Hidden Gems: Meet Alison Gorrell of AG Performance Sport Psychology

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Gorrell.

Hi Alison, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in Evergreen, Colorado where sports became my passion from a very young age. In college, I played for the University of Wyoming but transferred after two years to Florida Atlantic University (FAU). After graduating, I signed a professional contract to play in England while pursuing my Master of Science in Sport and Exercise Psychology. I played four years professionally in England, one in Switzerland and one year in Germany. I won the national cup championship in the U.K. with the Sheffield Hatters and was named an all-star for four years. Through my own basketball career and learning from teammates, coaches and trainers, the mental side of the game became apparent as the single most important factor for success. The psychology of athletes has become a huge passion of mine, to both help athletes achieve their full potential as well as handle the emotional roller coaster that sports and chasing your dreams inevitably put you through.

As a mental performance coach, I started working at Northumbria University where I worked with athletes in all sports, from track cycling to basketball. I worked with the Sunderland AFC women’s football team in the professional first division as a team and as an individual. I also worked with the Men’s Scotland National beach volleyball team while they went on their world tour, eventually qualifying in Cyprus for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. In Australia, the team competed against some of the best and highest-ranked beach volleyball players in the world. This included working individually with each player and the team as a whole, including the strength and conditioning coach, as well as the head and assistant coaches.

Since the Commonwealth games, I have started my own mental performance practice, AG Performance Sports Psychology where I have worked with athletes, trainers, teams and coaches in a multitude of sports and abilities. I have combined my education, experience and playing career to develop an individualized mental coaching method to cater to each individual and their unique athletic career and development. I have grown my business over the years, but I still hope to reach more athletes looking to improve their mental health and performance.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road for entrepreneurship never seems to be smooth. While my expertise is sport psychology, the business development has been a learning experience. I have learned to navigate marketing and have learned along the way what methods work the best for my niche. There have been days that have felt hopeful and exciting, while others days have felt daunting. It’s easy to question the long-term success of the business while you are learning and growing, but this challenge has ultimately been the most rewarding part.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
AG performance is a sport psychology service that uses mental training techniques to prepare and guide athletes through their careers. Coach Alison Gorrell uses a proactive approach to teach mental skills so athletes are equipped to handle adversity, mental and emotional difficulties and ultimately perform their best. Enhancing the mind-body connection is crucial to achieving peak performance and maintaining mental health. Creating success stems from consistent mental preparation. This type of mental training is tailored to each individual or team and their specific needs. Mental training is beneficial for all ages and levels and is also available for coaches, trainers and teams as a whole.

AG Performance is designed with athletes in mind. Coach Gorrell understands that every athlete and team is different, and your needs may vary. With the individualized approach, Coach Gorrell puts an emphasis on building relationships to fully understand how to tailor sessions to best fit your needs. AG Performance offers a range of services to ensure progress is made. Coach Gorrell partners closely with coaches and staff to ensure that team sessions are aligned with the goals and values of the team.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I love listening to podcasts and learning from them! My favorite podcasts are Hidden Brain, Huberman Lab, The Happiness Lab, and Losing Control. I also like using the podcast Tracks to Relax for sleep meditations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.coachgorrell.com
• Instagram: @coachgorrell
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachgorrell
• Twitter: @coach_gorrell
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@coachgorrell?_t=8VgsaVSvVd0&_r=1 

Image Credits
Charlie Myers, Anna Moorhouse