SPORT • PERFORMANCE • WELLBEING
Young People
1:1 sessions for juniors and teenagers
Learning psychological skills at a young age gives juniors and teenagers strong foundations for managing the demands of sport, school and everyday life. I have extensive experience working with young sportspeople from 10 years upwards, spanning recreational sport through to academy and GB-level performance pathways.
Whilst I often work with young people on mindset skills within their sport, these same skills are transferable to many situations encountered growing up: from preparing for exams, auditions, interviews and performances, to navigating friendships, relationships and life changes.
Strong foundations for growing up.
What can psychology support for young people help with?
Confidence
Building confidence to take on challenges, try new things, and show what they can do.
Nerves
Learning to manage anxiety before competitions, performances, or other situations that feel daunting.
Managing pressure
Staying calm and composed when expectations feel high, from an important competition to an exam or assessment.
Focus
Learning to stay present rather than getting caught up in distractions or over-thinking.
Tricky emotions
Understanding and managing strong emotions such as frustration, anger, disappointment or worry.
Self-esteem
Developing a positive and secure sense of self that isn't completely dependent on results, appearance, or popularity.
Balancing demands
Finding a healthy balance between sport, school, homework, friendships, family, rest, and other activities.
Setbacks and mistakes
Learning how to respond when things don't go to plan, including losses, mistakes, non-selection, or difficult feedback.
Social confidence
Building confidence in social situations, managing shyness and developing skills for communicating and connecting with others.
Transitions and change
Navigating changes such as moving school or team, stepping up in sport, or preparing for college.
Practical skills. Personal support.
How are sessions tailored to young people?
I’m passionate about making sessions age- and developmentally appropriate, practical and engaging. I use activities, visual aids, and real-life examples to help mindset skills make sense to the young people I work with, rather than expecting them to sit and talk through things in an adult way.
01
Understanding their world
Individual sessions usually begin with understanding the young person’s experiences, both from their perspective, alongside your observations as a parent or guardian. We’ll talk through what you would like to achieve together and agree our session focus. In subsequent sessions, I’ll introduce mindset skills that can be practised in everyday life. After each session, I will send a short summary and resources, where appropriate, to support the young person’s learning and help you, as a parent or guardian, do the same.
02
Helping them feel at ease
I’m very used to helping apprehensive young people feel at ease. Sessions don't need to feel overly formal, and I often meet juniors and teenagers for coffee shop or walk-and-talk sessions. Depending on their age and needs, parents or guardians can be involved in sessions, particularly if we are working together on areas like communication with support team, and competition-day support and routines. The aim is to create a team around the young person, while making sure they have space to develop their own understanding, skills and independence.
How can sport psychology support broader life?
Sport is a brilliant environment for learning psychological skills that extend beyond the pitch, court or track. For example, learning how to manage nerves before a competition can help before an important school exam. Learning to refocus after a sporting mistake can help when something goes wrong in the classroom. Developing confidence in sport can support a young person who feels shy socially.
For some young people, sport is the main reason they come to see me. For others, sport is simply one part of a wider picture. My aim is to help young people develop mindset skills they can carry with them into whatever comes next.
Is psychology support right for my child?
Your child doesn’t need to be facing a major problem to benefit from psychology support. They may be finding a specific part of sport difficult, preparing for an important competition, or looking for ways to manage several demands at once, such as sport, school, friendships and family life.
My approach is collaborative and supportive. I want young people to feel that sessions are for them, rather than something that has simply been arranged for them. We’ll work together to identify what matters to them and what they would like to be different, while keeping parents or guardians appropriately involved.
Practicalities
Where
We can work together online, or meet in person in Reigate, Surrey.
When
I’m available from Monday to Thursday; daytime and evening slots.
How often
Flexible, however I often find with young people that it works best to schedule regular sessions, starting with weekly or fortnightly sessions.
How long
Sessions are usually 30 or 45 minutes; depending on age and session focus.
Session fees
Pay as you go
30 minutes £70
45 minutes £105
Flexible, discounted packages
3 hours £375 / 6 hours £715
For ongoing support, divide your package into 30 or 45 minute sessions to suit your schedule, goals, and our session focus.
Let’s talk about your child.
I offer a 20 minute introductory call for parents and guardians, to help you decide if it feels like a good fit to work together.