PHILOSOPHY:

Applying a comprehensive philosophy of consulting is recognised as a crucial factor in clients seeing transformation and improvement.

Simply put; a consultant’s philosophy drives the helping process, guides virtually every aspect of their applied work, and consequentially determines the client’s behaviour change.

From an athlete perspective, if a Mental Performance Consultant can’t explain why they do what they do, and in turn how that helps YOU, then how confident are you in trusting them with your hard earned performance and well-being?

At Mzk Performance, we understand that best practice is based in evidence based science. With that in mind, our consulting philosophy is structured around 2004 research produced by leading Sport and Performance Psychologists, Poczwardowski, Sherman, and Ravizza.

Core Beliefs & Values:

Beliefs and values form the foundation of how we behave. After extensive development and reflection on our part, here are key ones which underpin Mental Performance Consulting at Mzk Performance.

Autonomy
Choice, and a sense of free-will, is one of life’s main motivators. We understand this pathway, and ensure that we support it through providing clients with paths, options, and space to explore. Every challenge an athlete faces is individual and unique. We’re here to offer an expert perspective in all situations, not a ‘one size fits all’ blueprint to success.

Challenge
Out of darkness, cometh light. Our lives and careers, athletic or otherwise, are full of challenges to be faced. We understand that although not all challenges can be overcome, progress comes when we are brave and vulnerable enough to get uncomfortable. Although we may not always supply the answers, we are committed to designing and exploring situations in which athletes are required to creatively problem solve, and as a result, develop.

Collaboration
Our clients are the experts on themselves, their experiences, and their world. We create working relationships where success is collaborated on, and achieved, together. We use our expertise in sport and performance psychology to inform and guide athletes; creating a plan individual to them, not one taken straight from the textbook.

Growth
Growth, development, and the process are far more important to us than chasing any given outcome. Marginal incremental growth is our bread and butter, and we strive for our clients to get 1% closer to their potential, every day. We believe that the lessons learned during sport and performance are lessons which benefit athletes for life - and believe that this learning never needs to stop.

Theoretical Paradigms:

Theoretical orientations, or paradigms, are the pathway(s) through which Mental Performance Consultants at Mzk Performance believe change to take place.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy focuses on challenging and changing unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It is a way or working which is problem focused, and action orientated. Our role is to assist clients in identifying and addressing what is unhelpful to them, and to facilitate the development of improved coping and performance strategies, new ways to process information, and greater emotional regulation.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy 
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is a goal orientated, collaborative approach. It focused on what clients want to achieve now and in the future, only lingering in the past when exploring solutions which may have previously been successful. Our role is to encourage clients to design their ideal future, before collaborating on a path to to reach this goal, encouraging progress, and creating plans overcome any foreseeable challenges.

Model of Consulting:

A consulting model is how Mental Performance Consultants at Mzk Performance understand the relationship and flow of each session with our clients, either individual, or as a team.

First, we build relationships based on openness, trust, caring, and compassion. We understand that without establishing this relationship, change and development is hard to come by. Next, we facilitate the development of athlete’s mindset, and their skillset. This is done using a variety of techniques, some of which are explained on this page. Finally, to test this development, we create a platform for our athletes to prepare, perform, and reflect upon their growth. This stage feeds back in to the training process, as it then informs what mindset or skillset development we can focus on next.

Intervention Goals:

Based on the above foundation, we have two crucial goals when working with our clients.

To collaborate with athletes and teams to address challenges, overcome limitations, and achieve their highest potential performance. After all, Performance = Potential - Interference.

Preferred Techniques:

Finally, here is some information about our preferred techniques or strategies for facilitating development when working with any athlete. It should be noted that this list is not exhaustive, but may give you an idea of what to expect during your sessions.

Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing is a client-centred, and compassionate, counselling style which facilitates behaviour change by challenging clients to explore and resolve conflicting thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It is a focused, goal-oriented, strategy which places the control to make change in the hands of the client.

Socratic Questioning
Socratic Questioning is a way in which we encourage clients to explore complex ideas, analyse concepts, uncover assumptions, and chart logical consequences of their thoughts, feelings, or behaviours. It is a systematic and disciplined style of questioning, which focuses on the deeper meaning behind surface level actions, and looks to help clients to explore fundamental challenges.

Mental Skills Training
Mental Skills Training is the development, planning, and use of various strategies to address challenge and enhance performance. It is an individualised approach, either facilitated individually or in a group setting, where clients learn to use specific skills, designed to meet the needs of the athlete or team. This may include strategies such as visualisation, concentration, goal setting, self- awareness, confidence building, or relaxation techniques.