Four Stages of Performance Let me preface this conversation by saying we can help our clients manage stress within four different stages of performance: Baseline Pre-performance During performance Recovery We probably want to significantly reduce stress during baseline and during recovery (especially deeper, longer recovery, which becomes our next baseline). We want to optimize stress levels pre-performance and during [...]
When athletes are sidelined by injury, their minds often race backward and forward—replaying the moment of injury, worrying about lost progress, or fearing re-injury. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can be powerful tools for helping them return to the present moment and reconnect with their bodies during rehabilitation. Staying Present During Recovery Injured athletes frequently find themselves stuck between past and [...]
Process Over Outcome: Focusing on Controllable Processes Builds Success and Fulfillment In performance settings—from athletics and academics to the workplace and everyday life—it's easy to become preoccupied with outcomes: results, grades, promotions, wins. But high-level performers across disciplines increasingly find that the path to excellence is not paved by obsessing over results. Instead, it’s built through consistent attention to [...]
An old colleague recently posed this question on social media. I didn’t know there was a character limit (LOL). So I guess it’s a blogpost instead… He wrote: “Ethically is a psychologist supposed to talk to a client in public? AI answer: Generally, it's considered unethical for a psychologist to initiate a conversation with a client outside of a [...]
3-Day Sports Performance Workshop (March 2, 9, 16, from 4:30-6:00pm) ***New! There will also be a section for high school athletes; same days/times (register today!)*** Unlock your full potential with our comprehensive in-person Sports Performance Clinic, designed for 5th–8th graders who want to enhance their athletic skills and build a strong foundation for future success. Led by experienced professionals in [...]
“Sport psychologists” and/or “Mental Performance Consultants (MPCs)” can do tremendous good when embedded directly into a sports organization. (In the U.S., “sport psychologist” implies sport specific training plus clinical licensure, whereas MPCs focus on performance not mental health, and may or may not be licensed.) Both can teach mind-body skills that facilitate optimal performance, provide a process to tap [...]
Tim Herzog Seth Rose Carla Carter Tim Herzog, EdD, CMPC, Reaching Ahead Counseling and Mental Performance Seth Rose, PhD, CMPC, KBR Inc. Carla Carter, EdD, CMPC, The Cognitive ClinicSpoiler alert! This article will dissect several scenarios from the AppleTV+ show Shrinking looking at the lovable (but challenged) character Jimmy. Snippets from eight different episodes will be shared; with each snippet, [...]
Maryland Athletic Trainer's Association Symposium 2021 "Managing Evolving Covid Related Stress in Athletics" Presented by: Dr. Tim Herzog Dr. Herzog had the opportunity to speak to the Maryland Athletic Trainer's Association at their annual symposium. He spoke about the ever evolving nature of stress related to the Covid pandemic in the sporting world, and how this has [...]
You weren’t playing your finest (or maybe you were!), and now….you’ve been benched. Is it the end of the world? It can sure feel like it (but it’s not). Is it permanent? Nope, but again… it can sure feel that way. Consider some different perspectives and associated tips to turn bench time into your secret weapon on the court. [...]
Excerpt from 5/3/2021 USOPC Press Release The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee today joins the movement to promote Mental Health Awareness Month by announcing the launch of an online registry of mental health providers and unveiling an around-the-clock mental health support line for Team USA athletes. These resources are the latest developments in the USOPC’s ongoing commitment to [...]
Recently, Dr. Herzog was interviewed on the status of addressing mental health in youth sports and how it impacts both their performance and overall wellbeing. We thought it was prudent to share his responses with our community! What do you think is the biggest impact that mental health issues in youth sports has on the future of the athletes? [...]
Mind-body interaction (“psychophysiology”) is spectacular. We think something, whether in conscious awareness or not, and our body has physiological reactions… this happens repeatedly every second of the day. Thoughts contribute to being regulated (e.g., mentally calm, with appropriate levels of physical alertness) or dysregulated (e.g., rapid thoughts or going blank, with inappropriate levels of physical alertness). In working with [...]
Group Starts online on Tuesday/Wednesday (Dates TBD), 2020 @ 7pm (A virtual group for athletes and other peak performers, feeling the brunt of missed opportunities, milestones, or achievements) For driven kids and young adults, the current COVID-19 crisis has been hard, between abrupt endings, uncertainty about the future, strained relationships, and more. It is important to give voice [...]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsuZMcNudSU&feature=youtu.be
This time of COVID-19 has thrown us all for a loop. Parents have become home-schooling teachers. Day-to-day norms have all radically changed. And so, we have to strive to accomplish a “new normal.” Routines provide stability and continuity in family life during times of stress, because: they facilitate a sense of control, protect well-being, help with work-life balance, and [...]
