The Head Coach Approach
Too often we assume that when it comes to mental ability, athletes either “have it” or they don’t. The truth is, mental skills, like physical skills, can be learned and improved through teaching and practice. With Head Coaching, you can develop a great attitude, stay motivated, build self-confidence, and focus attention so that you consistently perform at your best.
Sharon Drake Petro, Ph.D., sport psychology consultant and hands-on Founder and Director of Head Coaching, draws on decades of experience to help coaches and athletes gain the Mental Advantage. She has developed several strategies to assist her clients in breaking down their ultimate goal of peak performance into smaller achievable steps. With her direct, clear and concise communication, Dr. Petro’s approach is appealing to competitive athletes and coaches. She carefully assesses her clients’ mental skills strengths and potential improvement areas to create a personalized training program. Her method of asking the right questions helps her clients become more aware of how their thinking affects their performance. This, in turn, helps the athlete or coach make the necessary changes in their thought habits in order to gain more control of their performance. This method of guided discovery has helped athletes and coaches achieve real results—real fast.
Assessment, Learning, Practice, and Evaluation
Our work together will move through four phases. The process continues to evolve as we reassess and build on acquired skills. We will move at a pace that meets your needs.
Assessment
- You will complete Peak Performance Inventory. This will help you identify your mental skills strengths and areas for improvement.
- We will discuss what was learned from the PPI.
- We will discuss your performance goals and what you have found to be challenges to your performance.
Learning
- You will learn the basic mental skills for peak performance. These skills will improve your focus, confidence, motivation, and your ability to handle pressure with increased emotional control.
- You will learn improved communication skills to develop a more cohesive team unit.
Practice
- You will learn mental training strategies to practice that will support the execution of the basic mental skills.
- We will create a personal mental skills training program tailored to your specific needs that will guide your practice sessions.
Evaluation
- We will monitor your progress as you apply your mental skills in practice and competition.
- Adjustments will be made in your personal training program as your skills develop.
Why the Head Coaching Approach?
Dr. Petro creates a positive environment in her coaching relationships. Athletes and coaches alike feel supported by her approach of reinforcing achievements. She teaches athletes the mental skills for peak performance and assists coaches with incorporating these skills in their training programs. In addition, personalized strategic plans, created in partnership with the athlete or coach, are developed based on individual needs and are modified throughout the coaching process—with Head Coaching, you are not just another client.
Dr. Petro’s Head Coaching Approach coaching process helps her clients remain focused on their goals—improved performance. And it works because Dr. Petro has crafted her approach based on her experiences as an athlete, teacher, counselor and coach. She’s “been there” and, as such, is well equipped to work with individual athletes, teams, and coaches. In her combined training and years of experience as an applied sport psychology consultant and professional counselor, Dr. Petro brings a unique perspective to the analysis of sport performance. She understands the competitive athlete and coach in a context larger than the athletic environment. There are many variables that affect an athlete’s emotions that often have to be considered in helping the individual reach their potential. With this unique perspective, she can assess the situation with speed and accuracy to facilitate effective change.
Learn more about Dr. Petro