#1 Athletics Sports Psychologist
Don’t let a shaky mindset pull your performance off track
You can work out harder and still feel stuck if your mindset isn’t on point. A guided reset with an athletics sports psychologist can help you clear mental drag, calm the pressure, and switch into a sharper competitive state.
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Pre race nerves shouldn’t wreck your focus on the track
Your warm up should lock you in, not leave your thoughts buzzing like a loud sideline. When your head scatters, you start doubting your splits or gripping so tight your hands feel stiff. It sneaks in right before the gun and can throw off your rhythm, costing you seconds you shouldn’t be losing.
Working with an athletics sports psychologist gives you simple ways to steady your focus so you’re not wasting energy fighting your own head. You get tools that fit real race moments, like when you’re staring down the lanes or hearing that sharp echo off the track, so you feel clear and ready instead of stressed.
Train your mind to finish as strong as your legs
Your body can be ready for a season best, but if your thoughts spike on the start line you never find your rhythm. An athletics sports psychologist helps you steady nerves, commit to splits, and finish with the kick you trained for.
Build calm on the start line
From call room to blocks, nerves can spike before you take a stride. Simple routines help you breathe, centre yourself and stay loose when the starter calls you to the line.
Keep your cool when IT GETS LOUD
Championship finals, lane draws and stacked fields can make your head spin. Mental skills help you tune out the noise so you stay locked on stride pattern, arm drive and race rhythm.
Reset focus after every lap or rep
A rough split or messy rep can throw off the rest of the session. Reset routines help you park the last lap, lock into the next one and hit the next marker instead of replaying mistakes.
See the race before the gun
Elite athletes run the race in their head long before they hit the track. Visualising the bend, back straight and final kick trains your brain to perform so your body follows when the gun goes.
Stick to your plan through surges
When the pack goes out hard it is easy to panic and blow up early. Strong mental work keeps you committed to your race plan and timed kick so you do not chase every surge and die in the lactic.
Push through every PB plateau
Every athlete hits a stretch where the stopwatch will not budge. With the right mindset, plateaus become feedback and you trust your taper, stay patient and let small gains stack into a new PB.
Work with an athletics sports psychologist who keeps your head race ready
An athletics sports psychologist helps you handle call room nerves, settle on the start line and trust your splits when it matters. You learn how to stay composed in the blocks, commit to your race plan on the back straight and find your kick in the final metres instead of tightening up.
Brian Langsworth
Michelle Pain
Harley de Vos
David Barracosa
Gareth J Mole
Madalyn Incognito
Darren Godwin
Alexandra Mapstone
James Kneller
Lauren Bischoff
Chris Pomfret
4 steps to get started with your athletics sports psychologist
Share your details online
Complete the new enquiries form with a few quick details about your sport and what kind of support you’re after. Once you’ve sent it through, we’ll get in touch with you within the next 24 hours.
Book a quick call with Tara or Lizzie
You’ll have a chat about your goals, training background and the kind of mindset support you’re looking for. You’ll learn how it all works and walkthrough the different Monthly Options available.
Match with the right psychologist
After your call, Tara or Lizzie will help pair you with a psychologist who fits your needs and sport. They’ll also help you lock in your first Kick Start Session so you can get started smoothly.
Build your confidence and focus
Once your Kick Start Session is confirmed, your psychologist will reach out to guide you through what’s next. You’ll start feeling clearer, more confident and ready to perform at your best in competition and training.
Confidence matters when you’re trying to own your lane
It’s hard to feel confident when your head flicks to who’s in the next lane or how the track feels under your spikes. That little wobble in belief can tighten your stride and throw off the rhythm you know you’ve got. The right mental work helps you back yourself in the moment, not just in training.
Meet day hits different when doubt isn’t weighing on your mind
Your meet day drags up every doubt you thought you’d tucked away, and it hits right when you need a steady head. You might feel that tight little buzz under your skin or catch yourself replaying one rough rep from training. It throws off your sense of pace and wastes the energy you need for the track.
An athletics sports psychologist helps you set a mental pace that actually holds when the crowd noise kicks in or you feel the track under your spikes. You get simple cues that settle your head so you roll into your race calm, sharp, and ready.
Start training your mind like you train your body
Get in touch to fine-tune your race-day mindset, boost composure under pressure, and build the competitive edge that lasts all season.
Questions people ask about working with an athletics sports psychologist
How can an athletics sports psychologist help me stay calm before a big game?
Feeling nervous before a big game is normal, but when those nerves turn into shaky hands, tight breathing, or racing thoughts, it can mess with your performance. An athletics sports psychologist helps you calm your body and mind so you can focus on what matters.
You’ll learn simple tools like controlled breathing, pre-game routines, and ways to quiet negative thoughts. These steps help your body stay in “ready mode,” not “panic mode.” You might also work on visualisation, where you mentally walk through the event while feeling calm and confident.
This helps your brain recognise what success looks and feels like. Over time, these methods build a sense of control under pressure, even when things go off plan. It isn’t about “getting rid” of nerves but using them in a way that helps you perform better. Many top athletes still feel nerves, but they know how to use that energy. You can too.
What if I’ve never talked to a psychologist before?
You don’t need any experience to start. Sessions with an athletics sports psychologist aren’t like lying on a couch talking about your childhood unless that’s something you want to do. It’s more like having focused chats about your mindset, training habits, and reactions during pressure moments.
The goal is to give you mental tools you can use right away in practice and competitions. You might talk about what happens when you lose focus or get frustrated. The psychologist helps you spot the thought patterns that throw you off and gives you simple ways to notice and reset them.
There’s no judgement or fancy jargon. It’s just about helping you think and feel in ways that work for your performance. Many athletes say the first few talks already help them understand what triggers their slump or self-doubt. You’ll walk away from each session with clear ideas you can test in your next training or event.
Will working on my mental game really make a difference in performance?
Yes, it can. Mental skills training is like physical training for your brain. Just like you build muscle memory through reps, you build focus, confidence, and calmness through practice. An athletics sports psychologist helps you learn how to stay locked in, even when pressure rises or mistakes happen.
Think of all the times your body was ready, but your mind wasn’t. That’s where mindset work fills the gap. You’ll learn to notice distractions faster, believe in your preparation, and reset quicker when a play doesn’t go well. When you practise these habits regularly, they become second nature.
Studies and real-world examples show that athletes who train their mental game perform more consistently. It doesn’t mean you’ll win every time, but you’ll give your best effort under any condition. Over time, this consistency builds more confidence and enjoyment in your sport.
What if I feel weird asking for help with my mindset?
You’re not weak for wanting help. In fact, it’s something most top athletes do. Working with an athletics sports psychologist isn’t about something being “wrong” with you, it’s about fine-tuning your focus just like you fine-tune your skills. Everyone has moments of self-doubt, fear, or frustration.
A lot of athletes are surprised how normal it feels once they start talking. The conversations aren’t heavy or clinical, they’re more like strategy sessions on staying mentally strong. You’ll learn simple ways to bounce back from mistakes faster and build habits that keep your head clear.
Think of it as adding one more layer to your training plan. Instead of only focusing on physical drills, you’re also learning to train your reactions and thoughts. The tough part is starting, but once you see small changes in your composure or focus, it starts to feel natural to keep going.
What can I do if I lose focus during a game or race?
Losing focus happens to every athlete. The key is noticing it early and knowing how to reset before it grows. An athletics sports psychologist can teach you short mental resets that bring your attention back to the present moment.
Try this: the next time you lose focus, take one deep breath, notice your feet on the ground, and say a cue word that connects you to your task, like “here,” “now,” or “move.”
This tiny break signals your brain to stop replaying the mistake or worrying about the result. From there, you can re-focus on what you can control in that moment, like form, breathing, or rhythm.
Over time, practising small resets like this becomes automatic. Athletes who build this awareness find they stay more consistent under pressure. You can’t stop all distractions, but you can train yourself to handle them better every time they show up.
How long does it take to see results from mindset training?
Results depend on how often you apply the skills you learn. Some people feel lighter or more focused after a few sessions, while others take a few months to see strong changes on game day. Just like physical training, your mind needs regular practice.
If you only use the tools once in a while, you’ll see small improvements. But if you add these skills into warm-ups, cooldowns, or daily life, you’ll see quicker progress. For example, athletes who practise breathing or mental imagery daily often notice better focus within a few weeks.
It helps to track small wins too. Maybe you stayed calm after a bad play or kept confidence through a tight finish. These add up over time. Think of mindset training as building mental stamina. The work might feel slow some weeks, but it keeps growing under the surface, showing up stronger when it matters most.
What if I’ve already tried books or podcasts about mindset and didn’t see change?
That’s common. Reading tips or listening to motivation can help at first, but mindset training becomes effective when it’s personal. An athletics sports psychologist helps you understand your unique triggers, habits, and focus style. It’s not about giving you more quotes; it’s about helping you apply real strategies to your situation.
Sometimes the gap isn’t knowledge, it’s action. It’s easy to know what “should” help, but harder to practise it when pressure hits. Personal guidance turns “good ideas” into habits that fit how you think and compete.
Think about it like strength training: reading about squats isn’t the same as doing them with good form. In mindset work, good direction and feedback help you put what you learn into real-life pressure moments. That’s where the real change starts.
Can mindset work help if I’ve lost love for my sport or feel burnout?
Yes. Many athletes reach a stage where training feels more like a burden than a joy. An athletics sports psychologist can help you understand what’s been draining your motivation. It might be pressure, fear of failing, or just mental fatigue from overtraining.
You’ll learn ways to reconnect with why you started your sport in the first place. This could include resetting your goals, focusing more on daily wins than outcomes, or building new recovery habits that give your mind a break. Burnout doesn’t mean you’ve lost your love for the sport forever. It’s usually your mind’s way of saying it needs rest and new energy.
Balancing discipline with enjoyment brings back drive and purpose. When you start enjoying the grind again, not just surviving it, performance follows. That spark returns when your mental load becomes lighter and your focus becomes clearer.
What if I don’t have much time for sessions?
That’s okay. Most sessions can fit around training schedules or school hours. Some athletes meet once a week, others every few weeks. You can often do sessions online, so it’s easier to fit into your day.
You can also start small by practising one or two mental skills between sessions. Spending even five minutes on breathing or mental cues can make a big difference over time. If you treat it like a short daily routine, it won’t feel like a chore.
Remember, the goal isn’t to add more stress to your schedule. It’s to make your time on the field, court, or track feel smoother and more controlled. The right mindset tools save you time down the road by reducing overthinking, frustration, and wasted energy.
Can I benefit from this even if I’m not a professional athlete?
Absolutely. The mind doesn’t care what level you play at. Whether you’re in school sports, recreational leagues, or aiming for pro levels, the same tools can boost focus, confidence, and enjoyment. An athletics sports psychologist helps you manage nerves, trust your training, and handle setbacks better.
You don’t need to be chasing medals to take your mindset seriously. Even improving small things, like staying positive during tough sessions or not comparing yourself to others, can make your sport more fun again.
These skills also carry into other parts of life. The same focus and calm you practise on the field help with school, work, or stressful moments outside sports. Training your mind helps you enjoy competing again, no matter your level. It’s not about perfection; it’s about performing how you know you can when it counts.
