Hello, and welcome to The Stoic Athlete website and blog. From our experience than are many reasons someone will search for a sport psychologist, ranging from overcoming performance anxiety to simply wanting to add another tool to their arsenal and improve their mental performance. As this is our first blog, I wanted to highlight some key advice for any looking to working with a sport psychologist:

1. Trust Your Gut!

I want to highlight first that it is important for you to shop around a little when looking for a sport psychologist. Depending on your location there may be multiple sport psychologists in your area you could work with. The important part is determining if this is someone you genuinely like, and would feel comfortable speaking with for multiple hours on a 1 to 1 basis. A phone call without prior notice is a great way to gauge a person, and I would encourage you to call any sport psychologist without prior notice and make a decision on how you perceive that person – that includes me!

2. Understand the Psychologist

It is equally important to figure out how each psychologist would work with you differently! For example, our approach involves adopting Person-Centred Therapy (PCT) and Positive Psychotherapy to support you to achieve your desired metric of success. This involves working collaboratively with you to identify your signature strengths, create a strategy to enhance these further and supporting you the individual beyond just the athlete. In comparison, a different sport psychologist may adopt a Rational-Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) approach. This approach involves identifying maladaptive or incorrect thinking patterns and irrational beliefs, and working to change those beliefs to rational beliefs, often this includes prescribed homework tasks!

In addition, be aware of the regulations of Sport Psychology practice (i.e., BPS & CASES), and the titles. I am a Sport Psychologist in Training (SEPiT) with over 4 years experience, and in Nov 2026 will become a Chartered Sport Psychologist. Sport Psychologists go through years of training including their undergraduate degree (3 years), Masters (1 year), and Stage 2 training (2-4 years). There is a significant difference between a ‘mental performance coach’, a ‘performance psychologist’ and a sport psychologist!

3. Get Specific!

Lastly, I would urge you to find a sport psychologist who is specific to what you want to achieve in your sport. If you are looking for someone for your child, ensure they are competent to work with children your child’s age. Ensure the psychologist has some experience working with your sport – for example MMA is a very unique sport with far higher consequences, does your psychologist understand those unique stressors?

I hope this initial blog has been helpful and we hope to bring you more blogs over the coming years! Keep an eye on our blog page for more useful information and free resources to work towards furthering your mindset in your own time!

Dan Witzer (Founder & SEPiT @ The Stoic Athlete)