Getting around a Gymnast’s Block

Question

My 10-year old daughter is a level-8 gymnast who is having difficulty performing skills that are on the beam and bars.  The coaches feel she is strong, capable, talented and full of potential.  She learns all skills easily, but then she becomes fearful. She allows her fears to keep per frozen for weeks, and this prevents her from doing her best.  (Her coaches) say if they could fix her head, she could go all the way.   My daughter wants to change this aspect, also, and to become more positive and in control of the irrational fears and doubts.  Can you help her?

Answer

     Athletic improvement is one of my specialties.  Many of the issues athletes face when they are trying to improve are at the more subconscious or unconscious levels of their minds.

     Hypnotic methods, such as visualization, are practiced by many professional and amateur athletes today.  These methods include helping with self-confidence and other attitudes, alleviating fears, helping with a more aggressive approach, refining skills, motivating practice, and other aspects of athleticism.

     I have worked with gymnasts before.  The primary issue for young girls and boys involved in this sport often is whether it is the child who wants to continue, or the parents who are eager for them to accomplish.  If it is the child, there is no reason by a good hypnotherapist can’t be helpful for that child to accomplish what they really want.  If it is the parents, then perhaps they need to rethink the goals they have for their child.