fREQUENTLY ASKEd questions (FAQ's)
Would I benefit from your services at sport psychology perth?
As an athlete, ask yourself each of the following questions and answer with YES or NO:
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Personally, have I ever:
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lacked the desire or motivation to train in the off-season?
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had my mind wander while I was on the bench during a game?
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became unsure of my ability?
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had difficulties balancing school and sport commitments?
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thought about quitting my sport?
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felt that my time spent on video games was excessive and hindered my sport or school performance?
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walked off a playing field in disgust after losing a game I believed I should have won?
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chocked at a critical point in competition?
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felt depressed because I wasn’t recovering from an injury quickly enough?
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not been able to pump myself up for a practice or game?
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set a goal but didn’t come close to reaching it?
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had a feeling of “butterflies” in my stomach before an important game?
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made a mistake on the field and thought so much about it that I made another mistake shortly thereafter?
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lost control of my temper?
If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, you need and could benefit from our services.
Are your services important for my sport?
As an athlete, ask yourself each of the following 2 questions:
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How important are the state of mind and psychological skills in achieving success in my sport?
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Absolutely essential
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Very important
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Moderately important
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Slightly important
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Not important
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As an athlete, how much of my practice time is currently spent on developing mental skills?
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All or most of my time
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Half of my time or slightly more
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Some of my time
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Little of my time
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None of my time
If there is a disparity in the direction of the mental side of your sport being very important or essential, yet little or no time is being spent specifically practicing these mental aspects, you need and could benefit from our psychological skills training services.
Remember, all athletes practice physical skills, they practice game strategy, and they do weight training and conditioning drills. But, to this point, only a few athletes systematically do or have a program to develop their mental skills, and even fewer will know how to do this well. Thus, when it is done systematically, consistently, and well, psychological skills training is the area in which an athlete can gain “the edge” as it has the potential to help the athlete “get ahead” and separate themselves from the "rest of the pack" (for example, make the team vs not make the team, play vs don't play, get a scholarship/contract vs. don't get one).
Can your services help me improve my performance?
Yes, certainly. By developing and perfecting relevant psychological skills, you can improve your sport performance on many levels, specifically:
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you can perform BETTER (that is, run faster, shoot more accurately, throw further),
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you can perform more CONSISTENTLY (that is, have less variation in your performance, being able to execute a skill successfully more often, not have performances that go up and down from game to game or play to play),
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you can perform in CLUTCH SITUATIONS or WHEN IT MATTERS MOST (that is, it is that superior nerve and ability to be at your best when your best is needed),
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you can learn about probabilities and what it takes to MAKE IT AS A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE (that is, learning how to deal with failure and setbacks and how to define sport success in a way that is significant to you and consistent with your core beliefs and values, how to plan meaningful life pursuits “next to” or “along” and “after” sport and utilise skills learned in sport to other aspects of life).
In addition to performance, what else can you help me with?
In addition to performance, psychological skills training that I provide can help athletes with the following aspects: unrealistic expectations, excessive pressure from self/coach/parent, handling pressure and managing anxiety, lacking/losing/low confidence, concentration and focus problems, coping with injury, burnout and overtraining, low intrinsic motivation, low commitment, communication and conflict resolution, having self-doubts, low self-esteem, low satisfaction with sport, low competitiveness, low perceived ability, aggression in sport, maladaptive perfectionism, career progression, feelings of worthlessness or emptiness, and more.
The techniques and methods that I may use include: goal setting, thought control, visualization (mental imagery), self-talk, breath control, progressive muscle relaxation, stress inoculation, attentional control, competition plans, mental preparation routines, emotional and psychological states management, performance and mood profiling, cognitive restructuring, and more.
Do I have to be an elite or a professional athlete to benefit from your services?
Misunderstandings about sport psychology are common as some mistakenly believe that psychological training strategies are only applicable to elite athletes or that these techniques can fine tune the performance of the already highly skilled. Psychological skills training is appropriate and beneficial for variety of people of different age and skill level including children, adult, and masters athletes; novices, developing, and professional athletes. For example, if young developing athletes are taught effective goal setting strategies, how to increase self-confidence, how to visualise success, and how to think and behave constructively, we can reasonably expect their performance, enjoyment, and personal development to progress faster than of those athletes who do not engage in such psychological skills training. At the same time, special adjustments would be necessary based on specific characteristics of an athlete. For example, very young athletes would likely need adjustments such as fewer goals, shorter training sessions, simpler verbal instruction, and adjusting the exercises into games; as such these athletes can still benefit from psychological skills training providing they are interested in receiving it or see the potential value in it.
Benefiting from systematic, consistent, and well designed psychological skills training is not limited to professional athletes only. My (and others') research and professional practice strongly suggests that as athletes get better and progress into highest levels of competition, physical differences tend to become smaller while mental aspects become what separates the exceptional from the very good. In summary, while elite athletes often utilise psychological skills training to gain a competitive edge, athletes of all levels of skill and age can benefit from integrating psychological skills training program into their training routine to enhance performance, well-being, and enjoyment of their sport. To explore a collection of quotes from well-known athletes who believe in and have derived benefits from psychological skills training, click HERE.
Should I wait until I have “made it” to focus on my psychological skills?
Definitely not. In the realm of sports, mastering psychological skills and mental preparation is crucial, especially for adolescent or teenage athletes who choose to specialize in a single sport. Young athletes dedicated to their sport are consistently engaged mentally, whether they're on or off the field/court, on the bench, in the locker room, or weight room. It becomes essential for them to develop foundational psychological skills such as managing confidence, directing and controlling thoughts, regulating emotions, handling mistakes and setbacks, handling the focus and discipline of training, and handling the pressure and stress of competition. These fundamentals transform into psychological skills through the development of mental mechanics which can be refined through systematic and consistent practice. Therefore, it's essential for aspiring teenage athletes to understand that the mind is an essential piece of the sport performance puzzle and that mental training is not meant to replace physical training and talent but complement them. In addition, the mental skills, attitudes and life lessons that teenage athletes acquire from their sport—such as motivation, confidence, focus, perseverance, resilience, and the ability to handle pressure—will benefit them greatly not just in their sport, but also in all aspects of their lives as they transition into adulthood. Therefore, teenage athletes should see psychological skills as something that must be developed and refined from a young age.
If I don’t have any mental problems, can I still benefit from your services?
Definitely yes. Another misconception is that some people mistakenly believe that psychological skills training is only for "problem athletes" who often 'get in trouble' or who may have severe mental or clinical problems (for example, personality disorders, psychopathology). Even though a very small percentage of athletes have or develop such issues, those specific issues are best dealt by psychiatrists and psychologists that have specific expertise and training in subfields such as clinical psychology or clinical neuropsychology. Nevertheless, psychological skills training that I provide can certainly help any athlete (including those that 'get in trouble' or who have some mental or clinical problems).
Do you provide services under the Australian Government's Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative?
Yes I do. I have been providing support to individuals in areas that greatly influence emotions, thoughts, social skills, and decision-making by helping them develop effective mental strategies to manage stress, stay focused, and enhance motivation and performance. To be eligible to receive psychological services under Medicare, you must be referred by your general practitioner (GP) / Paediatrician / Psychiatrist and request they complete a Mental Health Care Plan for you. With a Mental Health Plan, referral letter and a valid Medicare card, you’ll be eligible for a rebate for a part of your psychology session (specifically, $96.65 per session) and you can access a total of 10 Medicare rebates for your appointments per calendar year.
Do you work with athletes with psychosocial disability?
Yes, absolutely. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with numerous athletes who have psychosocial disabilities, such as autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and learning disabilities. What sets me apart is my ability to connect with these individuals by focusing on developing their mental skills THROUGH sport—something they are deeply passionate about. This approach helps them build functional capacity and independence, overcome unique challenges, and develop resilience. Through my personalized psychological skills training, these athletes can enhance their focus, confidence, happiness, and emotional regulation—essential elements for success both on and off the field. Additionally, these sessions are fully covered by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) with no extra cost involved.
How do I know Who is the right person to help me improve my mental skills?
For the best results, a psychological skills training program should be carefully designed, implemented, and overseen by a registered and experienced sport psychologist like myself. With my expertise, I will customize the program to your specific needs, focusing on your personal growth, holistic well-being, and peak performance. As a registered and experienced sport psychologist I have the advantage of having more extensive specialised training and experience than a coach, unlicensed or unregistered sport psychologist claiming to offer mental skills services for athletes, student trainee, or an athlete themselves. In my roles as a sport psychologist, I am generally also perceived as neutral and unbiased person. For example, an athlete might have a difficulty revealing very personal information to the coach but not to the sport psychologist (since as a sport psychologist I don't have a say in matters such as who makes the team, playing time of an athlete, etc.). On the other hand, some athletes don’t have access to the sport psychologist or may consider such services as costly, especially in the short term. Alternatively, some coaches may be interested or in a position to administer psychological interventions over the course of the season. Advantages of the coach doing this are that the coach sees athletes daily, knows the sport, and does not incur extra cost to the athlete. On the other hand, coach will likely have incomplete knowledge of psychological skills, may not have time, and may not be seen as neutral and unbiased person to go to with a problem. A student trainee or an athlete themselves may have some sport psychology knowledge/experience, may be supervised by a registered sport psychologist, may be more likely to relate, and less costly. However, they may be difficult to find, may not be mature, may not be able to commit long term. Therefore, the bottom line is that there are trade-offs and an athlete must answer: “Is something better than nothing?” or “Is a little knowledge a dangerous thing?”.
What are your service fees?
My professional service fees are derived based on the APS National Schedule of Recommended Fees and will vary depending on the complexity, nature, expertise required, urgency of the matter, location and proximity, length and number of sessions booked or required, and availability. I offer various single session and multiple session options which can be viewed on my SERVICES section, however as a general guide, a typical consultation session (50 to 60 minutes) costs $320. Additionally, some sessions may be eligible for a rebate through Medicare, a private health insurance fund, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), or Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA).
what geographical AREAS DO YOU SERVICE?
My office is located at Unit 3, 166 Brighton Rd, Scarborough, WA 6019. I prioritise servicing clients in Perth Metro area extending along the coast from Yenchep in the north to Mandurah in the south, and to Midland and Armandale in the east. If you are located outside this area and are considering a sport psychology session with Dr Nick Medic, please inquire or send me a message and I will do my best to accommodate you.
