It can be really hard to find the right Sport Psychologist. If you find one that is the right fit for you, they can help you enhance your performance, overcome problems and reach your full potential, whether you’re a professional or an amateur.
But when an athlete decides they want to improve their performance with a sport psychologist, it’s important to pick the right person; every sport psychologist works in a slightly different way.
So, here at InnerDrive HQ, we thought we’d help by sharing some of the main areas that we think you should look out for when choosing the right sport psychologist for you.
We’ll focus on a sport psychologist’s qualities in this blog, but it is worth noting that qualifications are a very important factor to include in your decision. You can find more information about this via the leading accreditation bodies websites:
4 things to look for in a sport psychologist
Experience
Looking for someone with experience is important. This doesn’t necessarily mean the more years having done the job, the better (though that may help). Experience means having had time to reflect and develop a style and way of working that is right for that practitioner. It also means being a calming influence and having the ability to act as a sounding board.
It also means that a practitioner who has experience working with athletes in your sport or supporting athletes in your situation may be better suited, regardless of the number of years they have been working.
Bespoke support
Here at InnerDrive, we ensure that we tailor our support to the individual. Everyone is different and has different ways of thinking and expressing their feelings – therefore it is important to find a psychologist who understands this and is open to supporting you in a way that is best for you.
For example, a great sport psychologist will take the time to ensure that they understand you and what makes you tick. In this sense, the work we do with you is all about you.
Discrete support
It should go without saying that support should be confidential if you want it to be. A sport psychologist is there to work in the background. You pay for a service, not for a sport psychologist to market themselves off your name or brand.
Over the years, we’ve found that our discrete support means that you can trust us to always act in your best interests. Helping you is the priority.
Part of the team
Choosing the right sport psychologist is important as they can quickly become an integral part of your team. It is not about “fixing a problem” or providing catchy soundbites or gimmicks – working with a sport psychologist can transform your performance in the long run.
Different sports psychologists have different approaches to achieve this. For example, at InnerDrive we don’t limit contact with our athletes to set formal sessions. Instead, we go for a more “drip-feed” approach, which sees us having lots of little conversations with our clients in between sessions.
Final thoughts
Taking the step to improve your performance with a sport psychologist is a big one. It is someone who will impact you and your sporting career, so don’t rush into picking someone.
Ensure you feel comfortable and happy with the person you choose, as this will greatly impact how much you will get from it. Here at InnerDrive, we strive for each of these tips with our clients, ensuring we can offer the best possible support for each individual athlete.
