CBT Can Help Elite Athletes Manage Stress

.....The UK study is the first to show that CBT can change how high-level athletes respond to organizational stress within their sport, and that this can have significant benefits for their emotions and performance.

Sport psychology researcher Dr. Faye Didymus, worked with four high-level female hockey players over nine months, using a CBT technique called cognitive restructuring....

....Each player then took part in an in-depth personalized program of CBT to help them understand their current thoughts about stress, associated emotions, and how these might be changed by CBT.

For example, for a player who was thinking ”I must play well or I will ruin my chance of selection,” an alternative would be suggested, such as: ”If I play well, I’ve a good chance of being selected,” which views selection as a challenge rather than a threat....

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Bethany`s Notes: Great new research is out on how CBT can help athletes perform better.