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Managing performance anxiety and competitive pressure

Performance
Anxiety & Pressure

Reducing performance pressure to improve focus and confidence

Step Into Your Game with

Confidence, Focus, and Control

Pressure and negative thoughts are part of being an athlete—but when they become overwhelming, they can affect your focus, confidence, and even your love for the sport. Experiencing performance anxiety isn’t just “nerves”; it’s a mental and emotional response that can hold you back from reaching your full potential.

At Carolina Counseling for Athletes, I work with teen and adult athletes to understand the root of that pressure, whether it comes from expectations, past experiences, or the internal critic that never seems to quiet down.

Together, we’ll develop tools and strategies to help you face high-pressure situations with clarity, composure, and confidence—both on the field and in life beyond sports.

How I Help

I take a relational, trauma-informed, and individualized approach to managing performance anxiety. That means we work together to:
Developing a competitive advantage through mental skills support

Identify the sources of stress, fear, and self-doubt that show up during competition.

Strengthening emotional regulation and self control skills

Develop mental routines to stay grounded and focused under pressure.

Addressing mental health disorders affecting athletes

Process past traumas that are holding you back.

Building confidence to manage performance anxiety and pressure

Build confidence and self-compassion, so setbacks don’t derail your progress.

Building confidence while addressing emotional challenges

Enhance your ability to perform consistently, even in high-stakes situations.

Who This Is For

Performance pressure looks different for everyone. My clients include:

  • High school athletes navigating pressures from coaches, parents or their community.
  • Non-related life circumstances that are impacting performance.
  • College athletes balancing academics, training, and expectations.
  • Professional or former athletes struggling with identity and confidence after injury and life transitions.
  • Athletes recovering from significant injuries, like ACL or shoulder surgery, needing support for mental as well as physical rehabilitation.

If anxious feelings have you stuck, overwhelmed, or self-conscious about performing at your best, this therapy is for you.

Supporting high school athletes facing performance pressure

Why It Works

With experience as a Division I athlete and over a decade in education and counseling, I understand the unique pressures elite athletes face. My approach combines practical mental skills with emotional support, helping you not only manage anxiety symptoms but also use it as a tool to sharpen your performance.

Take the First Step with Carolina Counseling for Athletes

You don’t have to face sports performance anxiety alone. Together, we’ll untangle the mental blocks holding you back and create strategies that help you perform with confidence, clarity, and consistency.

Schedule a free consultation and start building the mental skills that give you an edge both on and off the field.

Schedule a free consultation
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