So many terms—how do I make sense of them all?
Mental performance is often called “sport psychology”, “mental toughness”, or “mental strength”. Other words like grit, resilience, and hardiness are also used. The way White House Sport Psychology likes to describe mental performance is by talking about an athlete’s mental game or the mental side of sports.
Sports naturally include a lot of physical movement and action. But how often do we think about how our mind affects our performance? How often do we think about our mental performance?
Enter, mental performance.
Think of mental performance consulting as strength and conditioning for the mind. A Mental Performance Consultant teaches athletes how to build mental strength, mental flexibility, and mental endurance.
Although many people use the phrase sport psychology to talk about mental performance, the truth is that mental performance is actually part of the larger field of sport psychology, which is made up of both mental performance and athlete mental health.
To learn more about the field of sport psychology and the differences between mental performance and athlete mental health, check out this article. And to understand the difference between a sport psychologist and a certified mental performance consultant, click here.
What does a Mental Performance Consultant do?
A Mental Performance Consultant (MPC) is trained to help athletes build the mental skills they need to improve performance and overcome common mental challenges in sports like:
- Overthinking
- Perfectionism
- Handling pressure
- Controlling emotions
- Concentrating
- Staying focused
- Etc.
To do this, Mental Performance Consultants teach their clients how to use mental skills and strategies like:
- Mental imagery
- Letting go
- Refocusing skills (e.g. reset button)
- Relaxation techniques (e.g. chimney breathing)
- Pre-game and pre-play routines
- Mindfulness
- Biofeedback
- Etc.
Mental Performance Consultants also do a lot of teaching to help their clients understand how the mind and body work together, how to maximize their motivation, or when it’s best to focus on the small details of their sport (like the follow-through of a basketball shot) vs. when it’s better to focus on the overall outcome of the game.
How do I know a Mental Performance Consultant is legit?
There are many people in athletic circles who provide expertise and counsel—athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, agents, etc. But it’s important to know that these individuals do not have the education and training needed to help you with your mental game.
A Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) is a Mental Performance Consultant who has been certified by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). This certification is how an MPC proves they have the very specific and formal education (master’s level or above) and detailed training needed to effectively work in the field of sport psychology. These professionals are also expected to stay up-to-date with current research and abide by ethical standards set by the AASP.
Is working with a Mental Performance Consultant right for me?
Put plainly, most athletes need more mental support than what coaches, athletic trainers, and other staff members have the bandwidth or professional expertise to provide. Working with a mental performance consultant allows an athlete to receive personalized, knowledgeable expertise in a confidential, judgment-free environment.
It also helps athletes improve their mental game, performance, and career satisfaction. Building a relationship and working with an MPC is a worthwhile investment for all athletes.
What if I have a mental health concern?
Professional and collegiate athletes have shined a light on athlete mental health in the last few years (which was long overdue!). The stigma of mental health in sports is still very prevalent today, but thanks to many notable athletes like Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, Kevin Love, Dak Prescott, and Naomi Osaka (just to name a few), that stigma is steadily decreasing.
At White House Sport Psychology, we have staff who can help you with your mental performance and your mental health. The members of our staff who help athletes with their mental health (think anxiety, depression, etc.) are more than traditional psychologists and therapists. They work exclusively with athletes and have very specific training in sport psychology and how the mind affects athletic performance.
If you’re an athlete who is concerned about your mental health and/or mental performance and looking for support, White House Sport Psychology is a great place to start. When you book a free consultation, we’ll help find the approach that’s the right fit for you.