Move Inward Move Forward
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What is Sports Psychology?
Sports Psychology is the understanding of psychological factors that influence the optimal performance and well-being of athletes and teams. Sports Psychology training is available to assist athletes as well other team members such as coaches, parents, and administrators. This training has been implemented at all levels of athleticism ranging from recreational youth leagues to master’s Olympic performers.
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What is Jennifer's background in Sports Psychology?
Jennifer has 40+ years playing and coaching sports. She started figure skating at age five and later discovered a love for volleyball which she continues to coach today. Jennifer's first introduction to Mindfulness-Based Sports Psychology was through the Chicago Bulls' coach Phil Jackson, whose work, like Jennifer's, is influenced by world-renowned mindfulness teachers such as Pema Chödrön. Memorial University's Sports Psychology course also provided her with inspiration to better understand team dynamics among male basketball youth in Ontario with whom she was working at the time. Her subsequent work with females and their relationship dynamics, published in the Journal of Relational Child & Youth Care Practice and presented at the International Child & Youth Care Conference, helps inform her work with female athletes.
What unique talents does Jennifer bring to Sports Psychology training?
As an experienced psychotherapist, Jennifer is able to connect as both a therapist and a coach. Being the Mom of an athlete also helps her better understand the psychological underpinnings among coaches and parents and how this dynamic can impact children's mental health, emotional well-being, and athletic performance. Jennifer's customized approach for each sport helps inform the training she provides.
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What key areas are commonly requested topics for Jennifer's Sports Psychology training?
🙑 The Four C's of Sport: Competence, Confidence, Connection, Care & Compassion
🙑 education for coaches and parents
🙑 social-relational dynamics
🙑 mindfulness for stress reduction
🙑 imagery and performance planning
🙑 mindful leadership
🙑 sportsmanship and team building
🙑 coach-athlete connection
🙑 parent involvement
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Benefits of Sports Psychology for athletes and teams:
🙑 improves athleticism
🙑 fosters ability to react more calmly in challenging situations
🙑 improves self-confidence
🙑 strengthens mental clarity and decision-making skills
🙑 improves overall mental and physical health
🙑 stimulates alertness and concentration
🙑 enhances ability to regulate emotions
🙑 increases energy and motivation
🙑 reduces sports-related anxiety
🙑 encourages greater collaboration and cooperation​
🙑 boosts individual and team morale
🙑 fosters higher levels of commitment
"The secret is not thinking... quieting the endless jabbering of thoughts so that your body can do instinctively what it’s been trained to do without the mind getting in the way. We build our mental strength so we can focus and be in concert with one another in times of need. When you come off the court... you've had a bad call... things going wrong for you... You sit on the bench, you take a breath and you reseat yourself, you reset yourself, and you do that through mindfulness.”
Phil Jackson, NBA Basketball Coach for Chicago Bulls