Sports Psychology Melbourne
Sports Psychology & Mental Performance in Melbourne
Work with an AHPRA-registered sports psychologist at Performe's Melbourne clinic. Whether you're managing performance anxiety, recovering from injury, or training your focus for competition — our evidence-based mental skills approach is built for athletes at every level.
Running Physiotherapy
Melbourne
Most running injuries aren't accidents. They're the end point of a pattern. Training load that crept up too fast, a stride mechanic that overloads one structure thousands of times per run, or a strength deficit your body has been compensating for. At Performe, running injuries start with a biomechanical running assessment, because treating your shin splints without finding out why you got them means you'll be back in three months with the same problem.
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📍Olympic Park, Melbourne | Sports Medicine Australia Member
Proud to be associated with
✓ APA Member
✓ AHPRA Registered
We are committed to providing outstanding patient care in a friendly and welcoming environment.
Our running assessment looks at the whole picture:
→ Video gait analysis: cadence, stride mechanics, foot strike, pelvic control. [Confirm exact assessment components with clinic.]
→ Strength testing: calf, glute, hamstring and quadricep strength, single-leg control and balance, to chase the deficits that show up as injuries 10km into a long run.
→ Training load review: we review your weekly training beyond just distance, diving into intensity, surface, progression and scheduling. The cause of a running injury is often a load spike, not a biomechanical flaw.
→ Footwear and surface review where this may be influencing your injury.
Our running assessment looks at the whole picture:
→ Video gait analysis:
cadence, stride mechanics, foot strike, pelvic control. Confirm exact assessment components with clinic.
→ Strength testing:
calf, glute, hamstring and quadricep strength, single-leg control and balance, to chase the deficits that show up as injuries 10km into a long run.
→ Training load review:
we review your weekly training beyond just distance, diving into intensity, surface, progression and scheduling. The cause of a running injury is often a load spike, not a biomechanical flaw.
→ Footwear and surface review
where this may be influencing your injury.
Simply click through to our booking platform to reserve your appointment with one of our sports physiotherapists.
You leave with specific findings and a plan, not a vague instruction to “rest and stretch.”
Located in the Olympic Park precinct, we're on the doorstep of the Yarra trails and the Tan, the training ground for a large share of Melbourne's running community.
Common running injuries we treat
- Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome)
- Bone stress injuries and stress fractures, link: stress fracture physio page (when live)
- Achilles tendinopathy, link: tendinopathy physio page (when live)
- Runner's knee (patellofemoral pain)
- ITB syndrome
- Plantar fasciitis and plantar heel pain
- Calf strains
- Proximal hamstring tendinopathy
Our approach to running rehab
Rest is rarely the plan. For most running injuries, evidence supports modifying load rather than complete shutdown, keeping you running where it's safe to do so while the injured tissue builds strength and capacity. We set a clear weekly structure of when you can run, what strength work to do, and the benchmarks that unlock the next stage.
For bone stress injuries and complex cases, our in-house sports medicine physicians can arrange imaging and coordinate care without you needing to chase referrals across town.
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Performe Sports Medicine Address
20 Olympic Blvd Melbourne 3004
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CLINIC HOURS
Monday to Friday, 8am – 5:30pm
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Getting Here
Performe Sports Medicine is located in Melbourne's Olympic Park area. Accessible by tram and public transport. Parking available nearby.
Should I stop running completely with an injury?
What happens in a running assessment?
How do I know if my shin pain is shin splints or a stress fracture?
Can you help me build up for a marathon after injury?
HAVE A QUESTION?
Free parking is available via driveway entrance E of AAMI park speak to security at the gate who will allow access for appointments.
CONTACT US
Email: reception@performe.com.au
Phone: 03 8412 0048
Address: 20 Olympic Blvd Melbourne 3004
CLINIC HOURS
Monday to Friday, 8am – 5:30pm
The Services We Provide to Elite Athletes Are Sports Psychologist for Athletes & Teams
At Performe Sports Medicine, our sports psychology service is led by Jacqui Louder — an AHPRA-registered psychologist with deep experience supporting elite and recreational athletes across AFL, swimming, gymnastics, cycling and team sports.
Unlike general counselling, sports psychology is focused entirely on performance: how you think, feel and behave under pressure. Jacqui works one-on-one with athletes to build the mental skills that complement your physical training — so your mindset matches your fitness.
Located at Olympic Park, East Melbourne, Performe is the trusted mental performance partner for athletes across the greater Melbourne area, and the official sports medicine provider to Collingwood Football Club.
Jacqui Louder
Jacqui is an AHPRA-registered psychologist and member of the Australian Psychological Society's College of Sport & Exercise Psychology. She specialises in performance anxiety, mental skills training, and athlete wellbeing — working with both elite and sub-elite athletes.
AHPRA Registered
APA Member
College of Sport & Exercise Psych
Elite Athlete Experience
Proud to be associated with
✓ AHPRA Registered
✓ Australian Psychological Society
✓ Sports Medicine Australia
✓ Collingwood FC Partner Clinic
Your Mental Game Is Half the Battle
Research shows that mental skills training can improve performance by 10–30%. Whether you're preparing for competition, dealing with a performance slump, or managing the psychological demands of injury — a sports psychologist can help.
Areas We Support in Sports Psychology
Evidence-based mental skills for athletes in Melbourne and beyond
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Performance Anxiety
Manage pre-competition nerves, choking under pressure, and fear of failure so you can perform at your best when it counts.
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Focus & Concentration
Build attentional control, reduce distractions and develop pre-performance routines that keep you in the zone.
Confidence Building
Identify and challenge limiting beliefs, build self-efficacy and develop consistent mental toughness across your season.
Injury Rehabilitation
Address the psychological side of injury recovery — fear of re-injury, motivation slumps, and identity challenges during rehab.
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Mental Toughness
Develop resilience, emotional regulation and the ability to perform consistently under fatigue, pressure or adversity.
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Slumps & Form Loss
Break through performance plateaus, technical yips or prolonged form loss with targeted cognitive and behavioural strategies.
Team Dynamics
Improve team cohesion, communication, leadership confidence and collective efficacy for coaches and athletes.
Transition & Retirement
Navigate identity shifts, career transitions, selection challenges and retirement from sport with professional support.
What to Expect from Sports Psychology at Performe
A structured, athlete-centred approach to building your mental performance toolkit
1
Initial Consultation
A 60-minute intake session to understand your performance goals, current challenges, competition schedule and psychological history.
2
Personalised Mental Skills Plan
A 60-minute intake session to understand your performance goals, current challenges, competition schedule and psychological history.
3
Ongoing Session Work
Regular sessions (weekly or fortnightly) to practise and refine your mental skills toolkit, with review against performance benchmarks.
4
Competition Preparation
Pre-competition psychological preparation including arousal regulation, focus cues, and pre-performance routines tailored to your sport.
5
Performance Review
Post-competition debrief to identify what worked, what needs adjustment, and how to carry momentum into your next event.
6
Integrated Team Care
When relevant, Jacqui coordinates with your physiotherapist, coach or GP at Performe to ensure a whole-athlete approach to performance.
Common Presentations We Work With
Sports psychology Melbourne — evidence-based support across these presentations
🟢 Performance anxiety & competition nerves
🟢 Pre-game jitters and choking
🟢 Fear of failure or success
🟢 Loss of confidence or self-doubt
🟢 Concentration & focus difficulties
🟢 Psychological impact of injury
🟢 Motivation and burnout
🟢 Overtraining and perfectionism
🟢 Sporting yips or technical blocks
🟢 Transitioning back after injury
🟢 Athlete identity & career transitions
🟢 Team conflict and leadership challenges
Why Choose Performe for Sports Psychology in Melbourne
Evidence-based, athlete-first mental performance support at Olympic Park
AHPRA-Registered Practitioner
Integrated Sports Medicine Clinic
Elite Sport Track Record
Olympic Park Location
Evidence-Based Methods
Ongoing Athlete Support
Psychology Services at Performe
→ Individual performance psychology sessions
→ Pre-competition psychological preparation
→ Injury rehabilitation psychology
→ Mental skills workshops for teams
→ Return-to-sport mental readiness assessment
→ Athlete wellbeing & burnout support
→ Coach psychology consultation
Our Standards & Accreditations
✓ AHPRA-registered psychologist
✓ Australian Psychological Society member
✓ College of Sport & Exercise Psychology
✓ Continuing Professional Development compliant
✓ Evidence-based clinical practice
✓ Integrated sports medicine team approach
✓ Mandatory reporting & ethical practice standards
Related Services at Performe
Frequently Asked Questions
Sports Psychology Melbourne — common questions answered
What is sports psychology and how is it different to regular counselling?
Is a sports psychologist the same as a performance coach?
Can I claim sports psychology sessions on Medicare or private health?
What does a first session with a sports psychologist involve?
Do I need to be an elite athlete to see a sports psychologist?
How many sessions will I need?
Where is Performe located?
Can Jacqui work with junior or youth athletes?
Performe Sports Medicine
20 Olympic Blvd, Melbourne, 3004
📞 Phone: 03 8412 0048
📧 Email: reception@performe.com.au
🕐 CLINIC HOURS:
Monday to Friday, 8am – 5:30pm
Jacqui Louder sees patients at the Performe clinic. Telehealth sessions may also be available — contact reception to enquire.
Ready to Train Your Mental Game ?
Book a session with Jacqui Louder at Performe's Melbourne clinic — or get in touch to find out if sports psychology is right for you.
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