Evolve Child Psychology, Sports Performance
The Mental Side of Sport Is Just as Trainable as the Physical
“The mind is the athlete; the body is simply the means it uses.”
— Bryce Courtenay
“The mind is the athlete; the body is simply the means it uses.”
— Bryce Courtenay
Every young athlete knows what it feels like to train hard and prepare well — and then have their mind get in the way. The nerves before a big game. The mental block that appears out of nowhere. The slump that has nothing to do with physical ability. The confidence that was there last season but seems to have disappeared.
The mental side of sport is just as trainable as the physical side — and for competitive young athletes in Calgary and Alberta, developing the psychological skills to manage pressure and perform consistently can make a profound difference, not just in results, but in how much they enjoy competing.
Dr. Kincade brings a rare combination of expertise to performance work with young athletes that goes well beyond what most performance coaches are able to offer. As a trained neuroscientist and clinical psychologist with over two decades of experience, she understands the brain-based mechanisms that underlie performance anxiety, mental blocks, focus, and self-regulation at a depth that is genuinely uncommon in this field.
This scientific foundation means Dr. Kincade does not just teach performance skills — she understands precisely why those skills work, how the brain responds under pressure, what drives automatic versus deliberate performance, and how mental patterns form and change. Combined with her extensive clinical experience connecting with young people and creating real and lasting change, the result is a performance support approach that is both scientifically grounded and practically effective.
Performance anxiety — nerves, fear of failure, or pressure that interferes with competing
Mental blocks — sudden inability to execute a skill that was previously automatic
Loss of confidence or motivation following a difficult season, error, or criticism
Difficulty staying focused during competition or training
Negative self-talk and perfectionism
Managing the emotional ups and downs of competitive sport
Preparing mentally for tryouts, championships, or high-stakes competitions
Dr. Kincade works collaboratively with young athletes to understand their specific challenges and goals, and to build a practical set of mental skills they can use in training and competition. This may include strategies for managing anxiety and arousal, building pre-performance routines, developing focus and attentional control, and strengthening the self-belief and resilience needed to perform under pressure.
Sessions are engaging, conversational, and tailored to the athlete’s sport, age, and competitive level. Parents are welcomed as part of the process where appropriate.
Sessions are available in person at our southwest Calgary office (#226, 2505 – 17th Avenue SW), and virtually for athletes and families anywhere in Alberta.
If your young athlete is struggling with the mental side of their sport — or simply wants to reach their full potential — we’d be glad to help. Sports performance support is available in person in Calgary and virtually across Alberta.
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