at your best, you need both. Athletes and performers are emotional beings. We feel deeply, dream big, and are passionate about our sport. Success comes not just from talent and hard work—but from learning how to manage fear, doubt, and pressure head-on.

What Is Mental Skills Training—and What Can It Do for Me?

Integrating mental skills training into your counseling sessions allows us to identify the mental and emotional barriers holding you back. Ask yourself:

Do you constantly put yourself down? (“I suck,” “Why am I such a failure?”)
Do you apply too much pressure to perform? (“My parents expect me to do well,” “I have to dominate this game to get recruited/drafted.”)
Do you feel stressed, burned out, or constantly injured?
Are you returning to your sport after an injury—and fearing re-injury?
Do you struggle to connect with your coach or teammates?

All of these concerns—and more—can be addressed through targeted mental skills work.

Mental Skills Training Can Help You:

Decrease anxiety with tools like relaxation techniques, imagery, and yoga
Build self-esteem through positive self-talk and confidence-building strategies
Improve concentration and focus using vision and attention-control exercises
Set clear and realistic goals (seasonal, performance-based, process-driven, and personal)
Navigate injury recovery with mental rehabilitation techniques
Enhance team cohesion through communication and team-building activities

Together, we can reduce the pressure, negative thoughts, and stress—and help you reconnect with your confidence, build a strong mind-body connection, and truly enjoy your sport again.