PerformHappy with Rebecca Smith

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I answer a parent's question about helping her young gymnast after a friend was injured while tumbling at home. After working hard to rebuild her confidence with backward skills, the experience left her daughter at risk of another dip in confidence.

I explain why seeing an injury can make an athlete's brain perceive a skill as dangerous, even if they were making great progress before. The first step is to give your gymnast space to process what happened, listen to their feelings, and let them know they don't have to hide their fear, sadness, or disappointment.

We also talk about why parents don't need to fix every difficult feeling. Creating a safe space for your child to express big emotions helps them work through those feelings and build resilience. Sometimes, that means taking a break from practice and simply being there for them.

When your gymnast feels ready to return, the goal is to start where they feel safe. That might mean going back to easier progressions, using extra mats or spots, and communicating with their coach. Instead of pushing through fear, help your gymnast find a manageable step that rebuilds trust in their abilities.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why witnessing an injury can affect your gymnast's confidence
• How to support your child through fear and big emotions
• Why temporary dips in confidence are a normal part of progress
• How to adjust skills and expectations when fear returns
• When to involve your gymnast's coach in the recovery process

This conversation is a reminder that setbacks don't erase progress. When parents offer compassion instead of pressure, gymnasts can work through fear at their own pace and find their confidence again.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I talk about the awareness phase of mental block recovery and why building confidence is only one part of the process. Before gymnasts can fully trust themselves again, they need to understand what their brain and body are telling them and learn what helps them feel safe enough to try.

I explain why progress during mental block recovery is rarely a straight line. Your gymnast might confidently attempt a skill one day and need extra mats, a spot, or an easier progression the next. This does not mean they are failing. It is part of learning how to recognize their limits, find the right challenges, and build confidence at a pace that works for them.

We also talk about how parental pressure, questions about progress, and the approaching competition season can make mental blocks harder. When gymnasts feel they need to please everyone, they may rush ahead instead of listening to what they need in the moment.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why awareness must come before confidence and self trust
• How to find the right progression for your gymnast each day
• Why setbacks are a normal part of mental block recovery
• How gymnasts can learn to communicate with their coaches
• What parents can do to support their child without adding pressure
• How journaling and self awareness help gymnasts discover what works for them

Mental block recovery takes patience, communication, and a willingness to learn through trial and error. Sometimes, the best thing you can do as a parent is listen, ask whether your gymnast wants advice or support, and give them room to figure things out. Progress is not about moving forward every single day. It is about learning to listen to yourself and building the skills to move forward with confidence.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I talk about how parents can support their gymnasts through mental blocks, slow progress, and moments when skills seem to disappear. When your child is struggling, it can be hard to stay patient, especially when you see their frustration and worry about their confidence, future, or love for the sport.

I explain why parental frustration often comes from fear and how recognizing those feelings can help you respond differently. We explore growth mindset, why pushing harder doesn't always help, and how finding new strategies and the right support can make a difference. I also share why stepping back to easier progressions is not failure, but an important part of helping a gymnast rebuild control and confidence.

We talk about what to say when your gymnast has a difficult practice, how to celebrate small wins, and why asking curious questions can be more helpful than asking whether they got their skill back. I also discuss the importance of allowing your child to experience disappointment without immediately trying to fix everything for them.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why mental blocks can cause skills to regress
• How parents can manage frustration and fear
• Why taking a step back can help gymnasts move forward
• How to support your gymnast without adding pressure
• What to say when your child feels discouraged
• Why your reaction to setbacks shapes your child's mindset
• How to build resilience by allowing space for difficult emotions

This conversation is a reminder that your gymnast needs more than help getting a skill back. They need to know that they are loved and supported regardless of their performance. When parents learn to sit with their child's struggles, celebrate small steps, and trust the process, they help build confidence and resilience that extend far beyond gymnastics.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, Coach Rebecca answers a question from a parent whose seven year old gymnast has been stuck on her round off back handspring for nearly a year. Although she can do the skill with a small amount of support, she freezes when that support is removed.

Rebecca explains why this may not be a matter of unwillingness, but an actual mental block where the brain detects a threat and stops the body from moving forward. She shares why changing the language from “unwilling” to “unable” can help parents better understand what their gymnast is experiencing.

We talk about why progress with mental blocks is rarely linear, how parents can develop and model a growth mindset, and why tiny steps forward still count as real progress. Rebecca explains the importance of building more “rungs” into the progression instead of expecting a gymnast to jump from a full spot to no spot, and how gradually reducing support can help the brain feel safe.

She also discusses the role of coaches, different learning styles, checking technique, and why parents should praise effort, resilience, and small wins instead of focusing only on whether the skill has been achieved.

In this episode you will hear:

• Why a gymnast may freeze even when she is physically capable
• How parents can respond to mental blocks without adding pressure
• Why small progress is still progress
• How to build confidence through gradual progressions
• The importance of a growth mindset for athletes and parents
• How coaches can help gymnasts move through their comfort zone
• Why understanding how a child learns can make a difference

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I talk about what happens when a gymnast has lost trust in their coach and how parents, athletes, and coaches can work together to rebuild that relationship. We explore why trust does not happen automatically and how small, positive experiences can slowly fill up what I call the “trust bin.”

I also talk about why neurodivergent gymnasts can sometimes be misunderstood in the gym. Sensory overload, executive function challenges, rejection sensitivity, and difficulty with transitions can look like defiance, lack of effort, or attitude when a gymnast is actually overwhelmed.

We discuss how parents can help coaches understand their gymnast by creating an “operating manual” that explains what overwhelm looks like, what helps, and what does not. I also share why communication needs to be a partnership rather than a parent telling a coach how to do their job.

In this episode you will hear:

• Why trust between gymnasts and coaches takes time
• How trust can be built through small positive experiences
• Why neurodivergent gymnasts may respond differently in the gym
• How sensory overload can affect a gymnast’s behavior
• Ways parents can help coaches better understand their gymnast
• Why regular parent, athlete, and coach check ins can help
• How communication can create a stronger team around the gymnast

This conversation is a reminder that when a gymnast feels misunderstood, the answer is not always to push harder. With patience, communication, understanding, and the right support, athletes and coaches can begin rebuilding trust and creating an environment where gymnasts feel listened to, supported, and able to thrive.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with Bill Taylor, founder of Sports Conflict Lab and a former collegiate head coach, to talk about conflict in sports, communication, and why learning how to handle difficult conversations is an important part of becoming a confident athlete.

Bill explains why conflict is inevitable in every relationship and why avoiding it usually makes things worse. We talk about the power imbalance between athletes and coaches, and why young athletes may be afraid to speak up because they worry about losing opportunities, being removed from a team, or changing how their coach sees them.

We also talk about the role parents and coaches play in creating an environment where athletes feel safe communicating. Bill shares why parents should give their athletes the opportunity to work through conflict themselves when it is safe to do so, rather than immediately stepping in. He explains how these experiences can help young athletes become more bold, courageous, and confident.

In this episode you will hear:

Why avoiding conflict can make problems bigger
How athletes can learn to speak up to coaches
Why communication needs to come from leadership
How parents can support athletes without taking over
Why emotions need to be managed before solving a conflict
How conflict can strengthen relationships and team culture
Why working through difficult situations helps athletes grow

This conversation is a powerful reminder that confidence is not just about performing skills. It is also about learning how to communicate, handle uncomfortable situations, and trust yourself enough to have difficult conversations.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with elite gymnast Lisa Lazar Richer to talk about neurodivergence, mental blocks, visual processing, ADHD, and the importance of understanding how each athlete experiences gymnastics differently. Lisa shares her journey as an elite gymnast and opens up about struggles she had with inconsistent steps, beam dismounts, vaults, and bar mounts that she could not explain at the time.

Years later, while learning about her son's visual processing disorder, Lisa had a major light bulb moment. A vision therapist recognized patterns in her own gymnastics experience and explained that vision therapy may have helped her. Lisa shares how those challenges contributed to injuries and missed opportunities, including missing national team years and Olympic trials.

We also talk about why assuming an athlete is simply not trying can miss what is really happening. Lisa explains how ADHD actually worked in her favor in the structured environment of the gym, while her visual processing differences created challenges she did not understand at the time.

Lisa and I also discuss psychological safety, communication, and why coaching and support cannot be one size fits all. We talk about how parents and coaches can work together, listen to the athlete, and focus on finding solutions instead of pointing fingers.

In this episode you will hear:

• Why mental blocks are not always about motivation
• How visual processing can affect gymnastics skills
• Why athletes may need different types of support
• How ADHD can interact with gymnastics training
• Why coaches and parents should avoid assuming an athlete is not trying
• How communication and collaboration can help athletes feel supported

This conversation is a powerful reminder that sometimes the reason an athlete is struggling is not what we think it is. Understanding the athlete in front of you can change everything.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with NCAA gymnast Lacie Saltzmann to talk about building confidence, overcoming mental blocks, handling fear, and finding joy in gymnastics even when things don’t go according to plan.

Lacie opens up about being a hesitant gymnast who struggled with confidence and mental blocks when she was younger. She shares how learning how skills worked helped her build trust in herself, and how visualization became an important part of her preparation.

We also talk about a difficult moment at UNC when Lacie was overwhelmed by what-ifs, fell on a dismount, and had to find a way to trust herself again. Instead of allowing that experience to define her, she used visualization, positive self-talk, and the support of her coaches and teammates to move forward.

Lacie shares why setbacks can become opportunities for growth, why finding small wins matters, and why young athletes should learn to enjoy the journey instead of putting all their happiness on the outcome. She also talks about prioritizing sleep, recovery, and time away from gymnastics as part of becoming a stronger athlete and person.

In this episode you will hear

• Why confidence is built over time
• How visualization can help with fear and mental blocks
• Why setbacks don’t have to define your gymnastics journey
• How parents, coaches, and teammates can support athletes
• Why recovery is part of training
• How to find joy in the hard days

This conversation is a powerful reminder that confidence doesn’t mean never being scared. It means learning that you are capable, trusting the work you’ve put in, and continuing to move forward when things get hard.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with 17 year old gymnastics entrepreneur Riley Lee to talk about creating change in gymnastics, building a better training environment, taking big risks, and believing that happy, healthy, high performing gymnastics is possible.

Riley shares how growing up training in Hong Kong and Singapore opened her eyes to the differences in equipment, coaching, athlete safety, and opportunities around the world. As she and her friends began feeling unsupported and afraid to make mistakes, Riley started wondering what could be done differently.

What started as a joke about opening a gym became a real business plan. Riley researched the industry, studied financials, sought out experienced mentors, traveled to observe gyms, and eventually built a vision for a gym centered around safety, quality coaching, and athlete well being.

We also talk about why having a clear vision matters, how growth often requires stepping outside your comfort zone, and why athletes should not have to choose between high performance and happiness. Riley explains how her passion pushed her beyond her comfort zone and helped her build something she truly believed was possible.

In this episode you will hear:

• Why athlete safety must include emotional safety
• How a clear vision can turn an idea into action
• Why growth requires getting uncomfortable
• How great coaching can support both performance and well being
• Why athletes deserve to enjoy the journey
• How one teenager is challenging the way gymnastics can be done

This conversation is a powerful reminder that we do not have to accept that gymnastics has always been done a certain way. Sometimes the biggest changes begin with one person willing to imagine something better and then figure out how to make it happen.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with Kat Zempolich, Vice President and Co-Founder of Morgan’s Message, to talk about the mental health struggles that can exist behind the strong, successful athlete.

Kat shares her journey as a collegiate lacrosse player at Duke, the impact of injuries on mental health, and how her friendship with Morgan led to the creation of Morgan’s Message. After Morgan’s death by suicide, Kat began asking what could have been different and how athletes could be given more opportunities to recognize their struggles and ask for help.

We talk about why mental health can be difficult to recognize in athletes, especially when someone appears happy, successful, and high-achieving. Kat shares why building strong relationships and checking in regularly can matter more than trying to identify one obvious warning sign.

We also discuss the gap between physical and mental health support in sports, the stigma around mental health, and why athletes, coaches, parents, and teammates need more education and open conversations around mental wellbeing.

In this episode you will hear:

• Why strong athletes can still struggle mentally
• How injuries can affect an athlete’s mental health
• Why listening can be more helpful than giving advice
• How to build stronger connections with young athletes
• Why asking for help sooner can make a difference
• How Morgan’s Message is creating peer-to-peer mental health conversations

This conversation is an important reminder that you never truly know what someone is carrying beneath the surface. Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is simply show up, listen, and make it easier for athletes to say, “I need help.” Kat also shares a powerful message for anyone who is struggling: you are not alone, and talking about what you’re going through can help.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com