Tennis is a unique sport, but the mental processes that underlie it are universal, creative, and complex. Tennis requires a willingness to risk uncertainty and failure as a pathway to achievement. This is, in part, why I enjoy working with tennis players—they relish a challenge. At its essence, tennis is a psychological game. But more than that, it runs parallel to life’s own journey. Competing at a high level is as much about surrender to the learning process as it is the mastery of any mental game. It’s about learning how you learn best.
Using empirically-validated and contemporary psychotherapy techniques, I specialize in helping tennis players—both professionals and amateur enthusiasts—improve and refine their approach to the game. I’ve helped high-level pros capitalize on their skill by learning to move through fear and doubt; value mistakes; channel aggression; develop productive rituals and imagery techniques; recognize the difference between a healthy work-ethic and damaging levels of perfectionism; embrace difficulty; master stage fright; improve on-court communication between doubles partners; and cope with the isolation of the sport and life on tour.
Dr. Alexandra Guhde 