This Is How Sports Performance Is Improved With The Cognitive-behavioral Model
Sport is much more than a physical phenomenon embodied by the movements and coordinated activation of the body’s muscles; Behind all that superficial and directly observable layer, there are psychological and emotional factors to take into account.
And in the same way that a sports competition is not always won by the strongest or most agile person, everything related to the management of emotions, thoughts and one’s own behavior in general is a piece without which has an incomplete view of sports performance.
Therefore, in this article we will see How to work to improve sports performance from one of the most effective psychological intervention models: cognitive-behavioral
What is the objective of psychological intervention? The answer to this question depends, among other things, on the problems and needs that the person who goes to the professional wants to address; but it also depends on the theoretical-practical model from which the psychologist starts. And something as complex as mental and behavioral phenomena can be approached from different philosophical and meta-psychological perspectives, that is, the systems of concepts through which what happens and what can be done is defined.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is, as its name suggests, a model in which The psychological is classified into two main categories: the behavioral, which can be observed directly and objectively by other people, and the cognitive, which refers to the thought patterns and belief systems from which people interpret what we perceive.
Thus, the cognitive-behavioral model proposes to intervene through these two ways: the mental processes that constitute the person’s way of thinking and feeling, and their way of interacting with their environment and with others through customs, habits, etc. Addressing the problem from both fronts allows us to obtain results more quickly and consistently, since these two processes reinforce each other.
How is sports performance improved from this psychology model?
What we have seen so far serves to understand the way in which the cognitive-behavioral model is used to provide effective solutions for the person seeking to change on a psychological level; but this is not limited to intervention in psychopathologies. The same principles can be used in people who do not have diagnosable disorders and who want to progress in some aspect. For this reason, it is also used in sports psychology. These are some of its main functions.
1. Developing time management habits
Time management is key in any training process Small problems in this area can significantly limit the athlete’s progress in the short, medium and long term. Therefore, from the cognitive-behavioral model we work, if necessary, to make the person commit to their training program and not fall into comfortable and self-indulgent dynamics that anchor them to their comfort zone.
Achieve self-motivation It is very important, especially in the early stages of following a training program, as well as before important events for one’s own sporting career In this way, it is more difficult to give in to the small satisfactions that come at the cost of giving up much greater rewards that we can achieve in the medium and long term.
3. Strengthening attention management skills
Knowing how to direct one’s focus of attention towards what matters is one of the most important aspects of sports psychology; It depends on not wasting time with distractions both in test preparation and during key sporting events From the cognitive-behavioral model, forms of training are proposed to well manage the ability to concentrate, isolate distractors, etc.
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4. Management of negative emotions
Anxiety and discouragement Although they are not a problem in all cases, they are part of the emotions and feelings that can lead athletes to self-sabotage if they do not know how to manage them well. For this reason, psychologists help in the process of quickly and reliably identifying emotions and applying measures to channel them appropriately.
5. Adaptation to good dynamics of socialization and interaction with the environment
Life does not end in the hours dedicated to sport, and everything that happens in those hours away from the practice fields also influences performance, as well as the no less important emotional well-being Cognitive-behavioral psychological intervention works to detect possible problems in time, develop habits that make it possible to be happy beyond sport, spend quality time with others, etc.
Do you want to have professional psychological assistance?
If you dedicate part of your time to the sports field and are interested in having sports psychology services, Get in touch with me I am a psychologist specialized in the cognitive-behavioral intervention model and I have been working for many years with individuals, companies and organizations, either in person or online.
I’m Emily Williams Jones, a psychologist specializing in mental health with a focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. With a Ph.D. in psychology, my career has spanned research, clinical practice and private counseling. I’m dedicated to helping individuals overcome anxiety, depression and trauma by offering a personalized, evidence-based approach that combines the latest research with compassionate care.
