You train your body with coaches. You develop skills through practice. But when it comes to your mind—the tool that ultimately determines how you perform under pressure—many athletes have never worked with a professional.
Sports psychologists specialize in the mental side of athletics. Understanding what they do, how to find one, and how to maximize the relationship can accelerate your development significantly. Here's what every athlete should know.
What Sports Psychologists Do
Performance Enhancement
Core mental skills work:
Focus training: Developing attention control for competition
Arousal regulation: Managing energy levels for optimal performance
Confidence building: Strengthening self-belief and resilience
Visualization: Mental rehearsal techniques
Routine development: Pre-competition and within-competition routines
Pressure management: Performing under stress
This is the skill-building side—training mental capacities like you train physical ones.
Clinical Issues
When athletes face mental health challenges:
Anxiety and depression: Clinical-level issues affecting life and sport
Eating disorders: Particularly relevant in weight-class and aesthetic sports
Substance issues: Performance and recreational substances
Trauma processing: Including injury-related psychological damage
Identity concerns: Life transitions, career endings, identity crises
This is the clinical side—treating psychological issues that impair wellbeing.
The Distinction
Performance enhancement specialists (mental performance consultants, mental skills coaches) focus on developing skills. Licensed psychologists can also address clinical issues.
Know what you need: - Building mental skills for performance → Either can help - Managing clinical issues (anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders) → Licensed psychologist required
Who Can Help
Licensed Psychologists
Education: Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in psychology
Licensing: State-licensed, requiring supervised clinical hours
Scope: Can diagnose and treat mental health conditions
Sports specialization: Additional training in sport and performance
Titles: Sport Psychologist, Clinical Sport Psychologist
Mental Performance Consultants
Education: Often master's degree in sport psychology or related field
Certification: CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant) or similar
Scope: Performance enhancement and skill building; cannot treat clinical conditions
Approach: Focused on performance optimization
Titles: Mental Performance Consultant, Mental Skills Coach, Performance Consultant
Other Professionals
Clinical psychologists: May not have sport-specific training but address clinical issues
Counselors and therapists: Can address mental health but may lack sport expertise
Coaches with training: Some coaches have mental skills knowledge
Meditation/mindfulness teachers: Can teach foundational practices
The right choice depends on your needs. Performance issues with no clinical component? Mental performance consultant works. Significant anxiety or depression? Need a licensed psychologist.
Finding the Right Fit
Assess Your Needs
Before searching:
Performance focus: What mental skills do you want to develop?
Clinical concerns: Are there mental health issues that need addressing?
Sport specificity: How important is experience in your specific sport?
Access: In-person, virtual, or both?
Sources for Finding Professionals
Sport organizations: Many national governing bodies maintain directories
AASP directory: Association for Applied Sport Psychology's find-a-consultant tool
Team/school resources: Athletic departments often have or can refer
Other athletes: Recommendations from peers who've worked with someone
Insurance networks: If cost is a factor and you have mental health coverage
Questions to Ask
When evaluating potential professionals:
Background: - What's your training and education? - Are you licensed? (If clinical needs exist) - What certifications do you hold? - Do you have experience with [my sport]?
Approach: - How do you typically work with athletes? - What does a typical session look like? - Do you assign "homework" or practice between sessions? - How do you measure progress?
Practical: - What are your fees? - Do you accept insurance? (For licensed psychologists) - How often would we meet? - What's your availability?
The Fit Factor
Beyond credentials, consider:
Rapport: Do you feel comfortable with them?
Communication style: Does their approach match your learning style?
Athletic understanding: Do they "get" the athlete experience?
Accessibility: Can you actually work with them given logistics?
Trust your gut. The relationship matters as much as the credentials.
What to Expect
Initial Sessions
First meeting typically includes:
Information gathering: Your background, sport, goals, challenges
Assessment: Formal or informal evaluation of current mental skills
Goal setting: Identifying priorities for your work together
Explanation: How the process will work
Questions: Opportunity to ask about their approach
You're assessing fit as much as they're assessing you.
Ongoing Work
Regular sessions often involve:
Skill introduction: Learning new mental techniques
Practice and refinement: Working on skills during sessions
Application planning: How to use skills in training and competition
Review: What's working, what isn't, what needs adjustment
Support: Processing challenges, setbacks, breakthroughs
Sessions might be weekly, bi-weekly, or variable based on need and schedule.
Between Sessions
The real work happens between meetings:
Practice assignments: Mental skills to work on during training
Journaling or tracking: Recording experiences and observations
Application: Using techniques in training and competition
Reflection: Noting what's working and what questions arise
Mental training without practice between sessions is like physical training once a week—insufficient.
Timeline Expectations
Mental skill development takes time:
Initial phase (1-3 months): Learning basics, establishing routine
Development phase (3-6 months): Deepening skills, applying to competition
Integration phase (6+ months): Skills becoming natural, refining
Ongoing: Maintenance, addressing new challenges, continued growth
Quick fixes don't exist. Expect sustained effort for sustained change.
Maximizing the Experience
Be Honest
Vulnerability enables progress:
About struggles: Share what's actually challenging
About doubts: Express skepticism or uncertainty
About life context: Sport happens within life; relevant context matters
About the process: If something isn't working, say so
The professional can only help with what you share.
Do the Work
Practice matters:
Complete assignments: Actually do the between-session work
Apply in training: Use techniques during practice, not just in sessions
Track and reflect: Notice what happens when you practice
Be consistent: Regular practice beats occasional intensity
Ask Questions
Understanding enhances application:
Why this technique?: Understand the purpose
How does it work?: Grasp the mechanism
What should I notice?: Know what success looks like
What if it's not working?: Have troubleshooting approaches
Be Patient
Change takes time:
Skill development is gradual: Like physical training, mental training compounds
Not every technique fits: Some approaches will work better than others
Performance fluctuation: Progress isn't linear
Trust the process: Sustained effort yields results
Integrate with Other Training
Mental training works with physical training:
Communicate with coaches: Share what you're working on if appropriate
Apply during training: Use mental skills in practice
Connect approaches: Mental and physical training should complement
Build into routine: Make mental training as habitual as physical training
The Return app can support daily mental practice between sessions.
Cost and Access
Cost Considerations
Mental performance services cost:
Private practice: $100-300+ per session typically
Team/school services: Often covered by athletic program
Insurance: Some licensed psychologists take insurance; coverage varies
Sliding scale: Some professionals offer reduced rates based on need
View it as investment in development, comparable to coaching and equipment.
Access Challenges
Common barriers and solutions:
Cost: Explore team resources, insurance, sliding scale options
Location: Virtual sessions have become standard and effective
Time: Work with professional to find sustainable schedule
Finding someone: Use directories, ask for referrals, be persistent
Self-Directed Alternatives
When professional support isn't accessible:
Apps and programs: Guided mental training like Return
Books: Mental training literature written for athletes
Courses: Online learning for mental skills
Coach support: Some coaches have mental training knowledge
These don't replace professional support but can provide foundation.
When to Seek Help
Performance Indicators
Consider professional support when:
- Performance significantly below capabilities under pressure
- Same mental mistakes recurring despite awareness
- Confidence issues affecting training and competition
- Focus problems that aren't improving with self-work
- Major transition (injury, level change, career ending)
Clinical Indicators
Definitely seek licensed professional when:
- Persistent anxiety affecting daily life
- Depression symptoms (low mood, loss of interest, sleep issues)
- Eating or body image concerns
- Substance use concerns
- Traumatic experiences affecting function
- Thoughts of self-harm
These require clinical expertise, not just mental skills coaching.
Proactive Approach
You don't need a crisis:
- Building mental skills before problems arise
- Developing resilience for future challenges
- Optimizing already-good performance
- Preparing for high-pressure situations ahead
The best time to start is before you desperately need help.
Working Within Teams
Team-Provided Services
Many athletic programs offer mental performance support:
Access: Usually free for athletes
Integration: Professional understands team context
Convenience: Often on-site or easily accessible
Limitation: May have less choice in who you work with
Confidentiality Considerations
Understand boundaries:
What's shared with coaches: Ask directly about policies
Your control: You typically control what gets communicated
Emergency exceptions: Safety concerns override confidentiality
Documentation: Understand what records are kept
Seeking Outside Help
When team services don't fit:
If you want more choice: Different style or approach preferred
If you need specialized help: Team professional may not have expertise you need
If confidentiality concerns exist: Completely independent relationship
If access is limited: Team resources insufficient for your needs
You're not obligated to use only team-provided services.
Common Misconceptions
"It's Only for Struggling Athletes"
Reality: Elite athletes use mental performance support to optimize, not just fix problems.
"It's Like Therapy"
Reality: Mental performance work focuses on skill building, though it can include therapeutic elements.
"It's Quick Fixes"
Reality: Mental skills develop over time like physical skills.
"It's a Sign of Weakness"
Reality: It's a sign of taking performance seriously.
"Results Should Be Immediate"
Reality: Expect gradual improvement over months of consistent work.
Key Takeaways
- Know the difference between performance enhancement and clinical work—your needs determine who to work with
- Find good fit—credentials matter, but so does rapport and communication style
- Expect a process—initial assessment, ongoing skill work, and practice between sessions
- Do the work—what happens between sessions matters most
- Be honest—the professional can only help with what you share
- Be patient—mental skill development takes sustained effort over time
- Start proactively—don't wait for crisis to seek support
The Return app complements professional mental training by providing daily meditation practice. Build the foundation that makes professional work more effective.
Return is a meditation timer for athletes serious about mental training. Support your development with daily practice designed for athletes. Download Return on the App Store.