Struggle Into Strength: The Importance of Mental Performance in Athletics with Tom Smalley

Tom Smalley, a mental performance coach and advocate for OCD, shares his journey of overcoming OCD and the importance of cognitive performance in athletics. He emphasizes the need for mental fitness to be given the same attention as physical fitness. Tom discusses the challenges of knowing his role as a coach and referring athletes to the appropriate professionals for mental health support. He also highlights the importance of building relationships and understanding individual athletes' needs. Tom's story serves as a reminder that struggles can be turned into strengths. Website: https://struggleintostrength.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2sfof/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 08:49 Building Relationships and Understanding Athletes' Needs 32:52 Facing Abuse and Unexpected National Attention 41:21 Embracing Vulnerability and Imperfection 50:32 Gratitude for the Support of Loved Ones Keywords mental performance, OCD, mental health, coaching, relationships, struggle, strength, OCD, abuse, college athlete, adversity, growth, platform, reflection, gratitude, self-improvement, vulnerability, family