About sports psychologists
Sports psychologists work with athletes and teams on performance, motivation, concentration, competition anxiety, injury recovery and the balance between sport and personal life.
Getting mental health care in the Netherlands
The GP is the entry point: mild problems are handled in the practice, often by the POH-GGZ mental health practice nurse, at no cost.
What does a sports psychologist do?
A sports psychologist helps athletes, coaches and teams with the mental side of sport and physical activity. Day to day they work on concentration, motivation, confidence, handling pressure, pre-competition routines, recovery from injury, team cohesion and balancing sport with studies, work or family. They see people at all levels, from young athletes and amateurs to professionals, and sometimes advise parents and coaching staff.
What happens in the first session
The first session usually explores your sport, level, goals, competition calendar, what is getting in the way and what has helped before. The psychologist may use questionnaires or ask to observe a training session or match. Bring your schedule and examples of situations that worry you, and ask how they work with coaches, what is kept confidential and how progress is measured.