Performance Psychology: When Grit Isn’t Enough with Dr. Kirsten Peterson

In this episode, Dr. Trevor Brown sits down with Dr. Kirsten Peterson, renowned performance psychologist and former US Olympic team consultant, to explore the realities of high performance, mental health, and the limits of grit. Drawing on her experience with elite athletes and her book When Grit’s Not Enough, Dr. Peterson shares what really happens inside a performance psychology session, the challenges athletes face, and how burnout and anxiety can impact even the most driven individuals.

Topics discussed include:

The myth of “mental toughness” and why grit alone isn’t enough
How COVID-19 disrupted the structure of elite sports and affected athlete wellbeing
The importance of self-awareness and how it can be trained
Recognizing and managing performance anxiety and fear
The role of trauma and burnout in high achievers
The power of social support and balancing life beyond sport
Dr. Peterson offers practical insights for athletes, coaches, and anyone striving for excellence—reminding us that optimal performance is about more than just pushing harder.

About the series:
The neurocare group is a global network of experts in neuroscience, psychology, and neuromodulation, dedicated to advancing mental health and performance science. In this interview series, neurocare Academy lead Dr. Trevor Brown connects with leading minds in the field to discuss the latest research and clinical applications in neuromodulation, including TMS, tDCS, EEG, and Neurofeedback.

Learn more:
🌐 www.neurocaregroup.com
🎓 Practitioner training: www.neurocaregroup.com/academy/
📚 Online courses: www.lms.neurocaregroup.com
👩‍⚕️ Patient info: www.neurocaregroup.com/patients/

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