Sport & Performance Psychology

Being able to perform at your best is crucial to personal and professional success as well as overall happiness and self-esteem. One thing that separates successful individuals from the rest is how to work through performance barriers, set backs, and injury. I provide individual mental skills training sessions for athletes, professionals, and individuals who are seeking to perform at their best and achieve their personal and professional goals. Finding "the zone" is a complex process and is different for every athlete and professional I work with. I take an integrated approach to helping you build the mental skills to find your zone and achieve your goals.

What is Sport Psychology?

The goal of sport psychology is to promote optimal performance and 
aid in improving skills to gain a competitive edge and enhance 
motivation toward goal attainment.

To do so, sport psychologists help athletes channel physical 
energy by improving the athlete’s ability to be aware of thoughts,
feelings and intentions. The practice of sport psychology acknowledges that sport and exercise is more than overcoming physical barriers- it is also about harnessing the mental aspects of physical activity and having fun.

Sport psychology is a broad discipline that includes: 
 Mental training (i.e. visualization, relaxation, imagery, challenging negative thinking),      
 Goal setting,     
 Stress management,
 Team building/team cohesion,
 Anxiety reduction,
 Developing pre-performance routines,
 Resilience in coping with performance errors,
 Finding “the zone”,
 Fostering a healthy environment for athletes and coaches,   
 Coaching skills,
 Enhancing Coach-athlete or athlete-athlete relationships,
 Leadership Development
 Athletic injury and rehabilitation
 Promotion of mental and physical well-being.Promotion of mental and physical well-being.

Who can benefit from sport psychology/mental skills training for performance?

Sport psychology can help “non-athletes” or the average person by:
 Achieving optimal performance in other domains such as art, music, theater, business, etc.
   Maximizing physical and mental potential
   Understanding the health and psychological benefits of exercise
   Understanding the psychological and emotional barriers to engaging in healthy activity
   Recognizing the value of “play” in everyday routines

What could I expect from Sport Psych Sessions?

Common Psychological Skills in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology:

   Anxiety or Energy Management
   Attention and Concentration Control (focusing)
   Communication
   Goal Setting
   Self-talk
   Imagery, Visualization, Mental Practice
   Team Building
   Time Management/Organization

Are Sport and Performance sessions covered by insurance?

Generally, no. In order to bill insurance, a diagnostic code must be submitted to your insurance company. Unless there is a clinical issue that is concurrently impacting your ability to perform or fulfill your typical role obligations, fees for sport and performance sessions are out of pocket.

How much does a Sport & Performance session cost?

Initial Sport Psychology/Performance Coaching Assessment	$190 per hour*
Individual Sport Psychology/Performance Coaching Sessions	$155 per hour*
Sport Psychology Consultation/Team Workshops	Dependent on nature of consultation
Missed Sessions	$155 per session

(*Fees as of 6/10/14 and based on a 55 minute hour. Fees are subject to change. You will be notified in advance if fee schedules change.)

Payments Methods Accepted

Fees for co-payments or self-pay are accepted with the following payment methods:

Check, cash, and credit or debit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover)

References: 
Eipers, A.C. & Spielman, G. L. (n.d.). What is sport psychology? Retrieved from http://www.ginaspielman.com/sports-psych.pdf Association for Applied Sport Psychology. aaasponline.org
Porter, K. (2003). The Mental Athlete. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. 
United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2004). www.hhs.gov

Megan Pietrucha, Psy.D., LLC

Licensed Clinical & Sport Psychologist