Therapy for Athletes & Performers
Performance can take a toll.
Athletes and performers are unique populations with unique challenges. The one thing elite athletes, corporate, medical and legal professionals, musicians, actors, entrepreneurs, consultants, and law enforcement all have in common is results matter. The pressure of getting things right the first time, meeting that standard, time and time again, even for the seasoned professional, can take its toll over time.
We get it. Results DO matter. Consistent performance, preserving your reputation, outperforming competition, and maintaining your lifestyle often colors the reality of results-oriented professionals.
However, whenever your pursuit of excellence consistently morphs into cycles of self-criticism. unhealthy coping patterns, or lacking identity outside of your sport or performance domain, whether it be the field, the court, the stage, or the office, it may be a good idea to consider talking with someone who understands and can help.
Potential Challenges from Performance-Based Careers
“Evaluation Fatigue”
The constant scrutiny of feedback from results-oriented careers may have become more difficult to manage and compartmentalize from self-image over time.
Work-Life Balance
You may have noticed that your career-related issues are affecting your personal life and overall well-being more than usual, especially when things aren't going well.
Adverse Experiences
You may have had experiences in your job or career that have deeply impacted you and need further processing.
Life Transition
Transitioning out of the highly regimented lifestyle of elite performance can bring challenges related to identity and finding a new sense of purpose.
Burnout
You may have noticed yourself experiencing irritability, becoming physically and emotionally exhausted with performing, or indifferent to your typical performance standards.
Performance Anxiety
Fear from anxiety about upcoming performances and evaluation may have begun affecting your personal well-being and overall quality of life.
Common Signs & Symptoms of Sport & Performance-Related Mental Health Challenges
Performance anxiety
Developing a self-perception solely dependent on the results of your performances
Failing to develop an identity independent of your successes or failures
Compromising your values, morals, and principles in favor of results
Uncontrollable, negative patterns of self-talk and self-criticism
Panic attacks
Burnout and loss of passion
Mood swings and/or isolation
Difficulty sleeping
Muscle tension
…You have the right to take back control…
How We’ll Help You Overcome Your Situation…
Our owner and founder Mike Wiley Jr. understands the high performance, results-oriented professional because he has worked in those spaces. As the former Director of Mental Performance for the NFL’s Chicago Bears, as well as therapist and mental coach for other high performers, Mike has helped clients in numerous professions learn to effectively manage the demands of their lifestyle.
Challenges unique to these populations often include maintaining a healthy sense of self, work-life balance, marriage and relationships, parenting and care-taking, being away from family and loved ones, and other factors that, when not managed well, can compromise overall well-being and greatly reduce your quality of life.
At MadeMind, we focus on helping our high performance clients reconnect with their core identity as a person beyond just the “performer” by teaching identity and mindset development, healthy coping, and performance-based mental skills.
We combine expertise in clinical mental health with proven, science-based Sports and Performance Psychology concepts, providing our clients a unique service rarely offered elsewhere in one package.
Common Treatment Modalities
Psychoanalytic Therapy - For building self-awareness & understanding the potential origins of performance challenges.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy - For learning distress tolerance & emotional regulation strategies.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy - For developing mindfulness, acceptance & values-based identity development.
Positive Psychology - For learning more about concepts such as optimism, resilience, and post-traumatic growth.
Sport Psychology - For developing performance skills such as deep breathing, visualization, growth mindset, and more.