Performance + Well-Being:
These Priorities Work Together!
For the past 20+ years, I have supported athletes, dancers, musicians, and other high performance-based professions. My approach is: "person first: performer second". As Past Chair of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association, I work to enhance mental performance and health as part of holistic development systems. I have a hybrid practice in British Columbia, but I consult across Canada and internationally.
TRANSFORMING
PERFORMANCE CULTURE
From providing support to developing athletes, to being an integrated support team member to 6 Olympic and 4 Paralympic Games, I bring decades of experience to athletes, coaches, and performers looking to add to their mental flexibility, skills, and health. When we prioritize performer well-being we transform performance culture.
I practice from a perspective of a culturally safe and trauma-informed lens for all my clients. I also use a social justice approach to advocacy counselling for my clients ~ I believe this is critical for self-empowerment but also system change. I am grateful for my collaboration with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC) and teachings of the San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety program. I come from a place of support and affirmation for the LGBTQI2S+ community.
I support athletes and teams in my private practice and the Canadian Centre for Mental Health in Sport. I am a UBC Vancouver faculty member in a high performance coaching and leadership program, teaching applied sport and performance psychology courses, and I serve many local, provincial and national organizations.
Training & Certification
Dr. Shaunna Taylor, PhD, MPC
Past Chair, Canadian Sport Psychology Association
Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC)
Theory, Training and Supervision:
University of Ottawa
Current Faculty: UBC Vancouver
Since 1998, I’ve helped my clients - performers from a variety of fields and backgrounds - break through obstacles that stood between them and optimal mental performance and mental health. Let me help you learn and develop strategies to achieve your performance goals. Get in touch today to see what I can do for you.
Mindfulness-Based
& Cognitive Approaches
Personal & Group Support:
Transform Your Performance Culture
Holistic Performer Wellness
I use research-informed approaches to help performers achieve overall health and wellness. From physical fitness, to rest and recovery, to work-life balance and mental health, I help my clients to embrace a holistic approach to personal health and wellness.
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Whether you are locally-based for in-person support, or you train and compete at a distance, I have flexible support platforms for face-to-face and virtual meetings.
Mental Performance
I use cognitive behavioural (CBT), mindfulness-based approaches (such as DBT), biofeedback, and other evidence-based modalities to help performers in such areas as:
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- psycho-motor learning
- enhancing motivation
- visualization/imagery
- focussing strategies
- self-regulation skills
- constructive feedback
- optimal goal-setting
- disordered eating prevention
- positive body image
- performance anxiety
- relaxation / activation
- emotional intelligence
- self-advocacy
- other mental skills that are vital to performance.
Values-Based Team and Leadership Support
I work with teams and programs to provide support services at all levels (performers, coaches, managers, technical leadership).
From local club teams, to varsity sport, provincial and national programs, let me help you to create safe, inclusive and burnout-resistant programs. I can help you transform your program culture to match your values, which leads to performance and better long-term results we can all feel good about.
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I currently provide individual and team support for university and club programs, developing and national athletes and performers across Canada and abroad. From elite dancers, first responders, military and other high stress professions, I also support a wide variety of diverse organizations. Please contact me to discuss your needs
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Start the conversation about mental health and the role it plays in overall performance:
“Just because you’re a good athlete doesn’t mean you can escape mental health issues that affect people. Bringing awareness to it is important ... We've come many miles in this area and we're more compassionate and understanding. Mental illness affects one in every five Canadians, so if you think about that, that means four (athletes) in my dressing room alone, must be affected in some way."
