Trauma and Elite Sports: EMDR to Break Through the Glass Ceiling
Logbook – EMDR PEPS practice
When everything is in place… except for the next step
When I think of elite sports, I often picture an athlete who always ends up in the same place… without ever managing to cross the threshold.
The capabilities are there. The work is done. Performance is consistent.
But at the crucial moment, something gets in the way.
Not always visible. Not always explainable.
Via EMDR teleconsultation, athletes don’t directly refer to a “glass ceiling.” Instead, they describe a discrepancy: one level in training, another in competition.
It's as if, just as we're about to reach a milestone, the system slows us down.
In my EMDR PEPS practice, this type of blockage is never viewed as a limitation on potential. It is interpreted as an interference from the nervous system, often linked to significant experiences that remain active.
It is this interpretation that allows us to work with precision, even during video calls.
When you've got the skill… but not the right move
A limitation that does not stem from one's skills
The athlete has mastered the movement. He practices. He improves.
And yet, in clinical practice, we always see the same thing: when it comes time to take the next step, performance becomes inconsistent. The symptoms then become indicators:
- Unusual mistakes at key moments
- Difficulty in reaching a conclusion
- Variability in Competition Performance
- Discrepancy between training and real-world situations
Clinical experience shows that this type of blockage is not due to a lack of effort.
What's really holding us back
Traces that are still active in the system
Behind these situations, there are often specific factors:
- Notable reviews
- failures perceived as decisive
- strong external pressure
- fear of the consequences of success
These experiences aren't always conscious. But they leave a mark.
In the office, it's always the same logic: the system doesn't freeze for no reason. It anticipates a consequence.
Let’s start by having a conversation.
The fear of taking the plunge
When Success Becomes a Risk
In some cases, the obstacle isn’t failure. It’s success. Success means:
- change status
- to be exposed
- to be expected
The system can then associate performance with increased pressure. These manifestations then become signals:
- Commitment Retention
- Subtle Self-Sabotage
- Difficulty in reaching a conclusion
- Need to return to a familiar area
If these factors are not viewed as a response by the system, they can be interpreted as a lack of determination.
The pivotal moment
A specific point that determines what happens next
In these roadblocks, there are always specific moments:
- a review
- an error
- a memorable competition
These moments become reference points. Not like memories. More like anchor points for the system.
In therapy, the work involves identifying these moments. Because that’s where the blockage sets in.
EMDR as a Tool for Unlocking Potential
Focus on interference, not performance
EMDR does not seek to directly improve performance. It addresses the factors that prevent performance from being realized. In this type of situation, the work involves:
- Focus on Key Moments
- Process the associated charges
- Overcome Negative Expectations
- Enable customized reading
This work frees up the system. We don't push the athlete to perform. We remove what's holding them back.
Would you like to find out if EMDR en visio is right for you? Let's have a chat together.
Working as closely as possible to the real issues
A framework suited to high-level competition
Video allows for precise, context-specific training here. The athlete is in their own environment:
- his points of reference
- his routines
- his usual state of mind
It is under these conditions that activations occur. This framework allows for:
- to identify turning points
- to observe reactions in real time
- to fine-tune
In elite sports, this precision is crucial.
Example of support
When the last step proves difficult
For example, I work with a high-level athlete who is able to replicate his performance in training.
But in competition:
- difficulty reaching a conclusion
- mistakes at the decisive moment
- unexplained variation
During the session, we didn't focus on technique.
It happened at a specific moment:
- criticism received at a pivotal moment
- a notable failure
These factors, which remained active, influenced performance in competition.
Once they retired, their performance stabilized.
Moving Beyond the Myth of the Mind
When it's not a matter of willpower
When faced with this kind of roadblock, the most common explanation is still:
When faced with this kind of mental block, the most common explanation is still: “It’s all in the mind.”
This interpretation is incomplete. The system isn’t lacking in willpower. It’s conditioned. EMDR therapy involves:
- turn off the settings
- reduce expectations
- restore availability
You don't strengthen the mind. You free the system.
First step in the process
Read Before Taking Action
In these situations, the first session allows you to:
- identify key moments
- understand the mechanisms
- develop a work strategy
Accuracy is more important than speed.
Conclusion
When the Ceiling Disappears
The glass ceiling is not a real barrier. It is a barrier created by the system based on past experiences.
EMDR via video call allows us to work directly on these obstacles, taking into account the athlete’s level of demand. Once these barriers are removed, the athlete’s potential is unleashed—without forcing it—because nothing is holding them back anymore.
Would you like to take stock of a performance bottleneck? An initial discussion will help us assess whether this type of support is right for you.
