{"id":1154,"date":"2010-09-20T18:51:00","date_gmt":"2010-09-20T18:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports_psychology_blog\/?p=1154"},"modified":"2025-06-13T07:37:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T11:37:20","slug":"establishing-yourself-as-a-mental-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/establishing-yourself-as-a-mental-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Mistakes Mental Game Coaches Make in 1st Session"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"MGCP<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A mental game coach trying to establish himself recently asked me this question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“What is the number one mistake mental coaches make on the first session with an athlete?”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ll give two answers to this question today because I think the answer depends on your philosophy about how to do mental coaching…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, I believe you must understand<\/strong> your student or athlete before you begin formal coaching. I agree with the notion, “Seek first to understand,” as Steven Covey says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mistakes mental coaches make is not fully understanding the mental game needs of the student before starting to instruct or coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides teaching my MGCP <\/strong>students the phases of mental coaching, we discuss how to do a preliminary assessment<\/strong> (using the AMAP) even before you meet with the student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the MGCP course<\/strong>, we also talk about what questions to ask in the first session with a student to gain more information that you don’t get from an assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I suggest you are really an investigator first and then a coach later. I want to understand my students fully before I begin coaching for many reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, in my first session with an athlete, I’ll go over his or her assessment and drill down with relevant questions to
understand my student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know some mental game experts who are more directive and want to begin coaching in the first session without first understanding the student’s needs<\/strong>. And I think this is a mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, I also think it’s important for you to develop rapport with your student in the first session. You want to put your student at ease and gain their trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, I spend a few moments discussing my student’s background, the plan for coaching, and asking more basic questions before getting into the more difficult questions about their mental game<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, this is just one approach you can use. But it’s worked well for my MGCPs and myself over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early registration ends September 24, 2010<\/strong> for the Fall 2010 course beginning in October. Register early and get 10 percent off tuition!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have not done so, please complete an application at the MGCP website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mental Game Coaching Professional Application<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have already submitted your MGCP application, please email me to request the Fall 2010 enrollment forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: The first five people to lock in their seats will get preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please call me at 888-742-7225 if you have any questions about the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D. Master Mental Game Coach<\/p>\n\n\n\n

p.s. Students in the MGCP program get access to the same mental game assessments I use in my work–The AMAP, GMAP, and TCAP. I teach you how to evaluate an athlete’s or team’s mental approach and what relevant questions to ask in the initial interview stage. Find more details about the course here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mental Game Coaching Professional<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/span>Boost Your Self-Confidence With Mental Game Coaching!<\/span><\/h3>
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