From pressure to performance: My journey from athlete to sport psychologist

As an athlete, I faced the highs of victory and the crushing weight of pressure - moments where success felt within reach, yet something always seemed to hold me back. One moment, I was just a kid who loved football, the next I was an aspiring athlete, completely unprepared for the pressures that came with it. I want to share my story, my journey into sport psychology, and where my passion for helping others truly began. Perhaps some of this may resonate with you...

When we're young, we are fearless. We throw ourselves into everything, never second-guessing, never hesitating. We are uncompromisingly ourselves, believing wholeheartedly that we can achieve anything. If you're anything like me, you spent your childhood collecting 'Match Attack' stickers, playing football at lunchtime with the boys, and practicing penalty shootouts in the garden with your brother until dark. Sport was simple, an escape, a joy, a way to be with friends. No pressure. No expectations. Just the love of the game.

At 11 years old, I got accepted into Charlton's Football Academy, chasing the dream of one day making it pro...

What they don't prepare you for is what happens next... the excitement of your first day quickly gives way to nerves. When you arrive, you see the older girls warming up—confident, sharp, seemingly unfazed. Around them, coaches and managers stand in quiet observation, analysing every movement, every decision. And suddenly, the thought creeps in...

"Do I really belong here?"

Academy football is no easy feat. I still remember my first training session vividly. It wasn't just about playing well, it was about proving I deserved to be there, every touch and every decision mattered. I strived for perfection, not through confidence, but through a fear of failing, of not making the team that week, of hearing my name left out. Feedback felt less like guidance and more like a personal judgement on my abilities.

And then there were the relationships. You train and play alongside your teammates, but you also compete against them. You celebrate their successes, yet in the quiet corners of your mind, you wonder...

"How does this impact my chances?"

The result? I never felt like I could play at my full potential. The freedom and flow I had on a Sunday with my local team seemed impossible to replicate. My performance suffered, the pressure became too much, and eventually, I was let go.

Like so many other footballers, there was no support, no road map for what came next, and no guidance on how to process it. Returning to school felt embarrassing, carrying the silent weight of failure. You start to fear the sport you once loved, questioning whether you even belong in it anymore.

For years, I avoided football. The sadness of not playing felt easier to handle than the frustration of knowing I couldn't play the way I once had. Walking away seemed safer than facing the doubt.

It wasn't until university that I finally chose to face the fear. Trialing for the BUCS team was more than a usual tryout for me, it was a test of resilience, and not that I knew it at the time but...

One of the best decisions I've ever made.

This certainly doesn't mean that the journey was easy. Far from it. But it was an opportunity. A chance to step back on the pitch, to try again, and to apply the lessons I had gathered through years of study, experience, and personal growth.

In fact, this whole experience is what sparked my passion for the career I'm building today. Had young me known what I know now, had she better understood her experiences and how to navigate them, she may never have felt like an imposter in the sport that once meant everything to her. And who knows what she could have achieved?

I entered sport psychology to have the opportunity to support individuals to find their feet, and to navigate their way through the world of sport. Whether it's managing pressure, building confidence, overcoming setbacks, or recovering from injury, my goal is to equip athletes with the tools they need to thrive.

But more than that, I aim to support the person behind the athlete - helping to process the lows, celebrate the highs, and know that their worth is never defined by a performance.

No matter your age, gender, or ability, everyone deserves to be supported.

Success isn't just about being the quickest, strongest, or even most 'talented'... it's about mastering the mental game and unlocking your full potential.