Who Benefits from Performance Coaching?
In a nutshell, everyone! Professional and Olympic athletes, and top executives have used Performance Coaches and consulting services extensively to optimize and enhance their performances. But performance coaching is not just for the elite, it is for everyone! In fact, the earlier you start your mental training, the more your life will benefit. Protea Performance Consulting, LLC works with performers of all ages and in many varied domains.
It is never too early, or too late to benefit from Performance Coaching.
- Athletes: youth, high school, collegiate, amateur and professional athletes. Even Master's/Senior Athletes!
- Exercisers: young and old, healthy, fit or unfit. Weekend warriors, to those who just want to get active and healthier.
- Performing artists: musicians (singers, bands, instrumentalists) and actors.
- Leaders: coaches, parents, business owners, managers etc.
It is never too early, or too late to benefit from Performance Coaching.
I have/have not heard of Performance Coaches, how are they different from a "Sport Psychologist"?
This is a very important question.
Think of mental wellness as a continuum. On one hand you may have optimal performance, where you are functioning well, think clearly, make good decisions, achieve your goals, and perform well and resiliently despite pressures and stressors. On the other hand, you have mental health concerns, where basic areas of functioning and living is impaired, and it may be very challenging to function, never mind perform well in a sport etc. For most people, you might find yourself in the middle of this continuum. You function okay, without any distress, but could do better.
Think of mental wellness as a continuum. On one hand you may have optimal performance, where you are functioning well, think clearly, make good decisions, achieve your goals, and perform well and resiliently despite pressures and stressors. On the other hand, you have mental health concerns, where basic areas of functioning and living is impaired, and it may be very challenging to function, never mind perform well in a sport etc. For most people, you might find yourself in the middle of this continuum. You function okay, without any distress, but could do better.
Source: AASP website
A Performance Coach is trained specifically in the area of mental training for optimal performance (the light blue area above), and their training might include research and evidence-based insights from a variety of disciplines including, social, industrial, sport, and exercise psychology, along with sport science, exercise physiology, and motor learning fields in their mental performance coaching services. The goal of performance coaching is to take you from the mid-point of this continuum and help you develop the skills and strategies necessary to perform on the higher end, to achieve optimal mental wellness and performance for High functioning and performance.
A CMPC is a Performance Coach who will possess a graduate degree (e.g. M.S and/or PhD) in Kinesiology or Exercise Science Program with a Sport/Performance Psychology emphasis, and that has gone through the structured training to obtain the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology ( previously known as CC-AASP). This credential signifies that the coach you are working with has achieved a minimum level of training to be deemed qualified in the field, and more importantly, is bound to the core ethical principles of the AASP organization to protect the client(s) from harm. To learn more about this credential, please visit the Association for Applied Sport Psychology's website.
A Performance Coach will work with you to develop a program to inform you of relevant mental skills training and coaching that could benefit your performance.
Someone who refers to themselves as a "sport psychologists" may do this too, but it is important to note that their training is specifically in Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology with a specific emphasis in clinical mental health, and a psychologist must possess a state license to practice therapy/counseling. Some may also have sport psychology specific training, such as a graduate degree from a sport psychology program. But it is also important to note that some Clinical or Counseling Psychologists may call themselves "Sport Psychologists" or "sport therapists" without any sport psychology specific training. So a "Sport Psychologist" that is well qualified must be a state licensed psychologist who's training is most suited to working with mental health related concerns within sport and exercise performers. Ideally, they should also have the CMPC credential that demonstrates sport psychology specific training and competency. Examples of such concerns may include: eating disorders, depression or clinical anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, or personality disorders. A sport psychologist is trained to help you move from the left side of the continuum (the dark blue side), the low or decreased functioning side and return to at least a stable midpoint. Sometimes a sport/clinical psychologist and mental performance coach need to work together to help a performer achieve more optimal mental wellness.
When working with performers, Protea Performance Consulting LLC, will refer you to a Sport Psychologist or Licensed Psychologist/Counselor if your performance concerns involve or are due to an underlying mental health issues.
To be clear, at Protea Performance Consulting, we only provide mental performance coaching services that involve teaching skills for optimal and high performance in sport, exercise or other performance domains.
A CMPC is a Performance Coach who will possess a graduate degree (e.g. M.S and/or PhD) in Kinesiology or Exercise Science Program with a Sport/Performance Psychology emphasis, and that has gone through the structured training to obtain the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology ( previously known as CC-AASP). This credential signifies that the coach you are working with has achieved a minimum level of training to be deemed qualified in the field, and more importantly, is bound to the core ethical principles of the AASP organization to protect the client(s) from harm. To learn more about this credential, please visit the Association for Applied Sport Psychology's website.
A Performance Coach will work with you to develop a program to inform you of relevant mental skills training and coaching that could benefit your performance.
Someone who refers to themselves as a "sport psychologists" may do this too, but it is important to note that their training is specifically in Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology with a specific emphasis in clinical mental health, and a psychologist must possess a state license to practice therapy/counseling. Some may also have sport psychology specific training, such as a graduate degree from a sport psychology program. But it is also important to note that some Clinical or Counseling Psychologists may call themselves "Sport Psychologists" or "sport therapists" without any sport psychology specific training. So a "Sport Psychologist" that is well qualified must be a state licensed psychologist who's training is most suited to working with mental health related concerns within sport and exercise performers. Ideally, they should also have the CMPC credential that demonstrates sport psychology specific training and competency. Examples of such concerns may include: eating disorders, depression or clinical anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, or personality disorders. A sport psychologist is trained to help you move from the left side of the continuum (the dark blue side), the low or decreased functioning side and return to at least a stable midpoint. Sometimes a sport/clinical psychologist and mental performance coach need to work together to help a performer achieve more optimal mental wellness.
When working with performers, Protea Performance Consulting LLC, will refer you to a Sport Psychologist or Licensed Psychologist/Counselor if your performance concerns involve or are due to an underlying mental health issues.
To be clear, at Protea Performance Consulting, we only provide mental performance coaching services that involve teaching skills for optimal and high performance in sport, exercise or other performance domains.
"Is there something wrong with me for needing a performance coach?"
The answer to this question is a resounding NO! Whatever your reasons for seeking a performance coach, please know that you are quite normal for wanting to do something about it. In fact, I find that the most motivated and driven people are the ones who seek out performance services, because their drive to do better and improve is so great that they refuse to be second best. But even the best encounter times of struggle and need strategies and tools to recover and enhance their performances.
Another thing to remember is that the mental tools needed to succeed and optimize your performances are skills that need to be learned. Some people learn them from really great coaches, teachers or parents, while others have learned them on their own. But rarely do we learn all the skills we need to be successful in all situations. As we advance in levels, skills or transition to new settings, our old skills may not serve us as well in these new environments. So most people need a mental tune-up to refine and add to their mental skills.
Unfortunately, the best practices and research findings from the sport sciences is not readily available to most performers and it is not required for coaches or leaders to have training in the area. Some people have figured out enough skills to get by most of the time and in most situations. Until a new situation is encountered that tests our abilities and then we realize that a need exists. How a person comes to the realization that they need to retool their skill-set is unique to each individual.
Another thing to remember is that the mental tools needed to succeed and optimize your performances are skills that need to be learned. Some people learn them from really great coaches, teachers or parents, while others have learned them on their own. But rarely do we learn all the skills we need to be successful in all situations. As we advance in levels, skills or transition to new settings, our old skills may not serve us as well in these new environments. So most people need a mental tune-up to refine and add to their mental skills.
Unfortunately, the best practices and research findings from the sport sciences is not readily available to most performers and it is not required for coaches or leaders to have training in the area. Some people have figured out enough skills to get by most of the time and in most situations. Until a new situation is encountered that tests our abilities and then we realize that a need exists. How a person comes to the realization that they need to retool their skill-set is unique to each individual.
How can I become a Performance Coach?
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If you are interested in studying sport, exercise and performance psychology I recommend starting with the following resource to become more acquainted with the field.
If you are interested in graduate study, there are many excellent graduate programs that will train and prepare you for this career. One thing you will need after your studies is to complete the Certified Mental Performance Consultant Credential (CMPC). You will need to collect at least 400 mentored hours by working with a CMPC. This is a service that Protea Performance Consulting also provides. Contact us for more information. |
"Justine was my CMPC mentor for almost 2 years. She taught me so much about working with performers. When I needed help with a client, she helped me problem solve and understand the case more cohesively. I recommend her wholeheartedly as a professional mentor!" |