Colorado Psychotherapy and Sport Performance offers the following services:
Psychotherapy
As a psychotherapist I work with athletes residing in Colorado. They’re adventurers and spontaneous. They enjoy pushing themselves to their limits. They’re recreational athletes, competitive high schoolers, they’re sponsored and professional runners, cyclists, and triathletes; rock-climbers, mountaineers and skiers.
While sport may be part of what’s contributing them coming to see me it’s often much more.
They have felt worry, fear and apprehension difficult to dust off. They’ve experienced racing thoughts, a racing heartbeat, restlessness and even get irritable towards family, friends, and teammates.
The athlete’s that have come to see me may have experienced an injury or accident and now find they have difficulty concentrating and sleeping; sadness and even hopelessness as they try to find their way back.
The athletes that come to see me are sometimes distracted by thoughts that they don’t belong, they’re looking at others and just feel they can’t compare.
They’ve also experienced pressure is starting to take a toll. They’re irritable at home, can’t concentrate and feel confusion on what to do next.
They also realize that sport is just part of who they are and that life can be pretty messy sometimes and looking for direction.
They are passionate people; curious and excited about life. They’re adventurers and spontaneous. They enjoy pushing themselves to their limits. And they want to get back to all of it.
They are looking for a compassionate, direct approach from someone who sees them as a whole person, with real problems and are willing to be challenged to move towards the things they love and value.
Mental Performance
Unlike psychotherapy, mental performance coaching and applied sport psychology is structured to elevate and enhance performance as well to address psychological challenges specific to the sport or event. Athletes come to see me are ultrarunnners who feel like an imposter at the starting line. They’ve had DNF’s and are worried that this will be another. They are marathoners that are shooting for a BQ but are lacking confidence and self-sabotage. They are professional road runners who are feeling the pressure of performance linked to pay. They are climbers that have been working on a project for months, but their mind keeps pushing them around and can’t get to that last clip. They are mountain bikers who are hitting the brakes a bit too much, cause that little bit fear is gnawing at them. They are athletes who want someone who’ll listen and give them tangible skills to build mental strength so they can perform at their best.
Coaches and Teams
Teams have used mental performance and sport psychology coaches for decades now. Notably the Chicago Bulls, the Seattle Seahawks and Golden State Warriors. Their coaches know that enhancing mental performance doesn’t just have to happen at the individual level. Working with a mental performance coach can help your team to work on the sport psychology skills together so that it is reinforced on daily basis. Mental skills trainings can be used enhance team culture so that your team is more synergistic and cohesive. Coaches can also work with me to develop tactics to integrate mental skills trainings on their own in addition to developing ways to address and educate athletes about mental health. I’ve spent years coaching ultrarunners and marathoners, and am USADA and SafeSport Trained, I also have long history as an outdoor educator and guide, leading teams in the mountains, as well as work as a consultant addressing employee performance and mental health.
More information about mental skills trainings and team development
Let’s Get Started
Scheduling with me is easy. I can typically set up a free 15-minute introductory call the same or next business day and get you on the schedule to be seen shortly thereafter. There’s no need to wait. Click the link below to contact me now.
About
Colorado Psychotherapy and Sport Performance, LLC
Neal Palles, LCSW, MA Applied Sport Psychology is the owner of Colorado Psychotherapy and Sport Performance, LLC in Longmont, Colorado. He is a licensed psychotherapist with dual degrees in clinical social work and applied sport psychology. He specializes in athlete mental health, specifically helping athletes to address anxiety, panic, grief and depression as well as coaching mental performance for athletes sixteen on up. Click the link below to learn more.
