In the Trenches with Paralyzing Fear - How to reduce, redirect and finally triumph

I coach deeply...and my athletes trust me. I'm sharing a recent email I sent to the parents of an athlete-client (I changed the names). Tackling FEAR is a S-L-O-W step-by-step process. It requires insight, mental tools, and incredible patience from a mental skills coach. I hope this helps you SEE the importance of Mental Skills (MS) training, and how I work carefully with clients.  Namaste, Lisa

Hello Bill and Jen, 
A summary is below about Leah's most recent session - in the gym - on Thur. Jan. 7. I'm going to focus on her fear and what happened in the gym...
Leah Russo, MS training #4, Thur. Jan. 7
LEARNING MS We touched on what she'd done in the last week. And then decided on what she wanted to do in the gym...so we reviewed her script for the standing back tuck. She wants to get this skill!  So we practiced deep breathing and visualizing the skill in parts and being successful. This went well - Leah takes it seriously and goes through each part with me. Leah reports that she can "see" the skill in her mind, but can't always "feel" it in her body -- this is normal, since she is JUST beginning to learn these tools. Next, to the gym...  APPLYING MS TO BACK TUCK IN THE GYM Leah warmed up, then we got into some basic power skills (round offs, back handsprings) - because she needs POWER to do this back tuck. And doing basics well provides confidence. We got a panel mat, put it on the floor. Got a sting mat, and placed it behind the panel mat for landing. I thought Leah could do the back tuck with a spot. And she wanted to. But she immediately "hit the fear wall" and could not do the back tuck with a spot. She was very afraid and got quiet. I asked where she felt she could do the back tuck.  We went to the resi pit and brought the panel mat. We did several progressions - stretch jumps w a spot, lying down on back and snapping legs into tuck position, reviewing script, visualizing, but she STILL COULD NOT do the back tuck. So I had her lean back into my arms and I literally carried her through the move in slow motion. We did this multiple times (4-5) for her to remind her of the feeling of flipping; then Leah felt better and started to jump a little. We did that 4 times, then she really jumped and was doing it super well. In between, she reviewed the mental pattern of BREATHE, FOCUS (on script), ACTION, and I counted for her "1, 2, 3 jump!" Leah trusted me. She made great progress in a few minutes. But then...in a split second...she hit the fear wall again. She regressed and became very scared. She could not do the back tuck at all. Leah freaked out (i imagined her thoughts -- how can this happen? what's wrong with me? I just did back tucks, and now I can't!) Tears began to well up in her eyes. I spoke to her gently and we started over again, breaking down the back tuck, doing the drills, me carrying her through the move... Slowly, slowly, she got back to a mid-level, doing a small jump and going for it about 70% with my help. The good news -- she was able to trust me and work with me. Leah learned that she can overcome the fear with the mental skills and with my help. I was very pleased. She was brave and also happy. 
MY ANALYSIS  This incident - getting to that terrible fearful place in learning the back tuck - was very revealing. She has all the talent! She can jump and flip just fine! But her fear is extremely high. And I also think she 'loses the feeling' of HOW to do the back tuck. Fear does that. It causes the brain to "forget."I don't think Leah will overcome this in 2 more sessions. I would be thrilled if she did. But for this level of fear, she needs the most patience from all of us. I've worked with athletes with intense fears. It may take 8-12 sessions. We'll have to see. 
NOTE: Fall of 2014, I worked closely with a Level 9 gymnast - Carrie Chee (14 yrs old) - for 2+ months. She nearly quit because of her fear, frustration, and sadness. And it was a big time investment to focus on the mental skills (we met 2x a week, 2 hours a day -- so 4 hours a week). But it paid off. She learned and practiced the mental skills with me, she applied them, gradually, and with time, she learned to manage her fear. She had an awesome competition season in 2015, and she is now Level 10 and doing amazing gymnastics. Carrie and her mother thanked me - the mental skills are the reason she is doing so well.  
Back to Leah: I'm planning to work with Leah tomorrow, Monday, 3:30 - 4:30 pm, at Airborne. We can email after and schedule next sessions. Let me know what you think. This is an ongoing conversation :) 
Thank you! Lisa Mitzel 

TO THE READER: "Leah" is 10 yrs old. She is a Level 4 gymnast working to move up to Level 5. She is determined. Scared. Brave. I am honored to work with her, and I know she will overcome and continue to advance.   I am here for all athletes in all sports. I support and work with coaches, too.  And I'm happy to help you reach the success you desire.