Sports Performance Counselling
Psychotherapy For Young Athletes
Helping young athletic men and women build confidence, focus, and resilience: on and off the field.
As a parent, you want your child to succeed. Even more importantly, you want them to feel confident, happy, and supported. Sports can be an incredible source of growth and joy, but intense performance can also bring pressure, self-doubt, and stress.
Sports performance counselling gives youth and teen athletes a safe space to talk about the challenges they face, develop mental skills, and strengthen their emotional wellbeing. It’s about helping them perform at their best while staying balanced and confident.
Common Sports Challenges Counselling Can Help With
For All Athletes:
- Performance anxiety or “choking” during games
- Difficulty bouncing back after mistakes
- Low confidence or self-esteem
- Fear of letting teammates, coaches, or parents down
- Struggles balancing school, sports, and personal life
- Feeling anxious or nervous, or unable to relax
- Headaches or muscle tension or other physical pain or discomfort
- Loss of enjoyment or motivation in their sport
- Pressure from expectations (internal or external)
- Poor sleep/constant low energy
- Social withdrawal
- Nervous habits such as nail biting, teeth grinding or foot tapping
Some challenges vary between boys dealing with sports stress and girls involved in sports.
Below are a few of the most common struggles.
Please note that while these patterns are common, we want to acknowledge that every athlete is unique and not everyone follows the norms for their gender.
Counselling is always tailored to the individual.
Boys In Sports Often Struggle More With:
- Feeling pressure to “be tough” and hide emotions
- Anger or frustration after mistakes or losses
- Difficulty expressing feelings in healthy ways
- Overtraining or pushing through injuries to prove themselves
- Comparing themselves to peers in size, strength, or skill
Girls In Sports Often Struggle More With:
- Perfectionism and fear of making mistakes
- Body image concerns linked to how an athlete “should” look as well as body changes related to puberty
- Social dynamics and peer relationships within teams
- Feeling excluded or overlooked in male-dominated sports
- Balancing athletic goals with body changes related to puberty
Counselling vs. Sports Psychology: What’s the Difference?
An insight into what practitioner might be right for your needs.
Many parents hear “sports performance” and think they need to have their child see a sports psychologist. In reality, most young athletes benefit just as much or more from sports performance counselling.
Sports Psychology Benefits:
Sports Psychology is typically focused on professional or elite-level athletes and often involves assessment and research-based performance metrics. It can be valuable, but it’s not always necessary for youth and teens who are still developing both as athletes and as individuals.
Sports Performance Counselling Benefits Young Players By:
- Focusing on both performance and overall mental health
- Helping athletes manage anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional stress
- Teaching coping skills that apply to sports and in everyday life
- Supports personal growth, identity, and confidence beyond the sport itself
- Can involve parents in the process when it’s helpful
Counselling meets athletes where they are at – whether that’s playing for fun, aiming for scholarships, or dreaming of a professional career. It’s about building a strong mental foundation that serves them now and in the future.
How We Work Together
Our experienced sports psychotherapist Lauren Mallon works with youth ages 6+ in one-on-one sessions, and when needed, she also works directly with parents to support their child’s progress. Sessions are collaborative, at the athlete’s pace, and focused on what matters most to them.
In Sports, the Mental Game Matters As Much as the Physical One
If you want to help your child strengthen their mindset, manage the pressure, and play sports with confidence while actually having fun, consider connecting them with Integra Skills Counselling’s sport performance psychotherapist.
Let’s equip them with the mindset skills that will help them both in sports and in life. Book a free 15-minute consultation today and find out how sports performance counselling can support your child’s journey.
Meet Our Sports Performance Therapist At Integra Skills Counselling
Lauren Mallon offers counselling for children (ages 6+), teens and adults at Integra’s Burlington location and online across Ontario.
As a former athlete herself, Lauren understands the stress and strain, as well as the joy and connection that being in sports a young person can bring.
Her professional designation is a Registered Psychotherapist. She is also a member of Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Sport.