Sport Psychology Archives - Page 4 of 6 - White House Sports Psychology

Sport Psychology, Traditional Psychology, and Mental Performance Consulting: What Athletes Need To Know

In part 1 of this article we explained the term sport psychology and highlighted some of the similarities and differences between sport psychology and mental health. Knowing how these two areas are similar and different is critical because it will help you determine when you should get help and who you should get that help from. There are many mental health professionals (i.e. psychologists, counselors, social workers) who are great at helping their clients address their mental health. These professionals hold a license to practice their specific form of mental health and most are very good at what they do. However, one challenge that comes up is a mental health professional who claims to be doing sport psychology simply based on the fact that they are working with someone who is an athlete. Just because a psychologist works with athletes doesn’t make them a sport psychologist. Remember, as similar as they are, sport psychology and mental health can be distinguished from each other....

Are Mental Blocks Real?

Sometimes we get asked, “are mental blocks real?” This type of question usually comes from someone who has never experienced a mental block or they have a hard time understanding how a mental block happens. But athletes know they are real. And, if they aren’t dealt with properly, they can seriously affect your performance which can affect the outcomes of games, as well as your role on the team. So what can an athlete do about it? When athletes talk about mental blocks, they are usually talking about a situation where they know how to do a specific skill but their mind gets in the way. Other times athletes may be trying to learn a new skill and they know they are capable of performing that skill but again, the mind gets in the way. The mind and the body are strongly connected. And the fact that the mind can get in the way of doing a physical skill, proves this fact. However, we need to do more than simply recognize that the mind-body connection exists. We need to train the mind in...

School Counselor vs. Sport Psychologist: What’s the Difference?

A few weeks ago, a school counselor called us looking for some help with one of her students. She was trying to help this student but was struggling to connect with him, especially around his interest in sports. As she asked about our work and how it was similar yet different from hers, we thought about how important it is for clients like you to know these differences. To help you understand how sport psychologists are similar, yet different, from school counselors, we have created an outline that explains the What, How, Who, When, and Where for each clinician.Sport PsychologistWhat a Sport Psychologist Does: Sport Psychologists teach you mental skills and strategies you can use to manage stress, pressure, and high expectations. They also help athletes who are dealing with mental health concerns like: Anxiety Trauma Depression Finally, a Sport Psychologist can help you with everyday concerns like: Overwhelming stress (e.g. managing your sports schedule with academic demands, and...

9 Mental Health Books & Resources a Sport Psychologist Recommends

Sport Psychology and mental health are topics that are often misunderstood and overlooked. However, it is important to address your mental game and your mental health so that you can maximize your abilities, and your life. If you are looking for books, apps, or resources related to sport psychology and/or mental health, then look no further! In this blog post, we will discuss the top books, apps, and resources that we recommend as you pursue excellence in your sport and in life. We hope that this information will help you on your journey toward your goals and ambitions!3 Mental Health Books a Sport Psychologist RecommendsMindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck A lot people are falling into the trap of believing that they are “meant to be this,” or “born to do that”. This approach artificially limits our abilities and Carol Dweck’s Mindset helps the reader learn how to expand their perspective, persevere in the face of adversity, and try things they would normally...

3 Ways Your Mind Can Improve Injury Recovery

When athletes get hurt, they usually have a lot of thoughts and emotions that start racing through their mind. Common questions injured athletes ask themselves include, “will I ever be the same athlete again?”, or “will I lose my starting spot?” On top of thoughts like these, athletes often experience emotions like doubt, worry, confusion, anger, and sadness. After an injury, the doctors and therapists typically do a good job of treating the physical aspects of your injury. However, it is common for the mental aspect of injuries to be mis- managed, or even overlooked altogether. We need to help the mind recover just like we need to help the body recover. If we don’t help our minds recover from injury then the quality of our recovery suffers, the chances of returning to our sport at the same level of performance (or better) decreases, and our ability to reach our goals is hindered. Here are three ways athletes can help their mind recover after an injury: 1. Recognize That You Will Go...