Mental Hurdles
10/13/22
The term ‘Mental Block’ is a familiar phrase that most athletes have either personally experienced or heard anecdotes about how one has negatively impacted an athlete’s performance. It’s often one of the first things an athlete will express they want to address in counseling when they reach out to work with me.
We mostly associate a ‘Mental Block’ within the context of athletics, specifically related to athlete performance; however, I think most people athletes and non-athletes alike have experienced a ‘mental block’ in some form or fashion. The reason that’s important to acknowledge is because when we make a ‘mental block’ solely an athlete problem, it can create further isolation around experiencing one. Ultimately, when I begin working through these ‘blocks’ with athletes, oftentimes there is some confusion around why they are experiencing the block. If athletes can’t identify the WHY, often they will quickly begin blaming themselves, further intensifying the block itself and producing shame.
As a counselor, I’m a big believer that the way we speak about our circumstances or challenges plays a significant role in how we experience them and our ability to work through them. The Narrative theory framework reinforces this idea that the language we use about our situation shapes the stories we tell ourselves about what we are going through (Morris, 2006). The reason I gravitate towards using this theory with athletes is because this lens empowers the client to focus on the control they do have in situations or stories in their life that feel out of their control.
As a sports counselor, one of the ways I try to help athletes reshape how they think about a ‘Mental Block’ is by redefining it as a ‘Mental Hurdle.’ Before I even start tackling the hurdle, I encourage the athlete to consider changing the language we use when talking about it. While it might seem like a subtle distinction, I think it can help lay a healthier foundation for how an athlete makes sense of and approaches the struggle they are facing.
When I think about something that’s blocked, I think about a force or structure that is interfering with one’s ability to move forward. For example, when an intersection on the road is blocked I can’t drive through it no matter how much I want to or try. I also think the term block has a more permanent and negative connotation that can make athletes feel even more helpless and defeated. Alternatively, I think of a hurdle as a temporary interference that can be overcome through additional effort or force. Changing the language we use to define an athlete’s struggle sets the stage for better client outcomes related to performance and well-being.
3 practical ways I work on addressing ‘Mental Hurdles’ with athletes:
1. Normalize-Reminding the athlete that experiencing a ‘mental hurdle’ is normal and something many athletes and non-athletes face in different capacities that can impact not just performance, but one’s quality of life and relationships. Normalizing the struggle helps athletes feel less alone and afraid of encountering a mental hurdle, and instills hope that if others can work through it so can they.
2. Externalize-As I mentioned earlier, when athletes experiences a ‘hurdle’ they can quickly attribute this to something they did wrong. This is where I remind the athlete they are personally not the problem, the problem is the problem. Helping the athlete create that separation from EXPERIENCING a problem to BEING the problem can reduce an athletes’ feelings of helplessness and shame. Further, it can help empower them to believe they can overcome the hurdle vs. feeling like a victim to it.
3. Capitalize-This is where I begin to help the athlete shift their focus from one’s external (what’s out of my control) to internal (what’s in my control) locus of control. When an athlete only focuses on the external factors surrounding their problem is often when they feel like it’s a permanent block vs. temporary hurdle. To shift the focus to what the athlete does have control over have the athlete ask themselves, “What internal resources can they capitalize on to help work through this hurdle?”
References:
Morris, C. C. (2006). Narrative theory: A culturally sensitive counseling and research framework. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.counseling.org/Resources/Library/VISTAS/vistas06_online-only/Morris.pdf