Wade Wilson, PhD, CMPC

Overcoming Pessimism: A Playbook for Elite Athletes

Introduction: In the high-stakes world of competitive sports, the mental game is as critical as physical prowess. For elite and youth athletes, the challenge often lies not just in physical training but also in maintaining a positive mindset. This blog post explores the ‘3 P’s of Pessimism’ and offers strategies to help athletes break free from […]

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8 Secret Ingredients for Manifesting Success: Insights for Elite Athletes

Success is not just about hard work and talent; it’s also about the mindset. Dr. Mark Travers, an American psychologist, reveals eight key ingredients that can help elite athletes and youth athletes manifest success in their careers and personal lives. Vision Creating a clear and compelling vision of what you want to achieve is crucial.

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5 Ways to Improve Communication for Elite Youth and Amateur Athletes

Communication is a key aspect of any relationship, including the relationships between athletes, coaches, and parents. One common communication pitfall is “kitchen sinking,” where partners bring up past grievances and unrelated issues during arguments. This can lead to confusion, emotional overwhelm, and hinder open and constructive dialogue. Here are five ways to avoid “kitchen sinking” and improve

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Why Fear Controls Your Performance: A Guide for Athletes

You know you’re capable. You’ve proven it in practice countless times. So why does fear hijack your performance when it matters most? Fear is a powerful emotion that can control many aspects of our lives, including our athletic performance. Understanding the psychological underpinnings of fear and learning how to manage it can be a game-changer

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Tackling Stress Like a Pro: A Nutty Guide for Young Athletes

Hello, young champions! As elite athletes, you face unique challenges both on and off the field. One of these challenges is stress. But don’t worry, we’ve got a handy tool to help you manage it effectively. It’s called the NUTS framework (Lupien, 2012).  Let’s break it down: N is for Novelty Ever felt a rush

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Embracing Self-Compassion: The Key to Resilience in Elite Sports

In the competitive world of sports, athletes are often their own harshest critics. The relentless pursuit of perfection can lead to a spiral of negative self-talk, which, contrary to popular belief, hinders rather than helps performance. Recent studies suggest that self-compassion could be the motivator that many athletes are missing. The Pitfalls of Self-Criticism Ursula

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You Cannot Outperform Your Self-Image

You Cannot Outperform Your Self-Image: The Psychology of Elite Athletes Elite athletes are often revered for their physical prowess, but the mental aspect of their performance is equally, if not more, important. One key psychological component that significantly influences an athlete’s performance is their self-image. Understanding Self-Image Self-image is the mental picture one has of

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