Wisconsin Sports Psychologist
In the world of sports, where victories and defeats can be decided by mere inches or seconds, athletes are in constant pursuit of peak performance. As the stadium lights shine bright and the crowd roars, the importance of mental strength becomes increasingly evident. Even the most talented athletes can struggle with the mind-body connection in sports, often facing performance anxiety or a lack of confidence that may affect their potential for greatness. This is where sport psychology services come into play, offering athletes the necessary tools to sharpen their mental edge. In today's ever-evolving sports landscape, the need to uncover the secrets of peak performance has become more pressing than ever. Sport psychology has emerged as the hidden gem that provides athletes with the mental skills they need to shape their journey, build confidence, foster resilience, and improve their mental game which is essential for achieving peak performance.
Meet Dr. Matthew Myrvik, Ph.D., CMPC | Sports psychologist in Wisconsin
I have worked for over a decade providing sport psychology services to athletes across the state of Wisconsin. I am a seasoned professional who stands at the intersection of clinical psychology and sports performance. As a licensed clinical psychologist, I can provide mental health and wellness services to athletes. As a licensed clinical psychologist, I offer mental health and wellness services to athletes, while my additional education in sport psychology and certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology gives me expertise in athlete injury and performance. I work with athletes at all levels and offer support in areas such as mental health, player wellness, injury recovery, and performance enhancement. I also work with teams and understand the importance of team culture and the characteristics required for success. I have given talks to athletes and parents both locally and nationally and recently founded Excel Sport Psychology to expand my reach and offer virtual sport psychology services in nearly 38 states. My services have helped athletes unlock their potential, leading to sustained excellence and happiness.
Sports psychology services I offer
To help athletes achieve their maximum potential, sport psychologists, such as myself, targeting the mental game of sports need to offer a comprehensive array of services that extend beyond conventional therapy. Here is a glimpse into the multifaceted support that I provide:
-
Mental Health Support:
-
Individual Counseling: Addressing mental health challenges athletes may face, such as anxiety, depression, or stress.
-
Stress Management: Developing coping mechanisms and stress-reduction techniques tailored to the unique demands of an athlete's life and career.
-
​
-
Player Wellness:
-
Life Transitions: Supporting athletes through various life stages and transitions, such as retirement or transitioning from amateur to professional status.
-
Sport-Life Balance: Assisting athletes in achieving a balance between their sporting career and personal life, reducing the risk of burnout.
-
Identity Exploration: Helping athletes navigate their sense of identity beyond their athletic identity, reducing the risk of burnout.
-
​
-
Injury Recovery:
-
Psychological Rehabilitation: Collaborating with healthcare professionals to aid athletes in recovering from injuries, focusing on the mental aspects of rehabilitation.
-
Resilience Building: Helping athletes bounce back from setbacks, fostering a positive mindset crucial for effective rehabilitation.
-
Pain Management: Providing strategies to manage pain perception and mitigate the psychological impact of injuries.
-
​​
-
Performance Enhancement:
-
Goal Setting: Collaborating with athletes to establish realistic and motivating goals, creating a roadmap for success.
-
Visualization Techniques: Utilizing guided imagery to enhance performance by mentally rehearsing successful outcomes.
-
Focus and Concentration: Implementing strategies to improve focus and concentration during high-pressure situations.
-
Performance Anxiety Management: Providing tools to manage and alleviate performance anxiety, ensuring athletes can deliver their best when it matters most.
-
Team Dynamics: Working with teams to foster effective communication, cohesion, and collective goal alignment.
-
Why choose Excel Sports Psychology
I have worked for over a decade providing sport psychology services to athletes across the state of Wisconsin. I am a seasoned professional who stands at the intersection of clinical psychology and sports performance. As a licensed clinical psychologist, I can I have transitioned from a regular clinic to Excel Sport Psychology to offer better services. The virtual telehealth platform of Excel Sport Psychology is a unique and highly successful method of sport psychology that distinguishes it from conventional in-person clinics. Its exceptional characteristics make it the preferred choice for athletes looking for performance enhancement, injury rehabilitation, mental health, and wellness services. Here are a few compelling reasons why Excel Sport Psychology is better for athletes than other sport psychology clinics. mental health and wellness services to athletes. As a licensed clinical psychologist, I offer mental health and wellness services to athletes, while my additional education in sport psychology and certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology gives me expertise in athlete injury and performance. I work with athletes at all levels and offer support in areas such as mental health, player wellness, injury recovery, and performance enhancement. I also work with teams and understand the importance of team culture and the characteristics required for success. I have given talks to athletes and parents both locally and nationally and recently founded Excel Sport Psychology to expand my reach and offer virtual sport psychology services in nearly 38 states. My services have helped athletes unlock their potential, leading to sustained excellence and happiness.
-
Accessibility and Convenience:
-
One of Excel Sport Psychology's main advantages is its accessibility. Athletes can access expert sport psychology services from the comfort of their own homes. It eliminates the need for travel, scheduling conflicts, and other logistical problems. This level of convenience is particularly beneficial for athletes with busy training and competition schedules as it is easier for them to integrate mental performance support into their routines.
-
​
-
Customization and Personalization:
-
Excel Sport Psychology understands that every athlete is unique with distinct goals and challenges. Its virtual services are tailored to the individual needs of each athlete. Unlike traditional clinics where group sessions may be the norm, Excel Sport Psychology provides one-on-one sessions that focus entirely on the athlete's specific mental performance concerns. This customization ensures that athletes receive targeted strategies and guidance to address their personal obstacles and optimize their mental game.
-
​
-
Comfort and Familiar Environment:
-
Performing at one's best requires a sense of comfort and familiarity. Virtual services enable athletes to receive support in a space where they feel most at ease. This familiar environment can lead to more open and honest discussions, ultimately fostering a stronger therapeutic relationship with the sport psychologist. Excel Sport Psychology recognizes the importance of creating a safe and supportive space for athletes to share their thoughts and concerns.
-
​
-
Enhanced Confidentiality:
-
Virtual services offer a higher level of confidentiality. Athletes can engage with a sport psychologist without the risk of being spotted at a traditional clinic, which may deter some from seeking help due to concerns about privacy. Excel Sport Psychology takes athlete confidentiality seriously, ensuring that sessions remain private and secure.
-
​
-
Consistency:
-
Consistency is crucial in sport psychology, and teletherapy offers a unique advantage in maintaining regular sessions. Athletes can stay connected with their sport psychologist even when traveling for competitions or facing unexpected scheduling changes. The ability to maintain a consistent therapeutic relationship is essential for long-term mental performance development and well-being.
-
FAQs about working with a Wisconsin
sports psychologist
-
How long is a session?Individual sessions last 50-60 minutes.
-
What is the cost?Individual athlete sessions cost $175 per session.
-
Are sessions covered by Insurance?I do not accept direct payments from insurance companies, which means I cannot submit a claim to your insurance provider. While I do not accept insurance, I do work with work with Mentaya, a platform that helps clients get money back on out-of-network therapy sessions. If you have out-of-network benefits, Mentaya will file claims and handle the insurance paperwork to make sure you get reimbursed. They charge a 5% fee per claim and have helped people get thousands of dollars back per year. You can sign up using this link: https://mentaya.com/inviteclient/HpEhzIPLiutav2qdYkWa
-
How do I pay for visits?You can pay with a credit card. Some clients also submit receipts for payment under their Health Savings or Flex Spending (HSA/FSA) to pay for services. I strongly recommend checking in with your HSA/FSA provider to ask what specifically you can use those accounts for my services.
-
How often are sessions?Athletes are typically seen every 3-4 weeks until goals are met. Goals are often met within 4-5 visits.
-
How many sessions are needed?Every athlete is different and the number of session varies based on the main concern, but performance concerns can often be improved within 4-5 sessions.
-
Do I need a referral?No referral is needed to be seen.
-
Can you see me where I live?Given that my services are virtual, I am not limited to one state. My ability to see athletes in certain states is based on the presenting concern. If the presenting concern is performance-related, I can see athletes anywhere in the United States. If the concern is mental health, I am licensed through PSYPACT to do tele therapy is 32 states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming).
-
What happens in a session?During the first visit, I will ask questions to get to know you and your goals for working together around your sport or concern. A plan will be set up to meet your goals and I will teach you a variety of strategies to get to your plan. Many people feel that we will only talk about feelings, but I am focused not just on feelings, but on teaching strategies to get you to where you want to be. Less talk and more action is what I believe.
-
Can parents join in the session?My preference is to have a combination of athlete and athlete/parent. The majority of the work will be done with the athlete alone as this allows the athlete to be the most comfortable. However, I feel that parents also need to be involved as they provide valuable information and can help reinforce learning at home.
-
Who benefits from sport psychology?My belief is that anyone that wants to be better would benefit from sport psychology. As we strive to be better at anything, we should (1) be only to any ideas that can help with improvement and (2) understand that sometimes we are hard on ourselves during the journey. Many athletes feel that you only need sport psychology when you are struggling. I feel you need sport psychology always as we can always work on improving.
-
Do you offer services for Sport Organizations?I have provided services to serves athletes, teams, and sport organizations for several years. This can be start out as a team with added individual athlete support as needed.
-
What is the age range of people you serve?I provide services to individuals ranging from 10-years-old through 35-years-old.
-
Can you provide mental health services?Given my training as a clinical psychology, I am able to be licensed in the state of Wisconsin. This allows me to provide mental health services.
-
How do I find a "qualified" Sport Psychologist?I believe that a provider needs to see an athlete as a "whole" meaning sports and mind. To effectively treat athletes, a provider should show knowledge (competency) in both areas. To show knowledge in mental health, a provider needs to be have a graduate level degree in counseling, psychology, or social work (PhD, PsD, MSW, LPC) and be licensed by a state to provide counseling/therapy. To show knowledge in sport, a provider should have a Certified Mental Performance Coach (CMPC) certification through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology meaning they have taking coursework, mentoring, and tests to show sufficient knowledge. However, within the field of sport psychology, there are providers that are licensed and "played" a sport that say they provider sport psychology services. And, there are CMPCs or athletes that do performance, but cannot provide mental health support. To provide the best level of support to an athlete, a provider needs to carry the education in counseling/psychology, be licensed to do therapy, and carry a CMPC. I may be a little biased as this is what I have!​
-
Do you work with people throughout Wisconsin?Yes! We work with clients across the entire state of Wisconsin. Some notable cities include Milwaukee, Green Bay, Madison, Eau Claire and more.
Working with a sports psychologist in Wisconsin can help you enjoy being an athlete again.
Working with a sports psychologist can make a significant difference in an athlete's performance and overall happiness. Excel Sport Psychology specializes in enhancing the mental edge crucial for success. My personalized approach addresses performance enhancement, athlete injury, athlete mental health, and player wellness, with the ultimate goal of improving overall well-being. By investing in mental training through Excel Sport Psychology, athletes not only unlock their peak potential but also cultivate a positive mindset that extends beyond the playing field. For those seeking excellence and happiness in sports, Excel Sport Psychology is the path to unparalleled success. Please reach out for a free introductory phone call today.
