My Approach.

Consistency is key right? When we struggle we start moving away from the things that make us great. Our attitude changes, our thoughts, our body language, and even our mechanics.

As a sports therapist, one of my approaches is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This means I look for unhelpful patterns in thinking, emotional responses, and behavioral actions. Every athlete I have ever worked with was talented beyond belief! Yet, under pressure, in stress, or consumed by anxiety the athlete moved away from the aspects that made them great and allowed thoughts, worries, or events to interrupt their training, break their confidence, and steal their joy.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented approach. This is a type of mindful therapy that helps you stay focused on the present moment and accept thoughts and feelings without judgment. The best athletes in the world have learned to acknowledge and accept the ups and downs. Then commit to moving forward toward their goals.

Athletes learn to stop avoiding, denying, and struggling with their emotions and instead, accept that these feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations. It aims to help you move forward through difficult emotions so you can put your energy into positive change instead of dwelling on the negative.

I help athletes identify the source of trouble, build understanding about how they respond in those situations, and empower them to be in control of their game. More importantly, I provide athletes with a space that is all there’s to process and work through the things they are struggling with. My approach with athletes reaches farther than the sport itself and provides tools and skills that can be transferred into every aspect of their lives. Sport psychology strategies also play a big role in implementing abilities to calm the body, clear the mind, find focus, and build goals.

I use a few techniques to help athletes feel and play their best.

• Talk therapy - CBT, changing negative thought patterns by addressing our behavioral responses to uncomfortable situations.

• Brainspotting - A revolutionary technique to address mental blocks, slumps, and performance issues.

• Relaxation Techniques - Breathing exercises, PMR, and Meditation to stay calm and release stress/anxiety symptoms.

• Thought Management - Correcting cognitive distortions like assuming outcomes, predicting failures, and repetitive negative thoughts.

• Goal Setting - Keep expectations in check, and make realistic and timely goals that drive motivation.

• Now-ist - Staying present in the moment, grounding techniques.

• Emotion Regulation - Mindfulness, Attention-Shifting, Forward-Looking, Positive Self Talk.

• Attention and Concentration Control - Attention control training (to avoid distractions) and techniques to expand awareness (e.g., attending to performance cues and bodily sensations).