In the field of applied sports psychology, there is a lot of confusion and inconsistency in how people represent themselves, from their title and services, but also their background and training. This statement is intended to help you understand our services and our areas of expertise and to demystify some of the issues that can be confusing. All of our consultants have graduate school training in applied sports psychology, but it’s important to emphasize that we are not psychologists. What’s the difference you might ask?

In the United States, the term ‘psychology’ is protected by law and refers to the licensed practice of psychology that in working with athletes largely refers to mental health counseling or clinical psychology. Professionals trained in this field have extensive academic and supervised experience working with people dealing with mental health problems such as depression, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and attention deficit disorders.

Many of the best ‘Sport Psychologists’ in the world are not in fact psychologists. These professionals were trained with Doctoral or Master’s degrees through sports science and education programs. This is why many will refer to themselves as ‘Mental Coaches, ‘Performance or Mental Conditioning Consultants’, etc. It’s important that you understand the difference and that even though a mental coach might not be a psychologist, they may have the expertise and training to help an athlete perform at a higher level. Both areas are valid; the key is whether or not the consultant is right for you.

A common theory is that one does not have to wait to have a problem in order to get better. One of the keys to mental conditioning is in the habits and routines we create. By developing better habits they will be able to accomplish more in their “field of play” whether it is a sport, business, or life. The principles developed are the same as physical training; one cannot lift weights once and expect to get stronger and the same holds true mentally. You cannot assume that if they only see a consultant sparingly and work on their mental game every so often that they will have what it takes when the pressure is on. This is typically the difference between a good athlete and a champion. Champions understand the need for and importance of their mindset, as it is vital in becoming a complete athlete. The same can be said in business and in the military.

Successful businesses often employ mental consultants to help with performance, individual morale, and team synergy within their company. They understand that if their employees aren’t happy, their production levels will be lower, which in turn will cost their company lots of money.