Performing At Your Highest Level

Across different stages of life, people seek guidance from therapists for a variety of reasons. Sometimes therapy is about healing from a traumatic event, coping with grief, or improving relationship skills like conflict resolution or communication. Many people have the perception that they must have deep-seated concerns to seek therapy, and that the treatment process is lengthy. There is a specialty among psychologists that focuses less on healing emotional pain and more on developing mental skills and removing barriers to reach goals, however.

What is Performance Counseling?

Performance counseling focuses on enhancing the psychological factors that influence human performance, including self-confidence, motivation, emotional control, and concentration. The individual and therapist work together to develop skills that build emotional intelligence and improve interpersonal relationships. Performance psychologists use clinical counseling skills and specially designed techniques including:

• Goal-setting

• Imagery and visualization

• Conflict resolution

• Relaxation techniques

• Attention control training

• Thought pattern awareness and modification

Who Can Benefit from Performance Counseling?

Anyone who is interested in learning to perform at their best can benefit from working with a therapist trained in performance psychology. Athletes, performance artists, professionals, and students have demonstrated positive outcomes. Whether it’s overcoming stage fright or reducing anxiety about public speaking, performance counseling helps people deliver results under pressure. 

How is Performance Counseling Different Than Life Coaching? 

While there are some similarities between life coaching and performance counseling, there are also crucial differences. Both types of interactions are focused on short-term or specific goals, and because of this, the length of time spent working together is often shorter in duration than traditional therapy. 

The key differences between life coaching and performance counseling are the education of the professional and the credentialing process. Psychologists have advanced degrees (a doctorate), are licensed, and must follow a code of ethics. Life coaches do not have any uniform requirements for education or professional standards.  

If you’re ready to consistently perform at your highest ability, contact us at Evolve Counseling & Wellness Center. We’ll connect you with a psychologist trained in performance counseling to help you reach your athletic, creative, or professional goals.