Sport Psychology
An ever-growing field, training athletes on how to be mentally prepared for competition has been receiving more and more attention. With this increased attention has come a need for qualified, experienced individuals guiding the athlete in the pursuit of performance enhancement through mental skills training. Unfortunately, there are no regulations that restrict who can lead you in this critical area. Therefore, it's paramount that you find qualified professionals with the proper background.
Alex is nearly finished with his doctorate at Boston University’s counseling psychology with a specialization in sport psychology program. Over the past five years, Alex has worked with athletes and performers at the high school and collegiate level on improving the mental aspects of their game, employing effective sport psychology techniques to help athletes realize their full potential.
Alex is a professor in psychology at Lasell College, Wheelock College, Mount Ida College, and has taught at Salem State College.
Alex works as a guest speaker for MASS hockey’s coaching clinics, which educates all youth and high school ice hockey coaches through various clinics held at venues throughout the state.
He has presented at multiple sites and clinic levels, to hundreds of ice hockey coaches, about the importance of developmentally-appropriate coaching techniques.
FAQs
ARE MENTAL ATTRIBUTES, SUCH AS MENTAL TOUGHNESS, INNATE? OR CAN THEY BE LEARNED?
As with physical training, an athlete can improve the mental aspect of his/her game with the guidance of an effective sport psychology coach. By learning how to regulate one’s emotional levels, an athlete can learn how to focus attentively. Mental skills are just that, skills. As with any other skill, practice enhances your ability to perform that skill.
DO I NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF “PROBLEM” TO SEE A SPORT PSYCHOLOGY COACH?
The answer is a resounding no. If there is an aspect of your performance that you continue to struggle with, sport psychology is a useful tool to improve your weakness. However, you could always be performing better, performing at a higher level. As such, sport psychology is employed by thousands of athletes who are looking for another skill to utilize that will help them perform at a higher level.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE BEFORE I SEE RESULTS?
There is no one answer because everyone is different, everyone starts at a different place. Progress is ultimately up to the individual, as these skills need to be practiced continually outside of sessions.
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