Blog - Headstrong Mindset LLC

What is Sport & Performance Psychology?

AASP, Athletic Identity, Concentration, Confidence, Goal Setting, Imagery, Self talk, Sport Psychology

If you’ve searched for a sports psychologist in Denver, CO, you’ve probably found a mix of answers, and maybe a little confusion about who is qualified to do this work. That confusion is understandable. Sport and performance psychology is a broad field, and the people who practice within it hold different credentials, work with different populations, and offer different types of support.

Sport & performance psychology combines evidence-based mental health care with mental performance training for athletes and performers. It’s the field that sits at the intersection of how you think and how you compete. As a sports therapist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant in Denver, CO, I work with athletes on both sides of that intersection every week, and I want to give you a clear, direct answer to what this work actually involves.

This article will walk you through what sport and performance psychology is, who provides it, and what to expect during sessions. It will also cover who this kind of support helps and the misconceptions that keep people from reaching out.

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Flow State: When Everything Just Clicks

Concentration, Confidence, Flow & Playing in the Zone, Sport Psychology

Ever wonder what’s really going on in your mind and body during a flow state, when it feels like time slows down and everything just clicks?

During the 1992 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan hit seven threes in a row against the Portland Trail Blazers, scoring 35 points in the first half alone. By his seventh shot, he could only shrug, a performance so far above expectations that even Jordan seemed stunned by it (Bell, n.d.). Sport psychologists call this a flow state. Most athletes just call it being in the zone.

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Must Read Sport Psychology Books for (Female) Athletes, Coaches & Teams

Growth Mindset, Teamwork & Team building

This is not your typical reading list of sport psychology books. At Headstrong Mindset, I want to start by acknowledging that there are a ton of fantastic books out there on mental toughness, navigating pressure, and overcoming mental obstacles for athletes in sports. The problem is that most of them are written by men about male professional athletes. As a former professional and collegiate athlete who has spent a lifetime competing and working in women’s sports, I don’t find most sport psychology books relatable to my athletic career.

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Summer Mental Training for Athletes: 5 Goals to Set Right Now

Goal Setting, Growth Mindset, Resilience, Sport Psychology

Colorful beach ball floating in a bright blue swimming pool in summer sunlight — Photo by Raphaël Biscaldi on Unsplash

You’ve probably heard the advice a hundred times: set goals for your season. Write them down. Make them S.M.A.R.T. Post them somewhere you’ll see them every day.

And yet, most athletes go into the summer with a list that looks something like this: Make the starting lineup. Shave 3 seconds off my 400m. Win conference championship.

Those are all great goals, but they are all outcome goals. And when it comes to summer mental training for athletes, outcome goals alone aren’t enough. Here’s the problem: outcome goals are largely outside your control. Here’s the problem: outcome goals are largely outside your control. You can train every day, give it your all, and still fall short of an outcome because of factors that have nothing to do with you — a competitor having the best game of their life, a bad weather day, a coach’s decision, an injury.

When outcome goals are the only goals you’re focused on, your confidence becomes dependent on things you can’t control. And that’s a vulnerable place to compete from.

The athletes who make the biggest mental leaps understand that summer mental training for athletes isn’t just about reps in the weight room — it’s about building the mental foundation that carries you through next season. Specifically, mental performance goals: goals that target how you think, focus, respond, behave, and show up when it matters most.

Here’s how to do it.

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Core Values for Athletes and Coaches: Why They Matter and How to Find Yours

Athletic Identity, Resilience, Sport Psychology, Teamwork & Team building

Why knowing what you stand for is the foundation of success in sport and life

core values for athletes basketball on hardwood court during timeout

Ask most elite athletes what their goals are and they’ll tell you without hesitation: earn or maintain a starting spot, win a conference title or championship, break a personal record, earn a scholarship or get drafted to go pro. Goals drive us and they matter. But ask those same athletes about their core values — what they stand for when no one is watching, what guides their decision-making and how they approach conflict-resolution among teammates or coaches when the pressure is on — and most will pause. Yet for athletes and coaches at every level, having clear core values is one of the most powerful and underutilized tools in sport.

That pause is telling.

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Harnessing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Performance

Resilience, Sport Psychology, Therapy & Counseling

How improving your mental flexibility impacts your success rate

In my work as a mental performance consultant and sports counselor in Colorado, one of the most consistent patterns I see is this: it’s rarely a lack of athleticism or physical strength that holds athletes back. It’s the mental barriers — the inner critic, the fear of making mistakes, the “what if” mental spiral — that quietly erode confidence and hinder performance when the pressure is on. One of the most powerful tools I use to help athletes break through those barriers is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for athletes, an evidence-based approach that builds the mental resilience to perform at your best — even under pressure.

Most athletes have been taught to fight those thoughts. Push them down. Replace them with something positive. And while positive self-talk has its place, there’s a more powerful approach that I return to again and again in my work with elite athletes and teams: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT.

ACT doesn’t simply ask you to silence your inner critic or challenge and replace your negative thoughts. It asks you to stay in the moment, face the discomfort and ultimately build a foundation of enduring mental resilience.

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6 Activities to Enjoy in Boulder, Colorado on Your Day Off

Boulder, Recovery, Self-care

Nestled at the foot of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Boulder is a paradise for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you’re craving adventure or connection with nature on your day off, the Boulder foothills offer endless possibilities. If you’re an athlete looking for things to do in Boulder Colorado on your day off, look no further. At Headstrong Mindset, Dr. Brooke Rundle talks a lot about the importance of intentional rest, self-care days and balancing your athletic-identity to perform your best when it matters most.

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