Please contact me at gavin@sporting-mindset.com if you cant find the answer to your question.
I have a masters degree in psychology from the University of Northampton. I also have a masters degree in sport and exercise psychology from Staffordshire University. I am enrolled on the British Psychological Society (BPS) training qualification to become a HCPC registered Sports Psychologist. I plan to complete my training in 2027. Whilst training I am supervised by Dr Brian Hemmings who is a experienced and qualified sports psychologist.
Sports psychology techniques can be used by players, athletes and teams to improve performance. The approaches and methods that are used are backed up by research and have a scientific underpinning. As a trainee sports psychologist I can help players and athletes with issues such as low confidence, anxiety, perfectionism, fear of failure and many other problems that can affect performance.
I specialise in problems related to anxiety in sport. This includes performance anxiety, choking and problems such as the yips. However I am happy to assist individuals and teams in all aspects of sporting performance. My goal is to help you to perform to your potential.
Teams thrive when they share the same set of values and beliefs. I can support teams so that they play as a team and not a set of individuals. I can also help with communication and leadership skills so that the team plays to their full potential.
Yes. Sports coaching is an evolving field and new coaching methods and techniques are constantly being tried and tested. I can support coaches to help them to teach their athletes and players in the most affective way. If a coach feels that his coaching methods are outdated or not working the way that he or she wants then I am happy to help.
Sessions are face to face or they can be online. The first session or two is all about exploring your needs and how you want me to support you. I might ask about your sporting background and what your goals are. Conversations are confidential and I work according to the guidelines of the British Psychological Society (BPS). These initial sessions are also an opportunity to get to know each other better. Once I have a clear idea of your needs I will put together a plan for the next few sessions. I can also give you a guide to how many sessions we will need to complete the work. If all is well then we will continue to work together before reviewing the work. As a guide I tend to work with clients for 6-10 sessions.
No. Sports psychology is all about supporting someone so that their thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact in a positive way. The sport being played is not important. Many of the techniques can be used outside of sport such as when giving a speech, taking an exam or being interviewed. I have worked with athletes, footballers, golfers, snooker players and basketballers. If you feel that your mindset is stopping you from fulfilling your potential then please get in touch.