Performance and Resilience
Therapy
Athletes, performers, and high-achieving individuals face unique pressures in both their craft and in life. The mental, emotional, and psychological demands of training, competing, balancing responsibilities, and recovering from setbacks can be as intense as the physical demands.
At Pursue You Psychotherapy, we believe that mental strength is as vital as physical capability. Our psychotherapy services are designed to support you in building resilience, managing stress, and performing with confidence.
Our Virtual Therapy Options:
At Pursue You Psychotherapy, we support individuals looking to strengthen both their performance and resilience by using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
What to Expect
Collaborative Support
Work closely with your therapist to explore the unique challenges you face: whether related to performance anxiety, stress management, recovery from setbacks, or staying motivated in demanding environments.
Ongoing Growth
Regular sessions provide space for deeper self-reflection and skill development, helping you progress not only in your performance but also in your overall well-being.
Tailored Strategies
Every session is personalized to your goals, ensuring you receive practical tools and insights that evolve with your needs.
Sessions May Include
Assessment & Goal Setting
Work with your therapist to identify your challenges and create clear, meaningful goals for growth.
Reducing Stress & Increasing Confidence
Learn practical techniques to manage pressure and build confidence in high-stakes moments.
Managing Performance Anxiety
Develop strategies to remain calm, focused, and present when it matters most.
Overcoming Mental Blocks & Self-Limiting Beliefs
Shift unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with empowering perspectives that support progress.
Why This Work Matters
Whether you're elite, recreational, or somewhere in between, performance challenges can arise:
- Pressure & Performance Anxiety: Fear of failure, self-doubt, or burnout can impact consistency.
- Injury & Recovery: Physical injuries often bring emotional strain, uncertainty, frustration, identity shifts.
- Balancing Demands: Juggling goals, training, personal life, academics, or work can become overwhelming.
- Resilience & Mindset: Staying mentally strong during setbacks, plateaus, or transitions is essential.
Through therapy, you’ll get tools and support in:
- Developing coping strategies (relaxation, mindfulness, self-regulation)
- Strengthening focus, motivation, and consistency
- Cultivating self-awareness: understanding your thoughts, emotions, and patterns
- Building resilience so challenges become opportunities for growth
Why Athletes Benefit:
From competitors to recreational players, athletes often encounter barriers that can impact their performance and well-being:
- Performance Anxiety: Pressure to perform at the highest level can lead to self-doubt, fear of failure, or burnout.
- Injury Recovery: Physical injuries often come with emotional challenges, such as frustration, isolation, or fear of re-injury.
- Balancing Stress: Juggling rigorous training schedules, personal life, and career aspirations can take a toll on mental health.
- Confidence and Focus: Staying motivated and focused during setbacks or high-pressure situations requires mental fortitude.
What You'll Learn
Sports therapy helps you build the tools you need to thrive under pressure:
- Better Coping Mechanisms: Sports therapy equips athletes with tools like relaxation, visualization, and mindfulness to manage anxiety, stress, and pressure, enhancing composure and overall well-being in high-pressure situations.
- Increased Motivation: Motivation strategies like guided imagery and mental rehearsal help athletes tap into their drive, visualize success, and stay committed to their goals.
- Enhanced Mental Toughness: Targeted sessions help athletes build resilience and mental toughness, enabling them to overcome challenges and perform their best under pressure.
- Enhanced Self-Awareness: Sports therapy fosters self-awareness through reflective imagery and activities, helping athletes understand their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours in sport and daily life.
Who We've Supported
We've had the privilege of supporting a wide range of clients with performance and resilience:
Hockey and team sport athletes
Dancers, gymnasts, performers
Runners, swimmers, endurance athletes
Anyone striving to integrate performance excellence with mental well-being
Frequently Asked Questions
Which athletes have employed mental imagery and visualization to enhance their athletic performance?
Michael Phelps - The most decorated Olympian of all time, swimmer Michael Phelps, has utilized visualization techniques as part of his training regimen. Phelps reportedly visualizes every detail of his races, from his strokes to the sounds of the pool, to prepare mentally for competition.
Is sports therapy covered by insurance?
Because our sports therapy services are provided by registered psychotherapists, it is likely that your private insurance plan will cover sessions with a sports therapist.
