Performance Coaching — Mind-Body Performance for Real-World Pressure
(Work • Exams • Sport • Public Speaking • Creativity • Leadership)
Performance coaching helps you perform at your best when it matters — whether that’s in work, sport, exams or public speaking. Many capable people struggle with pressure, overthinking and self-doubt, not because they lack ability, but because of how the mind and nervous system respond under stress.
When something matters — a presentation, an exam, a performance, a match, an interview — your mind and nervous system react differently. Even highly capable people can find themselves:
- Overthinking
- Hesitating
- Losing confidence
- Freezing under pressure
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Knowing what to do — but unable to do it when it counts
Performance problems are rarely about talent or ability.
They’re about how your mind, attention and nervous system behave under pressure.
At The Excel Practice, I help people across Reading, Didcot and online improve their performance using a modern blend of:
- NLP
- Hypnotherapy
- Performance psychology
- Mind-body coaching
- Nervous-system regulation
- Flow-state principles
This is performance coaching designed for real life, not just sport.
I work with clients in Reading, Didcot, and online across the UK and internationally.
MAIL@THEEXCELPRACTICE.COM OR CALL 07807 540142
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What Performance Coaching Actually Helps With
Performance coaching is about reducing the mental interference that blocks your natural ability.
People come to me for help with:
- Overthinking in high-pressure situations
- Fear of judgement or criticism
- Imposter syndrome
- Performance anxiety
- A “blank mind” under pressure
- Poor focus or inconsistency
- Difficulty executing skills when it matters
- Stress in presentations, interviews or exams
- Emotional reactions that sabotage performance
- Struggling to reach “flow”
- Hesitation, loss of confidence, self-doubt
If you know you’re capable but you can’t consistently access that ability, performance coaching can help.
Why Performance Breaks Down
Most people believe performance is about:
- Talent
- Motivation
- Trying harder
- Pushing through nerves
But true performance depends on state, not effort.
When pressure increases, the nervous system may shift into threat mode, leading to:
- Overthinking
- Self-criticism
- Mental “freeze”
- Physical tension
- Shortened breath
- Reduced decision-making
- Loss of timing or rhythm
This is not personal failure — it’s biology.
Performance coaching helps you shift out of threat mode, so you can perform from a calm, focused, balanced state.
A Modern, Mind-Body Approach to Performance
This approach blends the best of:
🔹 NLP for
- internal dialogue
- meaning
- patterns of attention
- emotional triggers
- belief systems
🔹 Hypnotherapy for
- calming the nervous system
- accessing deeper patterns
- integrating new responses
- mental quietening
🔹 Performance Psychology for
- confidence
- attention control
- challenge-state activation
- recovery after mistakes
🔹 Mind-Body Work for
- breath
- tension release
- interoception
- grounding
🔹 Flow Principles for
- reducing interference
- stabilising attention
- playing/working in the “right zone”
This is not corporate clichés or motivational hype.
It’s practical, grounded, psychological performance training for real life.
Domains I Work With
Performance coaching applies across many areas:
Work & Leadership
- Presenting
- Meetings
- Decision-making
- Imposter syndrome
- Pressure situations
- Interviews
Academics & Exams
- Test anxiety
- Recall difficulties under pressure
- Focus & processing
- Study fatigue
Public Speaking
- Stage nerves
- Speaking clarity
- Mind quietening
- Confidence & presence
Creative Performance
- Stage anxiety
- Creative block
- Perfectionism
- Fear of criticism
Sport Performance
- Flow & focus
- Emotional regulation
- Competition nerves
- Skill execution under pressure
(A separate Sports Performance page covers this in more detail.)
What Performance Coaching Sessions Look Like
Sessions are:
- Conversational
- Practical
- Tailored
- Non-judgemental
- Mind-body focused
We typically:
- Identify the performance pattern
- Map the thoughts, emotions and body responses
- Reduce mental interference
- Rebuild confidence and internal safety
- Strengthen focus, calm and decision-making
- Integrate new performance habits
- Apply tools between sessions
There’s no pressure, no scripts, no “visualisation required”, and no forcing anything.
Why People Choose The Excel Practice
- Over 18 years’ experience in high-pressure coaching
- Specialist in anxiety, overthinking, performance and confidence
- Integrates NLP, hypnotherapy, mind-body and performance psychology
- Adapted for non-visual thinkers (including aphantasia)
- Calm, grounded and practical style
- Over 50 five-star Google reviews
- Works equally well in person and online
Clients often describe feeling:
- more grounded
- calmer
- sharper
- clearer
- more confident
- less reactive
Often within the first few sessions.
Client Review – S.B. – 2024
“I went to Matthew for help with performance anxiety for presentations. After a few sessions I felt completely different — clearer, calmer and more confident. I now actually enjoy presenting, which I never imagined!” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Locations — Reading, Didcot & Online
I offer performance coaching:
- Reading, Berkshire — Monday to Friday
- Didcot, Oxfordshire — Tuesdays
- Online (UK & International) via Zoom or Teams
Supporting people across Reading, Caversham, Tilehurst, Woodley, Earley, Wokingham, Didcot, Abingdon, Wallingford, Wantage — and worldwide online.
Frequently Asked Questions — Performance Coaching
Is this sports coaching?
It includes sport, but it’s much broader — it’s psychological performance for any high-pressure environment.
Do I need to visualise?
No. This approach works for all cognitive styles, including aphantasia.
Is it like therapy?
It overlaps, but it’s more forward-focused, state-focused, and performance-based.
How many sessions will I need?
Most people notice a difference in 3–5 sessions.
Some continue longer-term for deeper performance goals.
Does this help with confidence?
Yes — especially confidence under pressure.
Can this help with presentations or exams?
Absolutely. These are extremely common areas.
Next Steps — Improve Your Performance Under Pressure
If you’re ready to perform at the level you know you’re capable of:
- with less overthinking
- more confidence
- calmer execution
- and a stronger mind-body state
…performance coaching can help you get there.
MAIL@THEEXCELPRACTICE.COM OR CALL 07807 540142