Sports Psychology
Instill confidence and success in athletic program.
Do you or your children struggle with doubt, anxiety, frustration, or underperformance? Sports Psychology a must-needed training tool that can help high achievers – athletes, musicians, dancers and more – succeed at the game of life.
Mental exercises to relax, improve, and achieve your goals — on and off the field or court.
Our providers provide a practical approaches that will help athletes develop confidence, drive, and resilience, so they can bounce back faster from setbacks, relax deeper when the game gets tense, and reach their fullest human potential.
Sports Psychology educates and explores critical mindset techniques for determined athletes:
- Attentional Focus
- Mental Toughness
- Visualization and Goal-Setting
- Motivation and Team-Building
- Anxiety and Grief
- Perfectionism
- More…
All providers are available for telehealth or in-person counseling at our Naperville office.
Our mission is help individuals and teams reach optimal performance, mental health and enjoyment in their sport and life endeavors.

Our therapists offer a variety of evidence-based therapy modalities, and each of our therapists utilizes multiple techniques, tools and resources at their disposal. We’re always learning as well as growing our group of providers in DuPage County to provide comprehensive therapeutic approaches to our clients!
Sports psychology offers athletes many benefits, from improved performance to a healthier mental recovery after sustaining a physical injury. It can help these athletes stay engaged in the sports they love and keep required routines. Sports psychology also benefits non-athletes by helping them stick to an exercise program or keep certain desired habits.
Mental effort is a very important component of many aspects of life; train your brain better so you can perform better.
We started offering telehealth services at Bridgeview years before the coronavirus pandemic in order to make our services more accessible for clients who aren’t always able to visit in person. Telehealth has made it possible for us to serve people in rural areas, people with disabilities, stay-at-home parents and those with lifestyles that restrict access to in-person services. Our telehealth platform is HIPAA compliant and we’re mindful of your privacy and safety. Our therapists will work with you to identify safe spaces to receive therapy and can help you schedule appointments accordingly.
We are excited to announce that we are now offering telehealth services in both Illinois and Arizona.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does psychology affect sports performance?
Sports psychology is about understanding the performance, mental processes, and well-being of people in sporting or competitive settings, taking into account psychological theory and methods. Negative external or internal psychological factors can lead to mental blocks, causing breaks in focus and preparation, poor performance, and, at times, injuries to the athlete. They can produce physical disruptions such as muscle tightening, shaking, and increased perspiration.
How can I stop by child from being hard on themselves over sports?
It’s a good idea to help a child develop coping skills to deal with setbacks and errors. Emotional control is a prerequisite to getting into the zone. Athletes with very high and strict expectations have trouble dealing with minor errors that are a natural part of sports. It’s important to address expectations with your child and help athletes by staying composed yourself when they commit errors or become frustrated.
How can I get into the zone quicker?
This incorporates everything on the mental side of sports. The overall aim of Sports Psychology is to help athletes enter the zone by developing foundational mental skills that can help athletes enter the zone more frequently. It’s impossible to play in the zone every day, but you can set the conditions for it to happen more often with a mental coach.
What are some of the techniques of a sports psychologist
There are three primary mental skills used by athletes that benefit their mindset while also enhancing performance:
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- Goal setting: Goals aligned with performance goals, values, and cultural factors (football versus basketball values) increase the chance that a performer will reach personal goals.
- Arousal Regulation: Emotions “run high” before, during, and after performances. Breathing techniques and focus of attention are mental skills that benefit performers manage emotions and where their attention goes as they prepare for their event.
- Imagery: Skillfully visualizing what you want to complete during your performance increases the chance that a performer will have an optimal performance in line with the performer’s skill set, age level, and context.
How often should I meet with a sports psychologist?
The mantra stands true today: practice makes progress. This means the more you practice mental skills, the more likely to benefit from these cognitive skills “under pressure”. The brain changes quickly and when you practice skills that are necessary more often to be successful in your sport or performance.
What are the costs of a sports psychologist?
The cost for mental skills training ranges depending on your state and where you live. Private pay is often the only way to cover mental skills training fees. Insurance cannot be used to cover fees for mental skills training. However, some sports psychologists and performance-informed therapists hold the view that mental challenges that performers experience often stem from other mental health challenges.
Sports Counseling Related Blog Content
Read helpful mental health content from our team of providers.
Pressure and Performance
Performing Under Pressure The World Athletics Championship (in Oregon) brings together some of the best athletes in track and field the world has to offer. The expectations at this type of sport...
Trauma Is Very Real
What is Trauma? The word ‘trauma’ mainly refers to the idea of a person possessing a ‘wound’. For a long time throughout history, trauma would only be possible if you suffered a physical injury. The...
Perfectionism – What is it?
Perfectionism is a mindset that an athlete or performer takes on when she thinks that winning a sport event is the only option when competing in sport or performance. Perfectionism sets the bar...