Hypnotherapy and Sports Performance

Hypnosis (a state of trance in which there is no barrier between one's conscious and unconscious state and in which healing can occur) isn’t just a treatment for pain or addiction – it can also serve as a natural sports performance enhancer. Hypnotherapy allows athletes to create positive performance images ahead of the game, visualize themselves succeeding and translate those images into reality during competition. In addition, hypnotic techniques like Ericksonian therapy (the use of a positive, conversational approach to tap the subconscious) can help athletes recover more quickly from sports injuries and return to top performance level. An increasing interest in the connection between sports and hypnotherapy has sparked ongoing medical studies. Numerous Olympic athletes use hypnotherapy on a regular basis. (1) (2)

The power of hypnosis stretches across sports boundaries to help athletes achieve better results in basketball, cricket, mountain climbing, gymnastics and beyond.

Hypnotherapy has been shown to be particularly effective in improving golf performance. Tiger Woods is an outstanding example of a golf player who uses hypnosis techniques like relaxation and imaging to help him prepare for competition. (1)

In this clinical study, hypnosis dramatically improved athletes’ imaging and concentration abilities. (Effects of hypnosis on flow states and golf performance. Pates J, Maynard I. Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University, South Yorkshire. Perceptual and Motor Skills. 2000 Dec;91{3 Pt 2}:1057-75.) After hypnotherapy, golf players were much more easily able to mentally create situations like practicing alone, practicing in front of others, watching a teammate, and competing. (3)

For professional or amateur athletes looking for ways to overcome pain or improve their game, hypnotherapy is an affordable and effective solution. Isaac Farin is a certified clinical hypnotherapist, a medical meditation consultant, and a stress management consultation specialist. In addition to conducting sports therapy sessions, Isaac's true passion in the field surrounds strength-based approaches to both individual and couples & family therapy. He also has specializations in solution-oriented therapies; brief, systemic therapy; mindfulness; and spiritual approaches to therapy.

(1) Hypnosis for Sports Performance. 2009. About Hypnosis. July 30 2012. http://www.abouthypnosis.com/sports-hypnosis.html

(2) Hypnosis for Athletic Performance. 2008. Advanced Hypnosis Center. July 30 2012. http://www.ahcenter.com/programs/athletic

(3) Sports Hypnosis Research. 2009. The Centre for Sports Hypnosis. July 31 2012. http://www.sportshypnosis.org.uk/research