Sport isn’t only physical.
Training load, competition, expectations, injury, selection and pressure to perform can all have an impact on an athlete’s mental wellbeing.
Working with a psychologist for athletes can provide support both in and outside of competition, helping athletes better understand how they respond to pressure and develop strategies to manage the mental demands of sport.
Performance Pressure in Sport
Whether you compete professionally, at an elite level or simply take your sport seriously, pressure can come from many places.
You might experience:
Competition or performance anxiety
Fear of making mistakes
Loss of confidence
Pressure around selection or results
Difficulty switching off from sport
Stress around training and competition
Body image concerns
Frustration during injury or rehabilitation
These experiences don’t necessarily mean something is wrong. Sport can simply create environments where expectations and emotions are heightened.
Psychology provides an opportunity to understand these responses and develop strategies that support both performance and overall wellbeing.
Injury Can Affect More Than Your Body
For athletes, an injury can mean temporarily losing an important part of your routine, identity and social environment.
Rehabilitation may also bring frustration, uncertainty or concerns about returning to competition.
Psychological support can form part of the broader rehabilitation process, alongside appropriate physical care.
At The Good Joint in Mermaid Beach, our multidisciplinary environment allows psychology to sit alongside physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, massage and other allied health services when appropriate.
What does sport psychology support actually involve?
Working with a psychologist usually starts with a conversation about your sport, your history and what you would like to change. From there, sessions may focus on understanding patterns in how you think, feel and behave under pressure, and practising skills you can take back to training and competition.
Support is collaborative. You bring knowledge of your sport and your own experience, and the psychologist brings an understanding of how stress, motivation and emotion tend to work. Together you can build strategies that feel realistic for your schedule and your goals.
Practical strategies athletes often work on
There is no single technique that suits everyone, but some approaches are commonly explored in sport settings. These may include:
- Pre-performance routines. A consistent sequence before a race, match or attempt can help shift attention away from worry and towards the task.
- Breathing and arousal control. Slow, steady breathing may help some people settle a racing heart or tense muscles before competing.
- Helpful self-talk. Noticing harsh or unhelpful inner commentary and practising more useful, task-focused cues.
- Goal setting. Breaking big outcomes into process goals you can control, such as technique, effort or preparation.
- Attention and focus. Learning to bring your attention back to the present moment after a mistake.
- Recovery and rest. Building in genuine time away from sport so that training stays sustainable.
Like physical skills, these strategies tend to improve with practice. They are often most useful when rehearsed in training before being relied on in competition.
Coming back from injury with confidence
Being physically cleared to return does not always mean you feel ready. Some athletes notice hesitation, fear of reinjury or a loss of trust in their body, even when rehabilitation has gone to plan. This is a common experience and it is worth talking about.
Psychological support can sit alongside your physical rehabilitation with the physio or other practitioners, so that your return is planned for both body and mind. If you are currently managing an injury, our sports injury treatment page explains how the wider team can help, and our article on training load and injury prevention covers how load and recovery fit together.
When is it time to reach out for help?
You do not need to be in crisis to see a psychologist. Many athletes book in because they want to perform more consistently or enjoy their sport again. It may be a good time to seek support if you notice:
- Anxiety, low mood or irritability that lasts for weeks or affects daily life
- Changes in sleep, appetite or energy
- Avoiding training, competition or teammates
- Strong worries about food, weight or body shape
- Losing interest in sport or other things you used to enjoy
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, or feel unsafe, please call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department. You can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any time of day or night.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be an elite athlete to see a psychologist about sport?
No. Pressure, nerves and setbacks affect people at every level, from weekend competitors to professionals. If sport is an important part of your life, it is reasonable to look after the mental side of it too.
Are Telehealth psychology sessions as useful as seeing someone in person?
Research suggests that for many people, psychological support delivered by video can be a helpful and convenient option. It can also make it easier to fit sessions around training, travel and competition. If you have questions about whether Telehealth or in person sessions suit you, our team can talk it through with you.
Will my coach or team find out I am seeing a psychologist?
Psychology sessions are confidential, with some legal and safety exceptions that your psychologist will explain at your first appointment. You can choose whether to share anything with your coach or team, and what you share is up to you. You can find more about our psychology services on the service page.
Do I need a referral to book a psychology appointment?
No referral is needed for most appointments at The Good Joint, and you can book directly online. If you would like to explore whether any Medicare rebate applies to your situation, speak with your GP first, as rebates depend on having the right plan in place. Private health cover for psychology varies between funds and policies, so check with your insurer.
How many sessions will I need?
This depends on what you would like to work on and how you are going. Some people come for a short block of sessions around a specific goal or event, while others prefer ongoing support across a season. Your psychologist will review progress with you as you go.
Supporting the Person Behind the Athlete
Performance matters, but so does the person performing.
Psychology can provide athletes with a space to work on areas such as emotional regulation, confidence, resilience, managing expectations and finding greater balance between sport and everyday life.
Our psychologist Joanna Turek has a particular interest in high-performance environments, body image, eating disorders, anxiety and mental wellbeing.
Psychology appointments are available with Jo in person at The Good Joint in Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast or via Telehealth.
Book a psychology appointment online or contact The Good Joint to learn more.
Ready to get started? Book online with our team at The Good Joint in Mermaid Beach, or call 07 5651 6594.
