THE ELITE SPORTS HYPNOTIST

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Master Hypnotist & Results Mindset Coach Jason Akel works with professional and amateur athletes to eliminate sports performance anxiety and achieve your full potential on the court, field, or wherever you tear it up!

Why sports hypnosis/NLP instead of hiring a sports psychologist? Big reasons... read to the bottom.
Thank you very much for helping most importantly! Still have a lot of work to do! I want to master this opportunity and look for the next step. I don't want to stop here! I love nothing more than being challenged and growing from it.

NFL Running Back

College Football Hypnosis
He looked very different than the last time we saw him. There was a different energy. He seemed more confident and I even saw him smiling which had never happened before! He definitely should continue working with you.

D1 College Quarterback, Virginia

Tennis Player, California
Overall, pretty amazing! For many years, she struggled with her [tennis forehand]. After a few bad shots, things just fell apart… spiraled down. It used to be an inevitability. This tournament, she didn’t spiral. She laughed off a bad shot or volley quite frequently. She was proud of herself. She was vocal and celebrated her good shots. She had real confidence when playing. | Achieved: NCAA D1

D1 Tennis Player, California

Ice Skater
I noticed her to be very mature recently in a lot of ways - the way she thinks, talks, presents herself, choices she makes. I see massive improvement in her speed and strength of her skating. She has become this high-level skater all of the sudden and that is followed by her presentation. Spins are phenomenal.

Figure Skater, New York

Hypnosis for Golf Yips
Practiced a couple times last week and then played last night. Greatly improved mentality in my chipping. Some physical miscues - little to no mental negative interference!

Regular Golfer, California

College Baseball Starting Pitcher
He says it helps, he just can't tell me how or why in works. He pitched amazing yesterday. Super grounded, confident. He went 7 innings, 101 pitches, struck out 5 guys and picked off 2 guys stealing.

College Baseball Pitcher, California

Swimmer
While we were waiting for this situation to be very demoralizing for him, we saw him instead with great self-confidence and motivation. He believes in himself more now. We really appreciate what you've done and thank you again for your valuable help and support.

Swimmer, California

College Baseball Player
BEFORE: I’ve been struggling with confidence in myself. I get a lot of anxiety the second I step in the box. AFTER: I've had 6 at-bats. I've been really comfortable in all of them. No hits yet, but I've gotten a couple walks and a flyout right at the centerfield wall. Definitely relieved!

College Baseball Player, California

Elite Soccer Player
He played really great both days [in the tournament]. Coaches commented both days! He's feeling great. He seemed really relaxed and able to pounce quickly, without hesitation or restraint.

Elite Soccer Player, North Carolina

College Field Hockey Goalie, California
Yesterday's game went so well. We won (which was crazy), and I felt so focused!

College Field Hockey Goalie, California

Why sports hypnosis/NLP instead of hiring a sports psychologist? Big reasons...

THE ELITE SPORTS HYPNOTIST

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Master Hypnotist and Results Mindset Coach Jason Akel works with professional and amateur athletes to eliminate performance anxiety and harness your maximum potential on the court, field, or wherever you tear it up!

Thank you very much for helping most importantly! Still have a lot of work to do! I want to master this opportunity and look for the next step. I don't want to stop here! I love nothing more than being challenged and growing from it.

NFL Running Back

Tennis Player
Overall, pretty amazing! For many years, she struggled with her [tennis forehand]. After a few bad shots, things just fell apart… spiraled down. It used to be an inevitability. This tournament, she didn’t spiral. She laughed off a bad shot or volley quite frequently. She was proud of herself. She was vocal and celebrated her good shots. She had real confidence when playing. | Achieved: NCAA D1

D1 Tennis Player, California

College Football Hypnosis
He looked very different than the last time we saw him. There was a different energy. He seemed more confident and I even saw him smiling which had never happened before! He definitely should continue working with you.

D1 College Quarterback, Virginia

Ice Skater
I noticed her to be very mature recently in a lot of ways - the way she thinks, talks, presents herself, choices she makes. I see massive improvement in her speed and strength of her skating. She has become this high-level skater all of the sudden and that is followed by her presentation. Spins are phenomenal.

Figure Skater, New York

Hypnosis for Golf Yips
Practiced a couple times last week and then played last night. Greatly improved mentality in my chipping. Some physical miscues - little to no mental negative interference!

Regular Golfer, California

College Baseball Starting Pitcher
He says it helps, he just can't tell me how or why in works. He pitched amazing yesterday. Super grounded, confident. He went 7 innings, 101 pitches, struck out 5 guys and picked off 2 guys stealing.

College Baseball Pitcher, California

Parent of Swimmer
While we were waiting for this situation to be very demoralizing for him, we saw him instead with great self-confidence and motivation. He believes in himself more now. We really appreciate what you've done and thank you again for your valuable help and support.

Swimmer, California

College Baseball Player
BEFORE: I’ve been struggling with confidence in myself. I get a lot of anxiety the second I step in the box. AFTER: I've had 6 at-bats. I've been really comfortable in all of them. No hits yet, but I've gotten a couple walks and a flyout right at the centerfield wall. Definitely relieved!

College Baseball Player, California

Parent of Elite Soccer Player
He played really great both days [in the tournament]. Coaches commented both days! He's feeling great. He seemed really relaxed and able to pounce quickly, without hesitation or restraint.

Elite Soccer Player, North Carolina

College Field Hockey Goalie, California
Yesterday's game went so well. We won (which was crazy), and I felt so focused!

College Field Hockey Goalie, California

Current & Recent Clients

Current & Recent Clients

  • NFL running back, D1 college quarterback


  • Top NBA starting center


  • Tennis pros, college, juniors & amateurs


  • Pro male triathlete (won his next race after our sessions)


  • High schoolers targeting college scouts D1-D3 in nearly all sports including basketball, tennis, baseball, volleyball, lacrosse


  • Swimmers and gymnasts working to make the Olympics


  • Top 5 women's pro cyclist in the U.S.


  • Top junior/college and amateur golfers with "yips" & mindset needs


  • Adults & teens desiring more enjoyment and better performance


Jason plays many sports and has a deep passion for downhill skiing (double black diamond skier) and wallyball.

Sports hypnotherapy psychology

One-on-One &
Team Work

Experience at All Levels Across Most Sports

Mindset for Life & Competition

Short & Long-Term Engagements

In the Zone, On Demand

You will benefit from our services if you find yourself saying...
  • My performance during practices surpasses my performance in games/competitions
  • I experience a decline in performance during significant games/competitions compared to regular ones
  • Maintaining concentration is challenging for me, and I often lose focus
  • Recovering from setbacks proves to be difficult for me
  • Lack of confidence plagues me as I return from an injury
  • I desire greater consistency in my performances
  • Coping with the demands of the high-stress or high-risk is a struggle for me
Athletes known to use hypnosis: Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods. If it's good enough for them...

Sports psychology in its regular practice is good, but the work all occurs through conscious talk and relies on the athlete being able to recall endless pep talk and deploy coping skills in the heat of competition. The reason many top performers use sports hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis is that the positive self-talk and skills are already embedded deep in the subconscious and require little to no extra, direct conscious effort to support the athlete. In other words, it just helps.

After all, how many people do you know who have been in regular talk therapy for years?! When they find our practice, these folks get massive mental and emotional shifts in just a few sessions. The same goes for athletes. See more general practice reviews here.

With hypnosis and self-hypnosis, you learn to decrease the negative effects of stress, performance anxiety and, without question, eliminate panic attacks. You will be able to stay concentrated for longer periods and play more confidently with sustained intensity and resiliency all the way through the finish.

You discover how to harness the natural stress "nerves" to support you rather than have them turn into second-guessing, or worse, a downward emotional spiral. Bad shots and bad plays are guaranteed to happen. Our work helps you move these mishaps quickly out of your mind both consciously and subconsciously. You will develop a positive mental stance just like you have a physical ready stance.  

For clients who are quieter or have more inward personalities when not playing, I help them find their outward voice or persona that suits the competitive person they want to be when playing.

Whether you're already an elite athlete or striving to become one, we work to turn vague goals into highly-specific ones and build the mental skills to help you get there. Sports hypnosis is a collaborative and inspiring process.

Sports Psychology vs. Hypnotherapy & NLP

Tap image below to enlarge...

Sports Psychology vs Hypnotherapy NLP table
Sports Psychology Hypnotherapy & NLP
Definition A field that focuses on the mental and emotional aspects of sports performance and athlete well-being in the conscious mind Powerful therapeutic approaches that dive deep into the subconscious to address and transform emotions, behaviors, and mindset for enhanced performance and personal growth. The conscious mind is also addressed through conversational hypnosis and coaching techniques.
Timeline Addresses present and future performance through discussions and practice Can directly resolve the emotions and negative self-talk associated with past failures, anxiety and any trauma. Addresses present and future performance both subconsciously and through discussions and practice.
Focus Coping techniques, rituals, mental skills training, motivation, goal setting, confidence building, stress management All sports psychology features + targets core changes in behavior, self-talk, and belief systems, unlocking the athlete's true potential for consistent and sustainable success
Techniques Primarily relies on cognitive restructuring, visualization, goal setting, self-talk, relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and performance analysis Harnesses the full potential of the subconscious mind, suggestion therapy, guided imagery, regression therapy, anchoring positive states, reframing, modeling, language patterns, and belief change techniques
Application Useful in sports, athletics, and physical performance contexts to optimize performance and overall well-being Highly-effective in various settings, including mental health, behavior modification, personal development, coaching, communication, and business settings, by directly targeting and transforming any root causes of performance limitations before layering positive future development
Certification Specialized training and certifications through recognized organizations and institutions Comprehensive hypnotherapy and NLP certification courses and training programs offered by accredited schools and associations
Integration with Other Fields Integrates with exercise science, coaching, and counseling Provides a seamless platform for effective collaboration between the athlete and their primary skill coach, creating a unified support system that maximizes the athlete's potential and accelerates skill acquisition and advancement
Speed of Impact Weeks or months with slow build A few sessions typically show real change with impacts growing exponentially

The Program

Our standard program covers most of the following areas using the techniques of hypnosis, conversational hypnosis, NLP, CBT and performance mindset coaching.

Goals

Establish & Refine

Set a Plan

Accountability

Relaxation

End the Panic

New Baseline

Self-Hypnosis

Motivation

Positive Self-Talk

Increase Focus

Body Awareness

Resiliency

"Failosophy"

Ignore Distractions

Pain control

In Person or Virtual

Jason Akel, Certified Master Hypnotherapist

In Person, Online, In the Field

Visit our new office in the beautiful woods of Orinda, California in the San Francisco East Bay.

Virtual sessions are conducted over Zoom or Google Meet with professional lighting and good sound. Jason works with individuals throughout the U.S. and around the world.

Jason occasionally attends tournaments, races, etc. to help athletes prepare immediately prior and during breaks.
Meet Jason

BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION

BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULT