From Stress to Success: EMDR and ETT Techniques for Peak Performance
We all face situations where we must perform at our best, whether in athletic competitions, or school. Consider the 2014 Super Bowl, where the two top teams, led by two of the best quarterbacks, played against each other. While Peyton Manning is undeniably a terrific athlete, he had one of the worst games of his career that day, missing a snap within the first two minutes, in the opposing team in zone. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson played the game of his life. He was the definition of cool, calm, and collected.
In the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles, the G.O.A.T. withdrew from the all-around competition due to mental health concerns—a brave and vulnerable decision. By the 2024 Paris Olympics, she credited her therapist for helping her win gold in the Women’s All-Around (imagine being her therapist and keeping that incredible secret!). At the professional level, it’s common for athletes to work with sports therapists or psychologists. Although I can’t confirm if Manning or Wilson had such support, it's clear that mental preparation is crucial for peak performance.
As a therapist, I have received excellent training in several tools to help clients enhance their performance in sports, work, or school. Two effective methods are EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and ETT (Emotional Transformation Therapy). These tools help clients process distressing emotions or symptoms related to upcoming events or situations, enabling them to perform at their highest ability. While processing their nerves and anxieties through visualization and future planning, clients can prepare themselves and their nervous systems to perform confidently and calmly.
I have had the pleasure of using these performance enhancement tools not only with clients but also for myself, for athletic performance, and text anxiety. After several EMDR sessions with my therapist for my nerves surrounding the high jump, I won first place at State. After using ETT, I very easily and confidently passed my National Counselor Exam.
These tools can help people prepare for huge exams that they need to pass in order to move into the next stage in life (like the SAT/ACT), board exams (LSAT, NCE, SIE, etc), public speaking, or athletic performance. Our jobs and livelihoods may hinge on the “success” of our performance. It is not uncommon for our confidence, self-esteem, and sense of worth to feel like it is on the line. (PSA - You are worthy of love, belonging, and celebration regardless of your “success”).
It goes without saying that these tools will not guarantee a “win”, nor will they help a couch potato run a marathon without any training. However, they have helped me and several of my clients feel confident and well-prepared before performances where there was a lot of pressure, both externally and by myself.
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