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: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

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: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

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: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

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: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

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: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

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