What Is Mental Performance Coaching (And Who Is It For)?

Written by: Allison Meyers, Psy.D., LP, MGCP

Mental performance coaching helps athletes train their minds just like they train their bodies. In fact, when working with athletes individually or in groups, we often stress their mental training is as important as their physical skill training. It focuses on building skills like focus, confidence, emotional regulation, and resilience to improve performance in practice and competition. Through guided exercises, reflection, and evidence-based strategies like visualization, goal setting, and effective self-talk, athletes learn how to perform more consistently under pressure, bounce back from mistakes, and stay mentally tough.

This type of coaching is for any athlete, whether you're a youth player learning to manage nerves, a high school athlete working toward a scholarship, or a seasoned competitor aiming for peak performance. It’s also valuable for coaches and parents who want to support the whole athlete, not just their physical abilities. Just like physical training, mental training works best when it’s practiced regularly, not only when things go wrong. Finding usable and effective skills for athletes, coaches, organizations, and families involved in sports can be a game changer for athlete development.