Gold Coast Performance Psychology in Mount Nathan | Professional service
Gold Coast Performance Psychology
Locality: Mount Nathan
Address: 26 Mountain View Crest, Mount Nathan Mount Nathan, QLD, Australia
Website: https://www.goldcoastpsychology.org
Likes: 186
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22.01.2022 Mental health services in Australia are over-burdened, under-funded, and can be difficult to access. Some of the take-away messages for me, from this article, as a privately practising psychologist? - I'm less expensive than many, and with 20 years' experience - I have a waiting time of just a few days (rather than months) - I'm willing to do telehealth sessions to reduce the travel burden... - I really could be working more, and charging more. If you are someone, or know someone, in need . . . I'm available. I could see you as soon as next week. I don't take extended holidays. And your out-of-pocket costs for 10 sessions would be about the same as getting your car serviced. (Until June 2022, you can now access 20 rebated sessions per year instead of 10.) https://www.abc.net.au//covid-mental-health-syst/12512378
16.01.2022 This has no bearing at all on anything in my personal life, and little direct relevance to the psychology of performance or sport. But I really enjoyed the way this material was presented, and it speaks clearly to the way in which even the most intangible and deeply held mental or emotional states (like love) can be identified, mapped, influenced, and modified, in order to achieve a more effective (or contented) state of being. :-)
15.01.2022 Gold Coast Psychology (comprising both Counselling and Performance psychology) is still in full swing, and seeing clients daily via telehealth (e.g. Skype). The process is exactly the same as if you were travelling to my rooms . . . but without the travel. You still get 1-hour sessions, you still get helpful guidance and advice, and yes, you still get "homework" tasks to complete to help you work through your issues. Fees, health insurance and Medicare rebates all work the same as usual too. So please don't neglect your mental health at this time. Make sure, especially during this period of social isolation and uncertainty, that you're addressing your mental and emotional needs. I'm still here for you. https://www.abc.net.au//pleas-for-australians-to-/12197246
13.01.2022 HERE'S AN UNSURPRISING PIECE OF NEWS! Apparently mental toughness and strong stress-management strategies can benefit gamers and e-sports competitors, in the same way that they benefit real-world elite athletes. It's great to see this new research coming out of QUT, and it certainly confirms what (to me) has been a fairly obvious fact from the get-go: "If you have stronger mental skills, you'll achieve more than if you don't!"... It's probably important to note that (a) being mentally tough or resilient won't guarantee a successful career as an elite athlete or e-sportsperson, and (b) being a good gamer doesn't necessarily MAKE you mentally tough or good at managing stress. However, pushing yourself past ordinary limits, and taking the time to enhance your mental skills, will almost certainly make you more effective than you would otherwise be. AND . . . this research again corroborates the notion that a performance psychologist will be a definite asset to someone seeking to become their best in the world of competitive sports . . . online or otherwise! https://www.abc.net.au//esports-elite-mental-toug/12327072
10.01.2022 During the restrictions in place surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, I am continuing to operate under normal business hours (8:30am to 6pm, Mon-Fri), with some changes in place for public health and safety concerns. - Face-to-face sessions are still being held, with social distancing requirements in place (i.e. minimum 1.5m between us). - Skype sessions are an option for those who prefer not to leave their home or risk being in close proximity to others. - BYO drinking water, ...or use my disposable cups. No hand-shaking. Wear a mask if you're a sneezing risk. During these difficult times, many people are facing significant challenges to their mental and emotional well-being. Anxiety, stress, relationship conflict, loss (employment, social activity, sporting pursuits, etc), and the depressed mood that accompany social isolation and an uncertain future . . . all of these issues should be monitored and addressed where possible. The Australian Government has already stipulated that allied health (i.e. psychological support and counselling) remains an essential service, and will continue to operate as usual under these trying conditions. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need my services. I'm here to help. Craig.
07.01.2022 THIS ARTICLE IS WORTH A READ whether you're a cyclist or not. There is SO much more the the psychology of sports . . . and to the field of sports psychology . . . than just "How do I perform better?" And the reality is, sorting out the rest of your daily life, and working out how you fit in, is perhaps the best way to ensure that your sporting endeavours are optimal. One of the most often-seen difficulties in working with elite athletes is the (very necessary) drive for exc...Continue reading
06.01.2022 So, the UCI Road World Championships are over for another year, a most challenging and thrilling event across the board. And for those who follow cycling (particularly Australians), the name "Rohan Dennis" will be a familiar one. His victory in the Individual Time Trial (ITT) would not have come as a surprise to most observers, as he has been one of the world's best for a few years now. However, as Dennis himself explains, his lead-up to the World Championship was not witho...ut its challenges, and the much-publicised rift between he and his team would not have been an ideal part of his preparation. Nor would Dennis' abandonment of the Tour de France on the eve of the ITT. Clearly, he was not in a good space at that time, just a couple of months ago. How does Dennis account for his remarkable return to form? MENTAL PREPARATION! Not just preparation in the hours or days before the World Championships, but in the months following his withdrawal from the TdF. Dennis worked extensively with his sports psychologist and took all the steps necessary to make sure his mental readiness was as complete as his physical readiness. Moving on from the past, blocking out distractions, increasing self-confidence, improving focus, reaffirming motivation and determination . . . all vital components of a healthy mindset for an elite athlete on the world stage. Rohan Dennis's performance was a clear illustration of not only the importance of psychological fitness in sports, but also of the capacity of athletes to overcome adversity, rise above criticism, get back on the path, and get the job done. Knowing that he needed to get his head right was a major factor, but only the beginning. Creating the time-frame (and the space) in which to do so, and working under the guidance of a sports psychologist, is what allowed Dennis to get back in touch with his physical capabilities when it mattered most. It's not about having a quick chat the day before the event, to ask "Could you please get me focused?" It's about having a deeper understanding of the importance of the mental side of sport, of your own limitations and stressors, of the need for clarity and singularity of purpose . . . and of the effort (and time) it will take to achieve those things, to improve them, and to build the mental toughness required to be the best you can be. Rohan Dennis won the World Championship before he even climbed on his bike, because he did the MENTAL PREPARATION!
01.01.2022 WHY DO ELITE SPORTS AND MILITARY SERVICE SEEM TO SHARE THE PROBLEM OF ELEVATED SUICIDE RATES? (Disclaimer: I'm not saying the two vocations are the same. I'm drawing parallels between observed statistics in both areas.) I think that at least part of the reason is that there are some significant similarities between the psychological, emotional and interpersonal effects of joining either field of endeavour. People who choose either the military service pathway or the elite s...ports pathway: - typically have a mindset that demands they strive towards unfailingly giving the best of themselves; - are exposed to methods of training that require intense effort, arduous hours, mental challenges, and often isolation; - generally have enormous expectations for achievement and success placed on them (by others and by themselves); - often believe that mental or emotional difficulty is a sign of weakness that cannot be exposed or discussed; - identify very strongly with their field, their team, their common goal (to the extent that it defines them); - thrive on routine and discipline (although restrictive) because it provides structure and predictability; - usually have quite limited (active) careers, which frequently end abruptly and with little transition time or support; - have been away from "normal life" for such extended periods that they find it difficult to fit back into civilisation; - don't always know how to just be a "normal, average, everyday, un-special" human being. To lose SO much of what makes them who they are . . . even the thought or the risk of it coming to an end . . . or the sudden realisation that it's NOT something they can keep doing, because the pressure's too great, or the outcomes not right . . . is a massive challenge to the ego, to the sense of self, to the very energy that has been their driving force for as long as they can recall. If you are someone, or know someone, who might be facing precisely this kind of challenge, I would urge you to seek support. It's no good waiting until "the game's over" and there's nothing else left to do. Get it early, get it regularly, get more of it when things change or crises arise, and get lots of it when the job is over. It's not a "normal" life, so it requires a special level of support.
