I have worked with Melissa for a number of years on the psychological aspects of my game, I have found it extremely beneficial and helped my development as a professional athlete immensley. Joe, Professional footballer.

'Seeing Melissa has really helped. She has helped me take a different approach to racing and afterwards, as well as to training in general. She is very easy to talk to and listens to what I say. She reacts positively to my comments and helps me deal with problems in an appropriate way. I look forward to her sessions and always feel good after seeing/talking to her.'.

Ben, National Swimmer

After a terrible accident I was left too scared to compete my horse. Having a competition horse and being to scare to compete I was left feeling I had to make a decision, either start competing, which I was too scared to do, or sell my horse, which I desperately did not want to do. I started to see Melissa, we worked through tears, laughter, facing my fears, and finally to enable me to not only compete my horse again, but to really enjoy the sport I so desperately love. Having never seen a Sports Psychologist before I was surprised by some of the topics we covered. We looked at lots of areas of my life, and the work we did helped me in so many of them. I simply feel happier about much more than just competing my horse. Melissa facilitated me working through my fears in a comfortable way, challenging me when required, and also using laughter. I continue to use the techniques we worked on and I can now enjoy my horse and keep my fear under control. Melissa has supported me to love my favourite sport again and to enjoy my life more.

 

Sarah,
aged 31, 3 Day Eventer

 

 

I had an issue with running in that I felt I needed to do it as part of my fitness regime, but hated every second and often failed to achieve what I set out to. I’m not sure I believed that seeing a sport psychologist would help but thought that it couldn’t hurt. What I hadn’t realised was that in order to sort out what was getting in the way of fitness you have to look a bit deeper into what motivates or de-motivates you. Working with Mel was pretty uncomfortable at first but she didn’t let me off the hook! Once I got over that, I learned that I actually wanted to run, and that it was my choice as to whether I did or not, no-one was making me do it. Understanding
that and being given some skills to practice I don’t hate running anymore, and
that I know I can do it. What a breakthrough, I have now entered my first half
marathon- who’d have thought it. Thanks Mel.

 

Julie,
Regional Manager for Sainsbury’s

I have worked with Mel for many years now and I have found her support great. Things we have worked on such as improving confidence, reducing stress and anxiety, and coping with long term injury have been really helpful and important throughout my career. I still call her now to chat about how things are going and anything that is worrying me, or if I am struggling I will call her and we will talk things through, rationalising thoughts and emotions. I have found it extremely useful to have an external support, someone who will listen and allow you to talk and say how you are feeling. Mel has been fantastic when I have needed it through the highs and the lows of my career so far.

 

Dan, Premier League Footballer

We have known Mel for about four years , she has worked with our son supporting him through bad times in his sporting career, and also within other aspects of his life, including his education and the stress of exams.  Our son is an elite athlete, competing at National level, and has experienced many ups and downs throughout his career.  In the beginning Mel helped him to recover emotionally after being withdrawn from a major competition due to injury.  He met with Mel regularly to discuss the implications of being withdrawn from the competition and she helped him to take positives from this experience and believe in himself following this bitter disappointment.

Since then he has had many moments of physical and emotional torment over the past few years.  As our son is a rather quiet person and often does not want to talk about his training or competitions
we, as parents, feel much relief knowing that he wants to talk to Mel and that she can always provide reassurance and explanations for his anxieties.  He has had to made some tough decisions throughout his sporting career but Mel has been there every step of the way and has made herself available to him at very
short notice.  She offers strategies and routines to help calm his thoughts and control his fears so he is able to concentrate on what needs to be achieved to enable him to progress and perform to the best of his
ability.   Mel regularly comes along to training sessions and competitions and has even taken the time to meet with our sons coach to discuss his views and aspirations regarding our sons future.

We are relieved that our son is now is a ‘good’ place within his sport, and life in general after hitting rock bottom last year and am grateful that Mel was also there to provide much support and reassurance
for us too.  We can honestly say we don’t know where we would be without Mel!!

 

Many many thanks for always being there for all of us.

Kath and Steve Hendrick