A Day In The Life Of… A Premiere League Psychotherapist
BACP-Accredited Psychotherapist Nicola Vanlint is on a mission to break the stigma of mental health in sport. Like most therapists, Nicola’s passion is to promote counselling as a wellbeing maintenance tool and not just a resource only to be accessed in times of crisis. The sporting industry, in her opinion, is one such arena where attending counselling still holds stigma, especially for men, but Nicola is on a journey to change this narrative.
I wake up at around 6:30 am and work my way through emails to make sure I’m up to speed on work and feel prepared for my day. Once our son is up at around 7.30 am, I start making him breakfast, a packed lunch and get him ready for school. I also make myself my first and last mug of fresh black coffee, as any more caffeine makes me feel jittery.
To help my gut health, I don’t eat until around 12:30 pm, as I find that intermittent fasting gives me more energy. I like to drink warm lemon water with apple cider vinegar in the mornings as well, as this also promotes gut health which is very important not just for our physical wellbeing, but our mental wellbeing too. An estimated 90% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut which helps to regulate mood and anxiety, whilst low levels have been associated with depression.
I’m big on pre-work exercise and always make sure to get at least a 20-minute workout in every morning once I’ve dropped off our son at school. This leaves me refreshed and motivated to start seeing clients – my first appointment is typically at around 10 o’clock.
My journey to becoming a therapist started because of my own issues with my mental health and panic attacks. This led me to explore avenues to manage these symptoms and encouraged me to help others do the same. I have now been in the mental health sector for 15 years and through my interest in the mind, body connection, my practice is transitioning to focus more on the mental health of athletes like premier league footballers and marathon runners.
This attentiveness came from working with a couple of clients who initially came to me seeking generic counselling but noticed an improvement in their athletic performance after having some sessions with me. For example, I’ve had clients beat their personal best in marathons and World Championships! I believe introducing more athletes to the connection between mental health and physical performance could help promote the benefits of counselling.
The first thing I do when I get into the office is making sure I’ve got enough water with me at my table. I aim to drink at least two litres of water a day and my job relies on effective communication so it’s important that I keep hydrated. I also make sure I’m sipping water throughout sessions with clients to encourage them to drink too. When a client is anxious, stressed or depressed they tend to breath out of their mouths more or even have an unstimulated salivary flow rate, causing a dry mouth.
The rest of my day can vary. I might see one of my athlete clients for some walk and talk therapy around Greenwich Park where we discuss how our bodies store emotions and how physical trauma is held in the body, or I might talk to a coach about how I can help facilitate their squad in the future, or I might be offering expert comment to press to help build-up the presence of psychotherapists in sport.
Either way, I see a maximum of four clients a day, each for 50 minutes, and ensure I leave 20 minutes between clients to decompress. During this period, I like to leave the office and do a bit of urban meditation, exploring the park nearby or simply strolling around the block, as movement helps us regulate and process emotions. Even though my clients’ emotions aren’t mine, emotions are energy, and it is important for me not to carry those emotions or project them into the next appointment.
I usually work at the office till it’s time to collect our son from school. Once we get home, I’m back in ‘mum mode’. It can be difficult switching hats when I know I still have work to do but playing a family game or dancing around the kitchen is so fun and an easy way to take my mind off work for a bit!
After our son goes to bed at around 7pm, stroll through my emails for the final time and do any other outstanding admin tasks like sending invoices, posting on my socials and very importantly replying to messages from family and friends, as I have my phone on silent all day for work.
Once I’m done with work for the day, I like to watch some light-hearted TV with my husband like Gogglebox or do something creative like making jewellery. I always have a creative activity on the go as being creative is my ‘mindfulness’ time.
Nicola’s Top Counselling Tips for Professional Athletes
- My number one piece of advice would be to listen and be kind to your body.
- Learn to recognise and acknowledge what emotions you are feeling and where you feel them in your body. The mind and body are intertwined as one whole unit.
- Try not to resent your body if it is not performing as it used to post-injury or because of aging. Be kind to your body and focus on what it can do, not what it used to be able to do.
- Remember that even the smallest of injuries can have a psychological impact and evoke a biological response known as a dorsal vagal state. This state intends to facilitate healing which lowers our energy levels leaving us feeling down, unmotivated and bored. Acknowledging those emotions is the most helpful thing you can do. Problems arise when people don’t acknowledge or recognise their anxieties as they can push too early causing additional physical trauma.
- Nicola Vanlint is a BACP-Accredited Psychotherapist specialising in sports therapy, anxiety, confidence, psychological safety, stress management and growth mindset. Find more about Nicola on her website.
- Want to speak to someone about your mental health, day to day concerns or reach a specific life goal? Click here to find thousands of BACP registered and accredited counsellors like Nicola who specialise in a whole host of therapeutic disciplines and mental health issues.
