Sport & Performance Psychotherapy

I specialize in supporting elite-level athletes aged 13 and older as they navigate the psychological and emotional demands of high-performance sport.

Sport psychotherapy goes beyond game-day pressure, it’s about helping athletes build the self-awareness, adaptability, and mental resilience needed to thrive in competition and in life beyond sport. Each session is personalized to what you’re carrying, whether it’s managing stress, addressing perfectionism or anxiety, or working through complex dynamics with coaches or teammates.

Jacobs Psychotherapy is offered exclusively online through a secure and confidential platform, making it easy to access support from wherever you feel most comfortable.

The Heart of My Approach

My work goes beyond surface-level mindset tools. I help athletes understand and shift the internal patterns: like stress, shame, and self-doubt, that can hold them back. Together, we focus on rebuilding confidence, navigating identity during transitions, and breaking free from cycles of self-criticism and pressure.

Athletes don’t exist in a vacuum. Coaching environments, team dynamics, and performance expectations all shape how they think and feel. I support athletes in moving from fear-based pressure toward a mindset rooted in confidence, self-trust, and long-term well-being.

Common Areas of Support

Feeling intense pressure to perform or fear of letting others down
Struggling with perfectionism or being hard on themselves
Burnout from pushing too hard, or feeling unmotivated and stuck
Big emotions during games and not knowing how to reset in the moment
Frustration or disappointment after a tough loss that’s hard to shake

Figuring out who they are and what matters to them
Dealing with toxic or overwhelming sport environments
Trying to juggle school, sports, relationships, and rest without burning out
Comparing themselves to others or chasing constant approval

The greatest growth in sport often comes from the moments we slow down and reflect - not just the moments we push harder

5-Session Mindset Training Program

A Structured Skill Based Program for Athletes (Ages 13+)

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This 5-session program offers a foundational space for athletes to begin strengthening their mindset and building emotional resilience in sport. Delivered through one-on-one psychotherapy sessions, it is designed for athletes who want a structured and personalized process to better understand their thoughts, emotions, and internal patterns; especially under performance pressure.

Rather than providing quick fixes or generic advice, this program supports athletes in doing the deeper work of mindset development. It helps them build lasting confidence, focus, and recovery through ongoing practice, reflection, and therapeutic support.

This is not a one-size-fits-all model, nor is it a guarantee that every challenge will disappear in a few sessions. Just like physical skills, mental performance skills develop over time: through consistent practice, across seasons, and over the course of an entire athletic career.

This program is a perfect fit for young athletes who are ready to start building the mental side of their game as they prepare for and work toward the next level of competition at the university level.

Program Overview

5-Session Breakdown

Foundations of Mental Performance: A CBT Perspective

This chapter introduces core concepts from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help athletes identify automatic thoughts that impact performance. Athletes learn how their mind naturally responds to pressure, recognize unhelpful thought-emotion-action loops, and apply mental reset tools to shift toward more helpful, focused thinking.

Performance Anxiety & The Mind-Body Connection

This chapter introduces core concepts from nervous system education and somatic psychotherapy to help athletes understand how anxiety shows up physically and mentally under pressure. Athletes learn how to recognize their personal signs of stress, track body cues, and apply a 3-Step Reset to regulate their nervous system and return to a focused, ready state.

Building Mental Toughness and Staying in the Zone

This chapter supports athletes in developing the psychological flexibility and self-regulation needed to remain focused under pressure. Athletes learn to access their optimal performance zone and stay focused under pressure using personalized cues, attentional awareness, and reset strategies.

Perfectionism, Self-Criticism & Identity Development

This chapter explores how perfectionism and self-criticism impact an athlete’s mindset, confidence, and performance under pressure. . Athletes learn how to externalize harsh self-talk, reframe critical thoughts, and build a more balanced, confident internal voice to support focus and recovery under pressure.

Pre & Post Game Routines for Focus and Reflection

This chapter highlights the importance of pre- and post-performance routines for emotional regulation, focus, and recovery. Athletes will create personalized routines that support performance consistency and build long-term resilience.

What’s Included in the Program

Downloadable E-Book
Teaches core mindset concepts for each chapter and can be revisited throughout your athletic journey.

In-Session Worksheets
Helps you apply what you're learning to your sport and deepen self-awareness.

Personalized Pre-Game Visualization
A custom guided visualization created just for you at the end of the program to support focus and confidence.

E-Book Preview

E-Book Bonus Content

This content is designed to strengthen not just the individual athlete, but the culture around them.

My goal is to help shift the broader sport environment toward one that supports mental and emotional well-being, one conversation and reflection at a time.

Each Chapter Includes:

Coach Takeaways: Brief insights to help coaches better understand the athlete’s mindset journey.

Parent Takeaways: Simple guidance to help parents support their teen’s emotional experience in sport.

Homework Tasks: Reflective exercises that help athletes integrate what they’re learning into their sport and daily life.

Learn More About The Therapeutic Approaches That Guide My Work With Athletes

Learn More

Ready to get started?

Schedule your first session

If you’re ready to begin, you can book your first session directly through the portal. I look forward to supporting you!