Ep. 58: Facing the Yips with Matt Sughrue

Mindful Sport Performance Podcast

In this episode, elite golfer and therapist Matt Sughrue joins the conversation.
Matt was a successful insurance executive and business owner in the Washington, DC metro area for 25 years. Then, in 2008, at the age of 49, he took a major life detour and trained to become a psychotherapist and performance consultant. Among his varied clientele are amateur and professional golfers - across several pro tours. Matt is also an accomplished golfer himself. He is the 8th ranked senior amateur in the world by The World Amateur Golf Ranking and has played in 33 major national golf championships. In November 2022, Matt represented the USA at the Concession Cup, competing against Europe's finest senior and mid-amateur golfers.
Matt, Tim, and Keith are all members of the Mid-Atlantic Consortium of Sport and Performance Psychology.
Matt begins the episode with a mindful awareness practice. Then he, Keith, and Tim discuss:
[8:34] Meditation in Matt's competition experiences and the importance of "in-between" time
[14:12] The impact of personal disclosure in Matt's work with sports clients
[17:43] Matt's competition debrief process structure and function
[20:58] The importance of language in the process of improvement and how it can shift perspective
[23:15] Matt's personal experience with the yips
[37:29] The nuances of "caring" about your sport and the implications it has for personal identity
[48:33] Matt's approach to working with athletes who are experiencing the yips
Social Media Mentioned:

Twitter: @mindfulsportdoc
Instagram: @mindful_sport_podcast, @mspe_institute
YouTube: Mindful Sport Performance Podcast
Websites Mentioned:
www.mattsughrue.com
www.mindfulsportperformance.org

www.enduromind.com
Books Mentioned

Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement
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Keith, Tim, and Taylor (our producer!)

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