Sport and Exercise Psychology

Who can benefit?

Sport and exercise psychology is for everyone who wants to make changes to their health, exercise and sport, not just elite performers.

How do I know you are the right person to help?

I view working with someone as a collaboration and understand that for sessions to be effective you need to feel comfortable speaking to me. To help you decide whether you feel I am a good fit, I offer a short phone call or meeting, free of charge, before you commit to booking any sessions. This meeting is designed to answer any questions you may have and provide any information that I feel will help you in making your decision. If you feel that you would rather work with someone who has a different approach or experiences, I will try to put you in touch with a better match.

What do sessions look like?

Usually, individual sessions (in person or online) involve discussions around where you would like to make change. Initially, you may be asked a range of questions around your sport, exercise and general life, past and present. This is to make sure that I can understand you as a whole person and appreciate your perspective, making me more able to ensure the sessions are relevant to you. What we discuss during sessions is confidential, and you will have considerable input in the structure and direction of the sessions. All of the work I do is grounded in science, which means I will always be able to explain why certain techniques may help you and provide information around how the brain works. This knowledge allows you to understand situations away from our sessions and build consistent long-term change.

Group sessions with a team, coaches, parents or other support staff can be delivered online or in person (classroom or delivery 'in the field') and can be adapted to fit your needs. Please contact me to discuss this.

How long do sessions last?

Sessions usually last 55 minutes however this will depend upon the type of support you are seeking and how long we have been working together. Usually over time, shorter and less regular sessions may be more appropriate.

How many sessions do I need and how often?

I usually suggest booking in for a session per week for four weeks, to ensure consistency and allow you to gain a deeper understanding of the process. Once you have become more familiar with the approach, we may then adjust the frequency and duration of the sessions. My aim is to provide you with the knowledge and skills to be able to recognise future challenges and be equipped to understand and overcome these, therefore as time goes on you will hopefully need me less and less! If you would like to meet for a one-off session or less regularly, we can adapt the approach to fit your needs.

How long until I see results?

This will depend on what your aims are, how often we meet and how proactive you are away from our sessions. Many people notice small changes within a few sessions, however long-term progress often comes from regularly making time throughout each week to build on your goals both within and away from our time together.

Can you help with clinical issues?

Although I am mental health first aid trained, my qualifications do not allow me to solely deal with clinical issues such as bereavement or depression, however these issues may emerge while speaking about other areas. As a human being it's impossible to separate these challenges from the sport and exercise environment, which means they may well form part of our discussions. If I feel that you would also benefit from some clinical support alongside our work, I will let you know and provide options for you to gain further assistance.

Is what we discuss confidential?

All communications between us within and outside of our meetings are confidential, therefore I will not discuss details with anyone else unless I consider you, or another, to be in danger. There may be times where communication with others (a coach, for example) might be beneficial, and in this case, I will always ask your permission before discussing your situation with them. I regularly work with individuals under the age of 18, and in this situation, I will discuss confidentiality with the caregiver before we meet.