DeSalvo Performance, PLLC

Frank DeSalvo, Ph.D.

Location: 346 N. Sequim Ave., Sequim

Phone: 785-331-7098

Web: www.desalvoperformance.com

Hours: Flexible

Whether they’re at the high school, college, Olympic or professional level of competition, most athletes will acknowledge that mental and emotional preparation is just as important as physical prowess in their sport.

Feelings of anxiety, fear and questions of worthiness can stymie even the best of the best, according to Dr. Frank DeSalvo, who recently opened his sports performance consultation office in Sequim.

DeSalvo, who spent his career as a clinical social worker at the University of Arkansas and Kansas University, explained, “I got into sports performance working in mental health because I ended up seeing some athletes for mental preparation — internal issues that affected their ability to perform. I’ve been helping athletes and performers such as musicians and actors, who need help to gain control of their internal issues.”

DeSalvo said, “A lot of folks get distracted by expectations of coaches and they don’t want to disappoint. At the same time, there may be financial implications for performance such as with scholarship athletes.

“Any time there are expectations of a higher level of performance and some level of public knowledge of how a performance went, the athlete could be affected negatively by mental and emotional conditions.”

Sports performance consulting is not mental health therapy, DeSalvo stressed.

“When athletes move up to a higher level, it’s a new experience for that level of competition and often they’re competing with their idols next to them at the starting line. It’s an issue of convincing them that they actually belong at that level,” DeSalvo said.

“Their first race at the new level is the biggest race of their life. My job is to help them develop the ability to belong, to focus, to help them see they do belong at that level of competition.”

DeSalvo said it’s not a fear of besting their idol but a fear of embarrassing themselves in front of their idol that causes anxiety. Athletes under this pressure are prone to ask themselves, “Was this a fluke? Am I going to be last?” according to DeSalvo.

“Part of what I do is to help folks adopt values that will guide their thinking in difficult situations, for example, excellence — there’s no satisfactory substitution for excellence; courage — their willingness to try their best while risking failure, risking their all and risking that might not be enough; and integrity — competing honestly and fairly,” DeSalvo explained.

“The point is those kinds of values will guide their behavior and performance in highly stressful situations. My job is helping athletes do the very best they can do in their performance,” DeSalvo said.

“They learn they can rely on their training and ability to perform consistently well under variable conditions.”

Having lived in the Midwest, DeSalvo brought up the humble milking stool as an analogy for the three legs of key importance in a performer’s life: school/work life, personal life and performance.

“It’s a challenge for all of us to develop some balance — if one of the legs is bad, the stool falls over and we do too,” DeSalvo said.

“We spend a fair amount of time talking about the other two legs — school and personal relationships because without supportive relationships, it’s going to be hard for an athlete to perform at a very high level for very long.”

Over his career, DeSalvo has built up many connections with coaches who refer their athletes with performance issues to him from across the nation. In a virtual office visit, DeSalvo communicates with the person via Skype and noted he’s worked with two Olympians and world-class athletes including golfers.

He believes there is potential to expand his business in Sequim and laughed, “What I hear is there are a lot of frustrated golfers in town.”

DeSalvo said he is open to chatting with anyone about his methods of sports performance consulting. Call him at 785-331-7098 and learn about his mantra: “Your mind makes the path your body will follow.”