Unlocking Peak Performance Part 2: EMDR Therapy for Athletes

Using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to Overcome Mental Blocks, Heal Trauma, and Elevate Athletic Potential

If you’re reading this, you may have already explored the first post in this series — Unlocking Peak Performance: How Sports Therapy Can Support Athletes On and Off the Field. In that post, we looked at how therapy in general can play a pivotal role in supporting athletes both mentally and emotionally. In this second blog of a three part series, we’ll take a closer look at Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR therapy), an evidence-based approach that can help athletes process trauma, reduce anxiety, and unlock greater performance and resilience.

Why Athletes Are Turning to Therapy

Whether you are an athlete competing in minor league sports looking to take the next steps in your career as an athlete, an athlete competing in college or university, or a hobbyist athlete looking to improve your time in the half-marathon, EMDR therapy can be a supportive intervention for moving you to the next level. Many athletes are seeking therapy to support increasing confidence, decreasing performance anxiety, overcoming injury, decreasing overall stress and processing athletic traumas.

When the Game Gets Personal: Understanding Athletic Trauma

Athletic traumas act as adverse experiences within one's life, and can impact athletic performance, enjoyability in sport and connection to oneself and others. Many athletes' sense of self and identity becomes tangled with who they are and how they perform as athletes. When adverse experience occurs within sport, this can greatly disrupt an athlete's sense of self and identity, causing distress in their lives.

Beyond the Field: The Hidden Stressors Athletes Face

Athletes can be exposed to a variety of other stressors, including balancing training schedules with school/work, managing relationships (family, teammates, coaches), and performance pressures. EMDR therapy can be used to support athletes in overcoming adversity in sport, and even aid in enhancing performance. 

What is EMDR Therapy for Athletes? 

EMDR therapy is an empirically supported intervention for the reduction of PTSD, depression, anxiety and phobia related disorders (Shapiro, 2001). EMDR therapy works by reducing memories related to adverse experiences, decreasing physiological symptoms such as disrupted sleep, nausea and restlessness and stabilizing mood and emotional experiences while supporting clients in changing their own narrative of who they are and adverse experiences that may have occurred.

How EMDR Therapy for Athletes Works in the Brain and Body

EMDR therapy utilizes bilateral stimulation (BLS), including tactile and/or auditory pulsers or tapping. BLS is applied while clients recall a distressing memory, which then becomes desensitized. EMDR therapy can support in creating longer lasting changes as it gets to the root of distress by allowing clients to process and integrate adverse experiences.

Over the course of doing EMDR therapy, athletes will naturally gravitate towards more adaptive thought processes and behaviours that feel good and natural to their nervous systems, therefore enhancing their experiences as an athlete. 

Real Results: Benefits Athletes Can Expect from EMDR Therapy

- Improved sleep 

- Improved concentration and focus 

- Increased states of mindfulness, relaxation and “flow states” 

- Decreased anxiety, panic and depressive symptoms 

- Increased connection to sport, self and others 

- Increased ability to set goals and take action 

- Diminishing blocks, barriers imposing on athletic performance 

Ready to Take Take the First Step Toward Mental Mastery?

I take an experiential, process based approach to working with athletes, just as I do in supporting other clients. I recommend weekly therapy sessions, and can offer intensive sessions if deemed a good fit for the athlete.

Let’s Work Together!

If you’re feeling stuck, held back by stress, injury, or performance anxiety, EMDR therapy could be the key to unlocking your full potential—both on and off the field.

Schedule your free 15-minute consultation today to explore how therapy can support your goals as an athlete.