Case Studies
Meet "Jack Nicklaus"
I worked with a competitive level golfer who was looking to take his game to the national level. His mechanics were excellent but his mental skills, diet, and conditioning were less than optimal. I helped him to learn some visualization techniques so that he could still get in some mental practice - using visualization-when his work interfered with opportunities to hit the links. He also worked diligently on learning to let go of negative self-talk. Learning to create and replicate positive self-talk statements was his most powerful tool for taking him to the next level of professional golf. I referred him to a registered nutritionist and outlined a more aggressive conditioning program for his off-season training. As a result, he is much more committed to the total picture of his role as an athlete in the sport of golf. And- surprise, surprise- as his fitness keeps increasing, his handicap keeps decreasing!
Meet "Mr. VO2 Max"
I work with a variety of High School and College level athletes. A cross-country ski racer recently visited me to address pre- race anxiety issues. His fitness level and natural abilities were exceptional, but he repeatedly failed to perform at the level he and his coaches knew he was capable of. Before races he would psyched himself out, setting the stage for a lackluster performance and creating a vicious cycle of frustration and defeat. The work we did together began with documenting, in detail, the following: 1. current and future goals; 2. current coaching format; 3. descriptions of pre-race preparation/rituals; 4. a summary of post race self-talk and reflections. I taught him specific relaxation skills that he could employ at any time; we also recorded a pre-race visualization to practice the night before competitions; and, most importantly, we developed a consistent pre-race routine of rituals that did not allow for past anxiety induced behaviors to encroach upon. Mr. VO2Max kicked some serious butt that season and his enjoyment for racing soared as he was able to harness his mental strengths and marry them with his formidable physical gifts.
Meet "Michael Jordan"
Another young man, a star basketball player came me because of his poor attitude. When things did not go his way he got very angry and his performance suffered. His immature attitude earned him penalties and a poor reputation. It also prevented him from moving to a higher level of play with more competitive teams because his coaches complained that they could not count on him to deliver consistently during games. Our work involved developing a whole new vocabulary of self-talk to reset his internal dialogue to be much more positive. Over a season he began to believe in himself and his skills again which translated into solid performances on the court. His teammates and coaches began to count on him again, and his consistent delivery created newfound trust and respect from his coaches. He had created a wonderful new cycle for himself that includes leadership among his attributes. The work he did allowed him to mature to the point where now he thinks about the team first, and uses both his athletic skills and positive attitude to model the consummate team player.