by Lydia Black | Dec 4, 2024 | athlete burnout, Coaching, Mental Health, Parenting, Performance Psychology, Psychological Safety in Sport, psychology, Self Care, sport psychology
Why Psychological Safety in Sport Matters “I can’t tell my coach how I really feel. What if they think I’m weak?” I’ve heard this countless times in my work with athletes, from grassroots to elite levels. It’s a stark reminder that, for many athletes, the...
by Lydia Black | Nov 21, 2023 | athlete burnout, Coaching, Performance Psychology, sport psychology
Do Coaches Understand Low Energy Availability and the Importance of Fueling for Recovery in Athletes? Recently, during a consultation, a young athlete shared something concerning. She mentioned her coach had advised her team to avoid overeating during a tapering week,...
by Lydia Black | Nov 12, 2023 | EMDR, Mental Blocks, Performance Anxiety, Performance Psychology, sport psychology, Uncategorized
As a psychologist who works with athletes, I often meet those with mental blocks. Recently, Simone Biles, a highly accomplished American gymnast, secured her eighth national title at the 2023 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships. This remarkable...
by Lydia Black | Nov 5, 2023 | EMDR, EMDR Therapy, Performance Anxiety, Performance Psychology, sport psychology, Trauma
Athletes often encounter invisible barriers that significantly hinder their performance—barriers not due to a lack of skill or training but psychological blocks that can seem insurmountable. These can stem from a traumatic event, like a bad fall during competition, or...
by Lydia Black | Oct 21, 2023 | Performance Anxiety, Performance Psychology, Self Care, sport psychology, Uncategorized
Stomach Problems in Athletes: anxiety or upset The term “gut feeling” can have dual meanings in sports and competition. On one hand, athletes can experience anxiety-induced gut issues that may feel similar to “butterflies” in the stomach. On...
by Lydia Black | Oct 13, 2023 | mental health, Performance Anxiety, Performance Psychology, psychology, sport psychology
My Personal Experience with Performance Anxiety When I was 14, I loved rowing and was naturally talented. But I also carried the weight of feeling like my success in my sport defined who I was because it felt like rowing was the first thing I was good at. Racing in my...