Who it may help
EMDR for performance may help athletes and performers dealing with performance anxiety, mental blocks, the yips, fear after an injury or bad fall, a past performance that keeps replaying, pressure from coaches or expectations, or shaky confidence. Youth, collegiate, and adult athletes in competitive or recreational sports can all benefit.
What EMDR for performance may include
Clearing the roots. Tracing the memories behind your fear or block, like an injury, a crash, or a bad performance, and reprocessing them so they stop running the show.
Calming big fears. Using EMD, a focused form of EMDR, to bring down the intensity of specific fears about competing, getting hurt again, or failing.
Future planning. Visualizing yourself succeeding in upcoming competitions with EMDR, so your brain and body rehearse the win.
Resourcing. Strengthening confidence, calm, and focus by building up the internal resources you can call on under pressure.
Sports Performance Counseling
EMDR for athletes and performers
Sometimes the thing holding you back isn't your training. It's the bad fall you can't stop replaying, the fear that shows up right before you compete, or the voice that says you'll choke again. Sports performance counseling at Bodhi uses EMDR to clear what's in the way, so your body and mind can do what you've trained them to do.
How EMDR helps performance
EMDR helps your brain reprocess experiences that got stuck, so they lose their emotional charge. For athletes, that often means a specific moment, like a crash, an injury, a missed shot, or a coach's harsh words, is still firing every time you step up to compete. Once those memories are cleared, your nervous system stops treating the next game like a threat.
EMDR can also look forward. We use it to strengthen your confidence and rehearse success, so your brain has a clear picture of you performing the way you want to.
Take the first step
We offer sports performance counseling in our Champaign office and by telehealth when appropriate. Text us at 217-731-4638 to set up a free consultation.
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky