Supporting Your Young Athlete: What Parents Can Expect When Getting Started with Sport Psychology
Recently, many parents of young athletes on talent pathways have asked me to clarify what it looks like to get started with a sport psychologist. If your child is sprinting down the track, diving into the pool, navigating a technical cycling climb, or dribbling past defenders on the football pitch, you see their talent and drive, and maybe the pressure they put on themselves to perform. As a parent, you naturally want to make sure they have the right support to develop both physically and mentally. Understanding how the sport psychology process works can make that first step much easier.
A Reassuring, Step-by-Step Process to Get Started
Getting started with a sport psychologist should be a collaborative process designed to make both you and your child feel comfortable and confident:
Initial Conversation with Parents – Often the first step is a discussion over the phone or in person. This is your chance to ask questions, share your observations, and understand how sport psychology can support your child’s development, wellbeing, and performance.
Session with Athlete and Parents – The next step is a meeting that includes you and your child. Together, we briefly explore their sporting history, highlight their best experiences in their sport, and gain an initial view on their goals and aspirations. This creates a safe, confidential space for you and your child to share thoughts, keeping you informed and involved. This meeting also allows us to talk through the practicalities of how the consultation process will work e.g., in person or online sessions, frequency of consultation sessions, booking arrangements etc.
Agreement to Proceed – We only continue if everyone is happy to move forward. This ensures your child’s support is collaborative, transparent, and respectful of their needs and your role as a parent.
What the First 1:1 Session Looks Like
Once an appropriate support plan is agreed, during the initial 1:1 consultation we will:
Seek to learn more about child’s achievements and positive experiences in their sport
Explore how their current situation aligns, or sometimes misaligns, with those experiences
Discuss their goals, motivations, and what they want to get out of their sport moving forward
Identify any current or potential barriers, including confidence challenges, competition pressure, or returning from injury
The aim is to help your young athlete gain self-awareness, and use this as a base from which to build psychological skills designed to help them gain confidence and enhance their enjoyment of their sport.
Next Step: Request a Call Back
If you’re interested in exploring how sport psychology can support your child, please request a call back. I can answer your questions, discuss your child’s needs, and outline how we could work together to provide structured, supportive, and safe guidance.
Taking this first step can give both you and your child clarity, reassurance, and the tools to navigate the demands of high-level sport while continuing to enjoy the journey, whether on the track, in the pool, on the road, or on the pitch.
