Online Sport Psychologist: What’s Possible?
Discovering Online Sports Psychology
When it comes to mental training in sports, it’s apparent that such services aren’t readily available to all in person. However, due to changes in the way the world operates after the COVID-19 Pandemic and the normalisation of working online, mental training is now accessible to all. But is it effective?
I launched a mental training programme online in 2021 to share the lessons from my work with Elite Shooters over many years. I had no idea how positive the response would be and how far across the globe it would reach.
I believe anyone can train their mindset if they commit to the work and are given sufficient support alongside a framework to do so. Many refer to this as mental toughness but I prefer to use the term psychological flexibility. The ability to respond, rather than react, to the situation at hand as the context changes.
Making Psychological Skills Accessible
These days you simply need a reasonably good internet connection to access infinite knowledge at the tap of a button. I've added my small contribution to this online encyclopaedia for sport shooting mental training.
I want you to be able to log in to my content whenever is best for you, at any time of the day, on demand. If you’re sitting down to do the work, you’re on the way to the range or if you need a reminder before competition my app-based programme and community is readily available.
You can also ask me unlimited questions. It’s like having your own, personal Sport Psychologist in your pocket 24/7 with an instantly accessible knowledge base.
Community is Everything
You know the saying, two is better than one, well, when it comes to sports, community is important to many. I’m aware that many people shoot for the connection of community which significantly benefits their mental health. This is an optional part of my online platform. There’s no obligation for anyone to get involved, everything is recorded so nobody misses a thing.
People tend to come for the programme and coaching and many value the community.
Having someone, or even many people, to support and guide you on your sporting journey, not only builds confidence but provides evidence that you’re not alone and the mental challenge of shooting sports is real!
Accountability
When I go to the gym I often do so with a trainer. Maybe when you shoot, you do so with others, but I’m aware that shooting can be quite an isolating sport at times. I work with a trainer for extra accountability, and this is the effect I’m creating within my platform.
I provide a structure to create goals and plans and some of my members choose to share their outputs and what they are committed to.
As a community, we support each other, and I hold people to account based on what they have chosen to commit to. It provides that additional level of check and challenge and helps each of us to keep on the right track towards our goals even if we veer off from time to time!
I’m also live every week for my members to drop in and share their questions, their progress and the things they need support with. If anyone gets stuck, they don’t do so for long.
Expert Insights
Whilst my platform specialises in performance psychology for sport shooters I also facilitate wider expertise. This includes interviews with big names in shooting like Russell Mark, Amber Rutter (nee Hill), Steve Scott and many more.
I also bring in Sport Science expertise around breathing for shooting, nutrition and performance planning with much more to come. It really is a growing, one-of-a-kind performance platform for shooting sports.
About Me
I am a UK-based performance psychologist who specialises in mental performance for shooting sports in Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines.
My objective is to enhance your sports performance and develop skills for life by providing accessible mental training for individual shooters and Federations through my online sports psychology platform. My programme is called the 4R Performance Method where my members learn to Recognise, Refocus, Respond, and Repeat.
If you’re a shooter looking to build their mental game, I think you’ll quite like it.
I was the lead psychologist for British Shooting for over 8 years and first started working with shooters in 2008. Developing shooters has been a full-time pursuit over 3 Olympic Cycles and I now support shooters all over the world on their journey towards their goals.
I’ve been fortunate to support Olympic, World Championship, World Cup, European and Commonwealth medallists and it’s these lessons I share via my platform.
So, does it work?!
The answer, as with anything worth the effort, is dependent on your level of commitment to the work. The approach is well-tested at all levels of the sport and testimonials from my members are readily available in the mental training section of my website.
The commonality among my members is their willingness to learn, lean into discomfort and work at the areas that will give them the most benefit. My psychological services are endorsed by shooters who’ve accessed my free content, or my platform or who have worked intensively with me via a 1:1 arrangement. If we can’t be face-to-face then online is the next best thing.
It’s for you to decide what change you wish to make in your shooting performance. What’s holding you back? What change will help you to get to the next level?
See you on the inside? Find out more about my programme here >