Psychological Intervention aimed at Controlling Anxiety in a Spanish Greco-Roman Wrestler

Abstract

This paper describes a single-case psychological intervention with a Spanish National Greco-Roman Wrestling Team wrestler. The aim of the intervention was to reduce pre-competitive anxiety in order to increase his athletic performance through a psychological skills program based on mental imagery, thought stopping, cognitive restructuring and pre-competitive routines. The CSAI-2R was used before, during and after the intervention for assessing anxiety. Self-monitoring registers for mental imagery, thought stopping, cognitive restructuration and precompetitive routines specifically designed for this case were also used. Results showed the athlete highly reduced precompetitive anxiety and increase athletic performance.