Gurgaon, August 07, 2015: Fortis Healthcare has pioneered the launch of India’s first “Sports Psychology Program” at the flagship facility, Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI) recently.
An initiative by the Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences aiming to promote physical fitness among the young school going population, this program will be conducted under the able guidance of Dr. Samir Parikh, renowned psychiatrist and Director of Mental health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Healthcare and led by Divya Jain, Sport and Counselling Psychologist, Head, Psychological Services, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences.
The program is a well thought of initiative in recognition of how every athlete responds in a critical moment of a competition; of every individual’s different response to pressure. While some players thrive in the limelight, others succumb when faced with an imminent loss.
“We very often encounter issues like practice not translating into actual performance in our day-to-day lives. The situation is very similar in case of sportspersons and we as healthcare providers understand the hindrance stress might play in their output as individuals or team players and also the dearth of sports psychology programs across the country, the main driving force behind this one-of-its-kind program,” said Jasdeep Singh, Zonal Director, FMRI.
Success in sports goes beyond technical expertise; the mental grit that a sportsperson possesses is what separates the best players from the good ones, feel experts.
“The objective of this program is with a view to combine clinical and sport psychological expertise, it is our endeavor to create a holistic intervention program that addresses three key elements – group intervention, individual counselling and mental conditioning. The goal is to achieve effective results and be a team player even under extreme stress,” explained Dr Parikh.
Dr Parikh added that this program will benefit athletes from varied sports, budding players, sports teams, sports academies, players recovering injuries and most importantly, coaches involved with sports and players.
Divya Jain, Head -Psychological Services, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences said, “Sport psychology utilizes mind-body dynamics that create conditions for peak performance. These interventions, which are now at the forefront, can enhance training and address psychologically mediated performance concerns through biofeedback, visual imagery, and cognitive restructuring. Counselling can also help players enhance their intrinsic motivation, develop resilience deal with wins and losses, cope with anxiety and expectations, and find a balance between sports and other aspects of their lives. Teams, too, can benefit from sport psychological interventions, in terms of enhancing team spirit and motivation, improving communication patterns, reducing team conflicts, fostering cohesiveness and strengthening their collective identity.”
Other than the leads, the faculty for the sports psychology program would include clinicians like Kamna Chhibber, Head, Department of Mental Health, Aditi Kaul, Art-based therapist and Tara Mehta, Clinical Psychologist.
India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world-where the emphasis on the role of physical activity, sports, and games in enhancing one’s well-being and as a means of recreation is recorded. Indians had a good idea of the body/mind relationship. Sport psychology in India has only begun to emerge in recent years and is at very nascent stages. Therefore, the need to understand the development of sport psychology in India, its current status and possible directions for future growth has great potential.
CCI Newswire
