Performance Coaching using BrainSpotting
For athletes and other high performers, reliably producing results under pressure places demands on the individual in several areas: First and foremost, there is the requirement of raw physical talent, Second is a longer term commitment and dedication, and Thirdly, it might be said that it requires a psychological component that is measured over time. A survey of such athletes might reveal that some are more prone to the “yips” than others.
yips
plural noun
: a state of nervous tension affecting an athlete (such as a golfer) in the performance of a crucial action.
: had a bad case of the yips on short putts.
When it comes to sports, yips happen. We’re not sure who coined yips; we also can’t say if this plural noun has anything to do with the singular yip, a word of imitative origin that refers to a dog’s sharp bark. What we do know is that the yips have sported their name since at least the 1930s, and that the term first appeared in golf-related contexts. (2026, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yips)
The yips are a psychoneuromuscular impediment, a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced performers such as athletes. Symptoms of the yips are losing fine motor skills and/or proprioception, or being affected by psychological issues such as performance anxiety that impact the muscle memory and decision-making, leaving them unable to perform basic skills.
(2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yips)
Ever choked right when it was your turn to shine? Whether it's watching a routine golf putt go wide because your hands started shaking suddenly, forgetting your lines on stage, , or feeling your throat completely lock up right as you stand up to give a massive work presentation, that is your nervous system taking the steering wheel. That’s where Brainspotting Coaching comes in. Consider this a backdoor hack for your brain and body when skill and desire alone aren’t getting it done.
By working with Siskiyou Coaching, you won’t talk about your performance anxiety until you’re blue in the face, we will work more pointedly by helping you recall a time that was particularly challenging, a time when you sought to perform well but you failed, and that’s where the work starts!
Sounds weird, right? But where you look affects how you feel. By finding that exact "brainspot" in your visual field and holding your gaze there, you are essentially tapping directly into the deepest, most instinctive parts of your brain. This approach bypasses all your overthinking and goes straight to the physical and often unconscious material causing the problem.
It takes the invisible weight off your shoulders so your body can finally do what it already knows how to do, whether that’s hitting a perfect tennis serve, throwing a cleaner baseball over the plate, nailing a dramatic monologue, pitching to a room full of executives, or even just unlocking a creative block when you're staring down a blank page. It’s less about "fixing" you and more about clearing out the internal static so your natural talent can show up to the party.
You can anticipate that this work may have a variety of hidden benefits, including:
Unveiling unresolved traumas: Identifies and addresses hidden sources of performance anxiety and blocks.
Releases physical tension: Reduces muscle guarding and improves body awareness.
Improves mental focus: Enhances one’s concentration and reduces the distractions one might experience during competition.
Increases confidence: Helps athletes overcome self-doubt and develop greater and more essential belief in their abilities.
Improves emotional regulation: Develops coping mechanisms for managing performance related stress and anxiety.