FAQ's About Sports Psychology

The focus of sport psychology is on helping the athlete effectively manage pressures so he or she can meet the demands of training and competition.

Some of my sport psychology work includes:

• thought-control strategies (e.g., monitoring self-talk, positive thinking)

• attention-focusing strategies (e.g., concentration, creating an optimum performance zone, or facilitating the experience of "flow").

• emotional-control strategies (e.g., relaxation, visualization, arousal control): and

• behavioural strategies (e.g., sleep, rest, routines, control of the environment)

My experience working with individual athletes and teams includes contracts with the Canadian Sport Centre Calgary as a sport psychology consultant, working with Canadian national teams and Olympic athletes, and private consultations with athletes and teams. I attended the Olympic Winter Games in Torino and many World Cup and world championship events.

I completed my Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology at the University of Calgary, my master's degree at the University of Western Ontario, and my Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Toronto and have been in private practice for 10 years.

I am a licensed psychologist and adhere to a code of professional ethics for psychologists. I am registered with and regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (CRHSPP).

I work with teen athletes (e.g., swimmers or basketball players on high school teams), varsity athletes (e.g., university volleyball teams), recreational athletes (e.g., those training for a 5K race, a triathlon, or the Ironman race or those hoping to improve a golf game), and elite athletes (e.g., Olympic athletes).

Yes, I have worked with several different teams (e.g., national, Olympic, varsity, college, and recreational). I consult regularly with different associations and coaches. For example, my work as a sport psychology consultant ranges from consulting with coaches to helping young athletes learn basic sport psychology skills, working with injured athletes, and working with athletes who are struggling with eating disorders.

Over the past few years, I have travelled with teams in North America and Europe.