About Performance Psychology
Performance psychology focuses on the mental aspects of achieving peak performance across competitive and high-pressure environments.
Performance psychology is a specialized field that explores how mental factors influence achievement in demanding contexts. Whether preparing for athletic competition, artistic performance, executive leadership, or academic challenges, this approach may help individuals develop psychological skills such as focus, confidence, emotional regulation, and resilience under pressure. Working with a performance psychologist often supports people in identifying mental barriers, building effective pre-performance routines, and cultivating the mindset needed to perform at their best when it matters most.
First Session is building a growing network of Canadian therapists who incorporate performance psychology principles into their practice. While our current selection of specialists in this area is still expanding, you can browse profiles, watch intro videos, and connect with practitioners who understand the unique demands of high-performance pursuits. If you do not find an exact match, related approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy or mindfulness-based techniques may also support your performance goals.
Luigi Garde
Luigi Garde
Calum Ramsay
.webp)
Calum Ramsay
Therapy is hard work.
Performance psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on optimizing mental performance in high-stakes or competitive environments. It draws on principles from sport psychology, clinical psychology, and organizational psychology to help individuals manage stress, build confidence, and achieve consistent performance. This approach is commonly used by athletes, performing artists, executives, surgeons, and others who need to perform reliably under pressure.
Performance psychology may benefit anyone who wants to improve their mental approach to challenging situations. This includes competitive athletes seeking a mental edge, musicians or actors preparing for auditions, business professionals facing high-pressure presentations, students managing exam anxiety, or anyone striving to reach their potential in a demanding field. The techniques used are adaptable to many different performance contexts.
Practitioners often use a variety of evidence-informed techniques including visualization and mental imagery, goal setting, self-talk strategies, arousal regulation, attentional focus training, and building pre-performance routines. Cognitive behavioural approaches may also be incorporated to address unhelpful thought patterns. The specific techniques used depend on individual needs and the performance context.
Sports psychology is actually a subset of performance psychology. While sports psychology focuses specifically on athletic performance, performance psychology applies similar mental skills principles across all high-performance domains including business, arts, military, healthcare, and academics. Many practitioners trained in sports psychology also work with performers from non-athletic fields.
First Session connects you with Canadian therapists, including those with training in performance psychology. You can browse therapist profiles, watch intro videos to get a sense of their approach, and book sessions online. Our network in this specialized area is growing, so if you do not find an exact match, consider exploring therapists who use related approaches like cognitive behavioural therapy or mindfulness techniques that often support performance goals.
Performance anxiety is one of the most common concerns addressed in performance psychology. Techniques such as breathing exercises, cognitive restructuring, gradual exposure, and developing consistent pre-performance routines may help individuals manage nervousness and channel anxious energy more productively. Working with a qualified practitioner can provide personalized strategies tailored to your specific performance context and triggers.