Elite athletes use all kinds of scientific technology to improve their performance including equipment, training advances and nutrition. On-the-field practical training alone is not enough to fulfill their aspirations and so off-the-field mental development is widely considered to be an essential part of the training regime. Those who perform at the highest level will have mastered the psychology of their individual sport and will have learnt how to apply 21st century physiological and psychological knowledge about the interaction between body and mind.

Now, goal setting and visualisation techniques are commonplace in many sports, and these and many other psychological tools can be greatly enhanced with the use of hypnosis.

There has been a long history of hypnosis in sport (at 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the Russian team took 11 hypnotists; at the 1967 Olympics the Swiss Ski Team, utilised a hypnotist; at the 2006 World Cup the Mexican Soccer team prepared with a hypnostist).

Well known sports stars who have utilised hypnosis for sports performance include:

Boxing: Ingmar Johannson, Ken Norton, Mohammad Ali, Nigel Benn, Steve Collins, Frank Bruno, Mike Tyson
Athletics: Roger Black, Iwan Thomas, Angela Bailey
Tennis: Jimmy Connors, Greg Rudedski
Golf: Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Mary Lou Retton
Soccer: Andy Cole
Rugby Union: Dan Luger

Some Clinical Hypnotherapy Wales practitioners have an expertise in applying strategic clinical hypnotherapy to sports performance.

Some of the main areas where sports hypnosis is of particular benefit are listed below, however this list is not exhaustive and individual athletes may have quite specific issues that are affecting their performance.
* Managing competition nerves*
* Performance Enhancement
* Motivation for Training/Competition
* Recovering from Injuries
* Building Confidence
* Improving Focus & Concentration
* Overcoming Mental Blocks
* Managing Emotions

It’s not just on-field problems that affect athletes and their performances. Typically non-sport issues such as insomnia, stress, phobias and traumas can all hinder an athlete’s best efforts, and these can equally be effectively dealt with using hypnotherapy.

Take note, many hypnotherapists, simply offer relaxation techniques. This is often not appropriate and can be to the detriment of performance at the elite level.

Contacting a hypnotherapist to establish fees will give you an idea of price but not of quality. You can be sure of the quality of Clinical Hypnotherapy Wales practitioners so call us to find out more on 01443 827 619.