What is Mental Performance Skills Training?

You’ve heard about Mental Performance and Mental Skills Training, but what is it? Does it work?

There are a number of pro and Olympic-level athletes who use mental skills training to enhance their performance. You’ve probably heard of some of them like Tom Brady who first was introduced to sport psychology while in college at University of Michigan. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles publicly talked about her struggles with mental health and specifically mental performance in what she described as “the twisties.” Pro tennis player Novak Djokovic, who has won 24 grand slam titles over the course of his career, has recently talked about how mental performance skills training has helped improve his performance. And Certified Mental Performance Consultant Dr. Colleen Hacker was among the first to be hired by Team USA in 1995. The next year, she helped the U.S. Women’s National Team win their first-ever gold medal at the 1996 Olympic games.

As noted by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), Mental Performance Consultants (MPC) assist athletes in overcoming obstacles related to performance. This includes overcoming mental barriers by identifying and improving performance anxiety, self-doubt, and motivation. By enhancing mental toughness, the athlete can stay focused under pressure. They can also improve their well-being by learning skills that will help them gain a healthy balance so they can continue to train, practice, and compete, but also enjoy life outside of their sport.

We can do all of this through goal-setting strategies, mindfulness, imagery, and reframing negative thoughts. Athletes practice relentlessly for their sport, and train their bodies to improve their strength, power, and athleticism. But what about the mental side? Imagine the edge you can have on your competition by gaining confidence, reducing anxiety, and getting over those mental barriers that might hold you back in pressure situations.

I invite you to explore and learn more about mental skills training, and get ready to take the next step in improving your overall sport performance.