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Mental performance vs mental health
Mental performance vs mental health
So what exactly is mental performance consulting? And who is it for?
While the terms mental performance and mental health are very similar and do have some crossover, there are a few fundamental differences.
Mental performance consultants are not required to be licensed counselors. Someone who is strictly an MPC focuses their services solely on performance and not on clinical mental health matters.
Mental performance focuses on strategies to improve and excel in already existing strengths while noticing and gradually improving upon weaknesses. Coping mechanisms can be a part of those strategies, as every athlete is susceptible to performance anxiety and self-doubt, but addressing major mental health concerns is not the focus. (If you struggle with mental health, seek out counseling from a licensed professional.)
Generally speaking, mental performance consulting will work best for those athletes who already have the drive and ambition to reach their full performance potential. As with any coaching and consulting services, you get out what you put in.
What is sport psychology?
What is sport psychology?
Simply put, sport psychology focuses on the mental side of sport participation. Often, the general perception of athletes focuses on their physical capabilities (i.e. how fast they are, how hard they can throw, how well they can shoot, how efficient they can be in competition).
While the physical aspects of athletes are important, the mental side of their performance is regularly overlooked. This is where the mental performance work of sport psychology comes into play, especially in the world of elite athletics.
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