We have all heard of those miracle physiotherapy stories of athletes getting back on their feet after months or even years of physical adversities. But, what happens when athletes require emotional support, and not physical? Introducing - the power of sports psychotherapy! Gaining massive recognition in recent decades, sports psychotherapy is now considered one of the best approaches to mental health tolls in athletes. In today's article, let's break down what is sports psychotherapy, the mechanism behind this branch of psychology, and how exactly does sports psychotherapy help athletes!

What Is Sports Psychotherapy?

Let's begin by discussing the basic information revolving around sports psychology. Formally recognized in the late 19th century, many consider psychologist Norman Triplett as the so-called 'father' of sports psychology. By studying the psychological influences of bicycle racers on their physical performance, Norman set the era of sport psychology, which later transformed into the branch of sports psychotherapy. To put it simply, sports psychotherapy focuses on the mental well-being of an athlete. Instead of improving physicality, sports psychotherapists delve deep into the psychological blocks that may hinder the athlete's performance. Anxiety, depression, emotional distress, and lack of motivation may all have significant impacts on the athlete's physical execution.

How does Sports Psychotherapy work?

Now that we know a bit of background information about sports psychotherapy, let's explore exactly what this unique process entails. Just like in any other branch of psychology, sports psychotherapy sessions are led by certified specialists who are equipped to help athletes overcome their mental challenges. Sports psychotherapy sessions can be conducted as individual, or group sessions. The process usually starts by exploring the mental and psychological state of the athlete. This may entail talking to the athlete about their mental hurdles, their everyday struggles, emotional worries or feelings of depression. This is known as the assessment stage. By having a thorough understanding of the performer's frame of mind, sports psychotherapists can choose optimal mental techniques and approaches. Next, comes the goal-setting stage, where athletes and their mental health professionals create specific goals that need to be achieved by the following sessions. Some may opt for small, yet powerful, goals, such as waking up one hour earlier or practicing words of affirmation. Through goal-setting, athletes can set their focus on specific tasks that will eventually help them conquer mental or psychological hardships. Once the goals are created, it's time to put the plans in motion! Now comes the practice stage. Sports psychotherapists encourage their athletes to practice healthy daily habits through emotional exercises. These exercises are first introduced by the psychotherapy specialists and performed together with the athlete. Once the athlete becomes familiar with the process, they can practice these exercises at home or even during practice!Some popular mental techniques used by sports psychotherapists are reflection exercises, relaxation exercises, meditation, pre-performance rituals, and positive self-talk. By allowing the athlete to appreciate their strengths and weaknesses, sports psychotherapy advocates positive self-talk and helpful criticism. Pre-performance rituals and meaningful meditation routines can also help athletes draw focus before the start of their performance.

How does Sports Psychotherapy help athletes?

So, now many of you may naturally wonder: "how exactly does sports psychotherapy help athletes on the field?" For this, we give you a simple scenario. Imagine you are in school, about to present a complicated project in front of your peers. You are nervous as it is when suddenly, your classmates make rude comments about your presentation. These negative comments make you self-conscious about your project and you find yourself sweating throughout the presentation! In the end, you realize your performance anxiety overshadowed your presentation and you missed an opportunity for a high score. Now, imagine this feeling of anxiety and uncertainty, and translate it into a sports field where hundreds and thousands of people are watching your every move. During times of emotional distress, it becomes very difficult to take control of your physical state and achieve the peak performance that otherwise may have been impossible. By uncovering hidden psychological blocks, sports psychotherapy aims to empower the athlete and give them the much-needed motivation to perform better. But this process isn't as easy as it may seem. Some athletes may require a dozen sessions before they can open up to their psychotherapists and let them into their headspace. Some may prefer to work on emotional exercises longer before approaching their professional arena. The main detail to remember is that sports psychotherapy is very personalized, subjective and instinctive. It does not accept a 'one-hat-fits-all' ideology, instead aims to serve the specific needs of a performer to eventually elevate their professional achievements in sports. Hiring a sports psychotherapist like Lauren C. McGauley will help tailor an athlete's needs and see what mental barriers you will need to break through to achieve high performance.

The Future of Sports Psychotherapy

Let's finish our discussion today by exploring the future of Sports Psychotherapy. Author and Professor Mark A. Stillman, who specializes in clinical psychology and rehabilitation psychology, made an insightful argument on the importance of Sports Psychotherapy in the world of sports. In his 2019 narrative review paper, Stillman describes some of the more common mental health symptoms and disorders encountered by elite athletes. He finishes the paper by examining the future direction of Sports Psychotherapy and declares: "Previous researchers have recommended that mental health services should be available year-round, on-site at both the training facility and/or the site of competition and that services should address common issues such as stress, substance misuse, insomnia, low energy, injury, team conflict and lack of motivation. We propose the aspirational recommendation that mental health clinicians with comprehensive treatment expertise be included on the medical staff of every elite sports team or organization."