If you’re an athlete and you’re beginning to notice some mental health challenges that are impacting your life and your sport, a natural question you may have is, “Should I go work with a sports psychologist?”

Right away, if you are beginning to think about working with a mental coach, then chances are pretty high the work will have a positive effect on your life.

But it’s also good to do your research. Really dig into whether or not committing the time and money required to work with a sports psychologist is necessary.

To help with your decision, here are four questions you can ask yourself:

Question #1: Have You Lost Motivation?

Do you feel dull while performing? Does the thought of getting up and going to train cause a pit in your stomach and you feel like you’re dragging a thousand tons just to pull yourself out of bed?

Losing motivation to perform can be a clear sign you should seek help from a sports psychologist.

There are many reasons why you may lose motivation; you may have had a string of bad games and simply can’t handle any more heartbreak, or maybe your coach has been getting on you lately and you don’t want to face the scrutiny.

No matter the cause, if you are currently struggling with motivation to play, working with someone will help.

Question #2: Have You Lost the Love for the Game?

Do you remember when you were a little kid and you’d rush out to the field or court? You were so excited to simply play. Because in all honesty, that’s what you were doing…you were playing.

But as you got older, more and more pressure turned playing into performing. If we’re not careful, this can easily strip away the love we used to hold so dear.

If you don’t love your sport anymore, or worse, have grown to dread and despise it, this is a good sign you should go work with a sports psychologist to help reclaim that love.

Question #3: Are You Struggling to Handle Pressure?

Pressure can come from anywhere. You may put pressure on yourself to live up to your own expectations. Or maybe the pressure you feel comes from your coaches or parents.

No matter where pressure originates, it can be difficult to manage. When you are unable to cope with the pressure you feel, it can lead to anxiety and fear, and lower your level of play.

Working with a sports psychologist will help you use pressure in a healthy way. Turning something that was a negative into something that actually helps your performance.

Question #4: Are You Playing Well in Practice?

As a mental performance coach, this is one of the main reasons I see athletes reach out to me for help. They are performing well in practice, yet, come game time, it’s as though they are a completely different person.

What this shows is that they clearly have the physical talents to succeed. The skills are there, but the execution is not. So what’s getting in the way?

There is something mentally keeping them from performing up to their potential.

When this happens, it’s a wise idea to work with a sports psychologist. They will help you identify what exactly is keeping you from performing your best in games, and work to overcome the cause.

Final Thoughts

The question of whether or not you should work on your mental game comes into the mind of a lot of athletes.

Maybe you saw something on the news about your favorite player who is working with a psychologist. Or maybe your coaches have brought the idea up to you.

If you are considering working with someone on your mental health, to get a clear idea of whether or not the work is right for you, simply ask yourself the four questions listed above.

By doing so, you will be able to decide for yourself if you should begin working with a sports psychologist.