Athlete Adversity & Suffering
The Human Behind the Performance
High-performance sport can look glamorous from the outside. Inside, it’s often lonely, pressured, and painful. My Master’s research, The Human Behind the Performance: Gestalt Therapy & Athlete Adversity, explored how athletes experience hidden suffering – and how Gestalt therapy can genuinely help.
Common Challenges Athletes Face
selection risk, public expectations, perfectionism.
Pressure & scrutiny
pain, isolation, fear of re-injury, identity shaken.
Injury & rehab
treated as an asset/brand; privacy and autonomy erode
Commodification
travel fatigue, loneliness, unstable routines.
Tour life & disruption
coercive cultures, abuse, not feeling safe to speak up.
Power dynamics
Young athletes stepping into elite pathways for the first time.
Retired athletes navigating life after sport and mental health struggles.
Career shifts, deselection or early exit due to injury.
Transitions
anxiety, depression, burnout, substance use.
Mental health risks
disordered eating, body image struggles.
Body/weight pressures
How I Support Athletes
Safe, confidential space to speak beyond the jersey and results.
Support for junior athletes moving into elite sport to develop resilience, identity and healthy boundaries.
Guidance for retired or retiring athletes rebuilding purpose, values, and mental health beyond sport.
Injury & rehab support: work with fear, frustration, and identity shifts during recovery.
Awareness and regulation skills (grounding, breath, somatic awareness).
Care for anxiety/depression with present-moment, relational work.
Collaboration with family/coach/club (with consent).
With Individuals
With Teams & Clubs
Build cohesive, relational team cultures that prioritise care over KPIs.
Group process workshops: trust, communication, conflict repair, role clarity.
Pre-tour preparation / post-event debriefs tailored to youth and adult squads.
Return-from-injury reintegration that includes the whole group field.
Coach consultations on balancing standards with wellbeing.
Gestalt therapy focuses on the whole person in their environment, not just their symptoms or performance.
Phenomenology
slow down, notice what’s happening (body, emotion, thought).
Dialogue
real, equal, human-to-human contact – no fixing, more meeting.
Experimentation
gentle, co-designed exercises to reveal new choices
Field perspective
includes culture, power, travel, media, and team dynamics.
Why Gestalt Therapy Works
Next Steps
If you’re a junior athlete, an injured athlete, a retired player, or part of a team wanting a healthier environment, you’re not “weak” for needing support – you’re human. Whether it’s injury, pressure, loneliness, or a tough transition, help is available.
Book a complimentary 15-minute chat to see if we’re a fit. Packages for teams and touring blocks available on request.
