My approach to Performance Psychology is integrative. This means that I am trained in a number of psychological techniques and approaches. Everything we do together is tailored to work toward what you would like to improve and what you have the time and resources to work on. The main psychological approaches are described below. Mostly, however, my approach is based on 15 years of learning and experience through working with people every day.
Contemporary (Integrative) Performance Psychology: Contemporary Performance Psychology looks at how individuals create habitual patterns of response to life, performance and relationships. I aim to help you to create new, helpful patterns of thinking and behaviour and utilize different processes and protocols to manage and adapt to life’s challenges in a more helpful and resourceful way.
Hypnosis: Performance Hypnosis describes a state of inner focus and (mostly pleasant) relaxation in which our conscious awareness is ‘turned down’ for a while allowing the subconscious mind the time and space to work through difficult issues, increase resources and change unhelpful habitual patterns.
Mindfulness: Mindfulness helps us to become more focussed on thoughts and emotional reactions to events as they happen. The mindfulness practitioner learns to become more focussed on ‘the present moment’. This can help reduce worry (irrational thinking about the future) and move on from past events (which we can do nothing about). This is achieved through a series of exercises and guided meditations.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a practical therapy that helps clients identify and challenge distressing, distorted thoughts. When people think more realistically, they feel better. The emphasis is on solving problems and changing unhelpful behaviour.
Specific Programmes are outlined below.
Personalised Psychological Performance Programme.
I offer two levels of performance programme. You can opt for 6 or 12 sessions. Both routes offer an extensive assessment and needs analysis followed by a tailored programme to develop your goals and work toward your outcomes
Mindfulness training.
I offer a six-session personalised course in mindfulness and relaxation strategies, tailored as always to individual needs and specific outcomes (defined by you). Mindfulness has become a bit of a buzzword and you may be aware of the idea. It is being used in education, mental health and performance psychology to increase mental wellbeing and emotional welfare.
The principle is quite simple; the idea is to learn to become more aware of and more focussed on the present moment by paying attention to what is going on on inside and outside ourselves, moment by moment. Life is busy and stressful. We spend a lot of our cognitive energy ruminating on events that have already passed and issues and events that are imminent. This can be stressful and tiring.
We don’t spend a lot of time thinking about our thoughts, yet it has been estimated that we have something like 50,000-70,000 thoughts per day, this means between 35 and 48 thoughts per minute. Mindfulness increases the awareness of our thoughts and helps us to notice which thoughts are worth attending to and which come about through worry or regret and may not be worth expending our energy on. Also, on this course you will learn to use the visualisation skills developed through mindfulness practice to increase relaxation, reduce stress and increase focus and confidence.
Mindfulness, Relaxation and Hypnosis for Labour
I offer a six-session programme designed for women who are preparing for labour. Hypnosis has been seen to help reduce anxiety around labour and to manage discomfort and pain more effectively. As always the sessions are tailored to your particular needs and concerns.
