How to Talk to Your Child Athlete about Seeing a Sport Psychologist
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While some aspects of how to have a conversation with your child about seeing a sport psychologist will vary according to their age, their personality style, and what type of challenges they are experiencing, there are some guidelines that provide a solid starting point.
Normalize therapy
Treat going to a psychologist for mental health, wellness, and performance support in the way you approach going to a doctor, dentist, physical therapist, trainer, or sport coach: seeking support from a specialist with knowledge and expertise in that area. It is important that your child does not feel something is wrong with them or they need to be “fixed”. They learn the physical skills to play their sport from coaches. A sport psychologist can help with the mental and emotional skills that help them execute those physical skills and achieve peak performance.
Timing
Unless immediate safety is a concern, picking a time to talk when your child is well rested, fed, and relatively calm is usually most effective—and when you are rested, fed, and feeling more settled too! When an individual is in the middle of high anxiety and overwhelmed, their brain does not allow for logical, rational thinking (Mind Your Brain, 2021). Set your conversation up for success with the timing.
Share Experiences
If you have benefitted from counselling yourself, you can share a bit about how you were finding something challenging and found it helpful to seek support. Ensure your sharing is age appropriate and brief. There are many top athletes who have shared their experiences of working with a psychologist to help them perform at their best and improve their mental health and wellbeing. Season 2 episode 3 of the Full Swing Netflix series focuses on the mind game of golf, and Simone Biles is very open about working with a therapist between the Toyko 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics in the documentary, Simone Biles Rising. Hearing about how others have worked with a sport psychologist can help your child realize they are not alone in their challenges.
Ask About Preferences
Get your child involved in the process. Most psychologists offer a free consultation where you and your child can meet with the therapist and check for a good fit. This meeting gives an opportunity for questions about how the process works. Ask your child about preferences on scheduling, in-person or online sessions, or what personality styles that they feel comfortable speaking with.
For more information and support on how to introduce sport psychology to your child athlete or for sport psychology to help them perform at their peak potential, book a free consultation with Tonia or her team at https://toniaandersonpsychology.janeapp.com or email tonia@toniaandersonpsycholocolgy.ca
Tonia Anderson is a Registered Psychologist (RPsych), former elite athlete, and parent of an athlete who has represented Canada on multiple occasions, who specializes in health and performance psychology. With over 25 years in peak performance, she has worked with junior, amateur, and professional athletes competing at local, provincial, national, and international levels including World Championships, Olympic Trials, Pan-Am Games, and more. Tonia works with business executives, emerging leaders, youth, first responders and individuals wanting to achieve their career, sport, and life goals.
References:
Mind Your Brain (2021). Dr. Dan Siegel's Hand Model of the Brain. https://drdansiegel.com/hand-model-of-the-brain/