Overcoming Sports Injuries
Treating sports related injuries usually only examines the physical component to the injury. This approach leaves the mental and emotional suffering the athletes endures while injured, recovering, and attempting a comeback largely untreated. Robert’s treatment model helps the athlete break through this unresolved and complex aspect of sports injuries. Injured athletes reclaim confidence, focus, intensity, and return to play without the fear of re-injury.
Athletic injuries vary in their severity and the length of recovery. When an athlete undergoes any type of sports injury there is a standard order of care provided to the injured athlete. Each sprained ankle, knee injury, dislocated shoulder, concussion, arm injury, or serious fall is evaluated by the team trainer, if further care is required; the athlete visits a massage therapist, physical therapist, physician, chiropractor, or orthopedic surgeon.
After an athlete has rehabilitated from an injury they are cleared to play at “100%”. Coaches, teammates, parents, and scouts can expect the athlete to quickly return to their previous level of play. If the athlete is slow to come around, shows hesitation, fear, or anxiety they are sometimes labeled as “head cases”, or forgotten about by coaches. This can lead to more confusion, frustration, anger, and disappointment. Unresolved mental and emotional blocks from the injury and fear of re-injury are the key components that must be addressed for an athlete to be truly “100%” fit to perform. Athletes must heal on all levels, not just the physical.
 “I have had ups and downs mentally and physically in the sport of gymnastics. Robert's sports psychology work has helped me let go of the injuries and disappointments I've had in my career, and has helped me focus on the accomplishments that I have experienced and the ones that are soon to come. I consider Robert Andrews my personal "mind" trainer and a friend I can talk to."
~ Sean Townsend,
Olympian & World Champion
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“I injured my knee early in the season. The pain from surgery was incredibly difficult to get through, but the anger I experienced watching the whole season go by without me being able to play was unbearable. Robert helped me work through the injury, put the loss of that season behind me, and focus on the joy of the joy of the game again. I am performing with more fierceness and determination now, than before the injury. I also feel like I am playing smarter because Robert helped me see where I was wasting mental and physical focus and energy in practice and in games.”
~ Mark, College
Defensive Lineman
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Sports Injury Spectrum of Severity
Intense Pain • Requires Time Off • Physical Therapy and Rehab • Surgery and Rehab • Career Threatening • Career Ending
No matter where the injury falls on this spectrum the athlete undergoes an intense mental and emotional crisis when injured. The athlete’s identity, sense of self, source of confidence and passion, connection to teammates, and stress outlets are suddenly taken away. For many this experience can be so intense it can be considered traumatic.
As an athlete moves along the spectrum of care and attention the intensity of these emotional states increases. Put simply, the worse the news around the injury, the worse the mental and emotional reaction and suffering the athlete experiences and the bigger the blocks to returning to high levels of performance.
THE NEW WAY BACK© From Sports Related Injuries
Robert works with the injured athlete to help them understand, work through, and integrate their intense mental and emotional reactions to their sports injury. He uses re-scripting, Eidetic Imagery, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to teach the athletes system how to process, work through, and integrate the blocks and negative experiences associated with the injury.
Robert’s work with athletes helps them overcome these stressors and blocks. Athletes return to play truly “100%’. They don’t see the stressful images in their mind anymore. They are confident, and because their mind no longer has to protect them from injury, they are free to let go and perform at very high levels. Where the mind leads the body follows. With a clear, confident mind, the body is free to reach its peak potential. When confidence soars so does performance.
“My coach suggested I work with Robert after I suffered a knee injury. I had lost confidence in my game, and he thought Robert could help me get back to where I was. My work with Robert helped regain my confidence and work through the injury. I am grateful for his work with athletes. It has had a huge impact on my game, and my life.”
~ Michelle
College Volleyball Player
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