Solution-Focused Hypnotherapists can help people improve their sports performance, from beginners to professional athletes.

As Covid restrictions are lifted, we are already seeing outdoor sports facilities reopening. These include golf courses, tennis, basketball courts and outdoor swimming.

Physical practice is essential, I think this goes without saying. But it will never allow the athlete to achieve the perfect swing, or the best run or the textbook corner. The brain doesn’t work that way. Knowing how our brain stores our movements is helpful. In fact, it allows the client to accept bad shots, poor times and mistakes. Furthermore, the client will be better able to recover and avoid mistakes in the future. It’s real brain stuff!

Sports performance is one of those fascinating areas. As far back as 1968 the Swiss Olympic ski squad used imagery and went on to win 3 medals and more in 1972. In 1959 Ingmar Johannson used hypnosis training to win the heavyweight boxing title from Floyd Patterson. Jimmy Connors used hypnosis in winning the US Open championship. Tiger Wood’s mental coach, Jay Brunza, hypnotised him to block out distractions and focus on the golf course. In May 2000 Glenn Catley became World Super Middle Weight Champion. He describes the greatest help that Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy gave him was confidence in his own inherent ability.

How can we help our sports performance clients?

We, often hear sports people describe how they can perform well when they play with their friends. But when there is a competition, they go to pieces! It’s so true that playing sport is as much a mental game, as it is a physical game.

A study in 2020 by Prediou et al Visualisation in sport describes the use of visualisation techniques which can improve motor skills, self–confidence and decrease anxiety. Through the use of imagery, pain management, endurance, motivation and physical performance can be enhanced.

We can help clients focus on realistic goals and increase their self-belief. Learning to concentrate for long periods of time helps to avoid distractions. Getting into ‘the zone’ is key and we can help sports people maintain this.

Likewise, improving specific skills can be enhanced by using mental rehearsal techniques and we can teach our clients how to do this. During our hypnotherapy training, you can hear about Glenn Catley’s story on how the Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy sessions improved his performance.

Since March (The COVID-19 Lockdown), like many training courses, we found ourselves delivering teaching using video conferencing online (Zoom). We needed to deliver the sessions professionally with equal spirit and energy. We also wanted to pass our knowledge on to the students so they could confidently use Zoom to deliver their practice sessions.

So, would sessions be as effective online?

The University of Manchester published research in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis showing that using hypnosis on Skype was an effective treatment for people with IBS (International Journal of clinical and Experimental hypnosis 2019).

The University of Zurich found that online therapy was more effective for clients with depression than face-to-face therapy (Journal of Affective Disorders, 2013).

A team of Global experts in mental health have written in the Lancet Psychiatry about what they describe as ‘telepsychiatry’ (online therapy). The experts say that online therapy is particularly helpful when it is delivered in an intelligent, targeted manner that provides appropriate support. They also recommended focusing on routine measurement and valued outcomes being part of the therapy.

What does mean for Hypnotherapists?

Although the Covid situation has propelled most of us onto using video conferencing platforms. Many Clinical Hypnotherapists have been using this platform for many years. The Zoom format is secure and with technical additions, we are able to not only visually see the client we can communicate easily with minimal disturbance. The session format remains unchanged and we can even feed the music through the computer system, so it is clear and crisp.

For those Hypnotherapists who embraced online therapy many years ago, they have been able to widen the scope of their practice and broaden the appeal to those who were unable to leave home or too far away to travel. Now, we can all benefit from learning how to use Zoom effectively. We now incorporate this topic into our teaching and will continue to do so when we are able to return to face-to-face.

Global Experts in Mental Health recommend at this time, that all therapists should have regular periods of reflection to enhance their practice. Once qualified, our graduates continue to be fully supported with supervision and continued personal development (CPD). They are able to talk freely about their successes and can seek assistance with any queries or problems that they encounter. This support is crucial in maintaining standards and updating their knowledge. The tutors at CPHT are qualified supervisors and offer this support online in a group or one-to-one setting.

All CPHT graduates are very fortunate to be in the position of having the skills to deliver the therapy that the client needs and our therapy can be delivered effectively through video conferencing platforms. As described by the experts in the Lancet, the solution-focused approach fulfils the recommendations of therapy being measured, individualised and refined.

Clinical hypnotherapists are very much needed at this time to help those affected by this crisis and online therapy has allowed us to do this, we are grateful.