FAQs
How are the individual consultations conducted?
Our individual sessions are usually conducted online via Microsoft Teams or Zoom, ensuring convenience and accessibility for clients worldwide.
What can I expect from the first individual consultation?
In the first session, I will tell you a bit more about the approach I use so that you know what to expect in our sessions. Then we will explore your sporting background and the challenges or obstacles that you are facing and would like some help with. You will also have a chance to ask any questions you may have.
Will I have to complete tasks in between sessions?
I might ask you to complete tasks in between our sessions or in your training sessions to help you practice your new skills.
Who can benefit from the services?
Some sport psychologists choose to work exclusively with athletes, but we are actually trained to work with anyone who performs. That might be a student, a parent, a company CEO, a firefighter, a doctor, a teacher, a coach or an athlete.
Performance requires certain shifts and changes in our body’s physiology and it often invites thoughts and emotions related to failure, self-doubt, letting people down, or not achieving goals. Everyone’s body and mind respond to performance differently, but what we all have in common is that something changes in our bodies when we have to perform. You may experience tension, high levels of energy or you may feel numb and sluggish. Sometimes how your body responds may not make sense to you or it may even get in the way of performing in the way you want to. You might feel disconnected from your body, struggle to rest after performing, or find your muscles have become rigid.
If you have experienced any of this, don’t be afraid to reach out. You don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from sport psychology. I am here for you regardless of your background.
What if I don’t really know what’s wrong?
You don’t need to arrive with a clearly defined problem or know exactly what you want to change.
Sometimes we simply know that something doesn’t feel right. We can start there and gradually explore what you’re experiencing, what might be contributing to it and what feels important to you.
So, we talk. But we don’t stop there.
We also slow down and pay attention to what is happening in your body and nervous system, and to the patterns that show up in the way you respond to different situations. Together, we make sense of these experiences and explore what you might need to feel more connected to yourself and more able to respond in ways that work for you.
The aim isn’t simply to help you cope better or find another technique to add to your toolkit. It’s about supporting meaningful, sustainable change that can help you feel better in yourself, and perform in a way that feels right for you.
Do I need to talk about everything that has happened to me?
No. You are in control of what you choose to share.
We can work with what feels manageable and relevant to you, and there is no expectation that you disclose anything before you’re ready.
Sometimes understanding our experiences involves looking at the past, but the focus will always be on what feels useful and appropriate for you now.
Do I need to be struggling significantly to seek support?
No. You don’t need to wait until things become overwhelming before seeking support.
You might be functioning well, meeting your responsibilities and appearing to cope, while still feeling exhausted, disconnected or unhappy underneath.
You are allowed to seek support because something doesn’t feel right – even if you can’t easily explain why.
Is this about performance?
Performance can be part of our work, but it doesn’t have to be.
My background is in sport and exercise psychology, and this has shaped the way I understand people navigating pressure, expectations and performance. However, one-to-one support isn’t limited to what happens in sport.
We can explore whatever is relevant to your experience – whether that’s work, relationships, identity, wellbeing, performance or something you can’t quite put into words yet.
What does “somatic” mean?
Somatic simply refers to paying attention to the experience of the body.
Our experiences aren’t only thoughts. Stress, anxiety, anger, fear and other emotions can also show up through sensations, changes in breathing, tension, energy or other bodily experiences.
We can become curious about these experiences alongside thoughts, emotions and your wider circumstances. You don’t need any previous experience with somatic work.
How long will we work together?
There isn’t a set number of sessions that applies to everyone. The length of our work together will depend on what brings you to support, what you want from the process and how things develop over time.
We’ll regularly review whether continuing to work together feels useful and appropriate.
