The Sisu Mind

What changes when you see your athletes every day?

The Observation

At the academy, I see most of the players daily. Not every interaction is a formal sport psychology session but many interactions can be meaningful.

You notice things: how they celebrate small wins, how they handle mistakes, how they talk to each other before and after practice. You start to recognize the quiet signals of confidence, communication, frustration or fatigue.

In those everyday moments, I’m not the ‘psychologist’. I’m simply there, a person they can trust (hopefully). Sometimes it’s sharing a joke, other times it’s a short conversation or a playful game that reveals more than any structured assessment could.

The Contrast

But when the door closes for a planned session, something shifts.
The tone becomes intentional. The space becomes theirs.

It’s about collaboration, combining observation and intentional conversations. They come ready to work, to reflect, to unpack what’s behind their performances.
They’re often more serious but also interestingly, more open.

Then there are athletes I only see in these formal settings. No glimpses into their training days or interactions. It keeps the session focused, but also challenges them to paint the picture themselves. In these sessions the athletes have to think, describe and recognize their patterns without me having seen them.

Both approaches have value. Daily presence gives you context. Professional distance gives you clarity.

The Lesson

Sport psychology is about what happens in sessions. In my situation it is also about timing, tone and trust.
Some growth happens in the structured space of reflection. Other times, it happens in the hallway, after practice, when the tone is lighter.

Learning to balance both worlds is part of the craft: knowing when to listen, when to ask and when just being there is enough.

The Bigger Picture

The right time and tone build better conversations, better athletes.
Because growth doesn’t happen only inside the session. It happens in the spaces between.

If you’re a coach, athlete or professional who wants to refine the way you communicate and connect, wants to know when to step in, when to step back and how to create the right tone for growth, explore our coaching programs here!