The Coach Steve Clark PhD Show with UCLA’s Dr. Jeff Schwartz on mind, brain, stress

The Coach Steve Clark PhD Show

With Dr. Jeff Schwartz, MD, UCLA School of Medicine

Our mind, brain, stress, changing our habits and thought patterns in competition

Hello everyone, welcome to The Coach Steve Clark PhD Show where the aim is to encourage, inspire and equip coaches, players and parents who in turn inspire and equip others to promote tennis, foster sportsmanship, and develop greater players and people. So thanks for joining me and I hope you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the conversation.

I am pleased and honored to have as my guest today a seminal thinker and developer of a very practical guide to changing habits, thought patterns, etc. and we will largely discuss how we might apply it to tennis and competition.  Dr. Jeff Schwartz, M.D. is a research psychiatrist at UCLA School of Medicine and one of the world’s leading experts in self-directed neuroplasticity and the co-founder of the NeuroLeadership field. His breakthrough work in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) provided the hard evidence that the mind can control the brain’s chemistry and circuitry. He has lectured extensively to both professional and lay audiences in the US, Europe, and Asia and is a sought after speaker, best selling author, advisor to the film industry and consultant to organizations.

In short we will have a fascinating conversation on how we as people (specifically to our task as tennis players, coaches and competitors) can change our habits and thought patterns even in light of similar input or data.  That is if you miss a ball and consequently lose a massively critical point, how can you change that perception of the importance of that shot and treat shots, the pressure, stress, anxiety, differently yielding more free play, fewer problems with breathing and physiological affects of stress in competition.

I have used his books in a course I teach on psychoneuroimmunology (the interrelationship of the mind, brain, and our physiology with respect to stress and well being) and Dr. Schwartz will not only have a lot to contribute to that discussion but if you read his books (noted below) you will be amazed at the the research that has gone into this, and the practicality of his method.

You can click on the image or title and you will go straight to Amazon if you care to purchase his book to read on such a fascinating and practical topic.

 

 Do not let the title fool you. This is a fascinating book and highly practical.  He goes into detail about the research, and how he has shown in various instances how through program people are actually able to see permanent changes in neural pathways–change habits and their brains. This is practical beyond the stroke, and OCD patients, but can be used in the throws of daily life, and the stress and habits of competition. For many years “experts” thought children and adults had vastly different abilities to re-wire the brain. This is not so.  But again, I emphasize the practicality and you will be challenged on numerous levels personally, philosophically, and practically.

 

 

 

In this 2011 work, Dr. Schwartz further develops his four step process of relabeling, reframing, refocusing, and revaluing in one’s journey of changing habits. In our podcast, we will be applying this to tennis and competition in general.

 

 

 

You can also learn more about Dr. Schwartz’s work, speaking engagements, videos, etc., by visiting his website at JeffreyMSchwartz.com

Be sure to see CoachSteveClarkPhD.Com for other podcasts, blogs, resources and discussions.

The introduction music is “Let it Rip” by Mike and Bob Bryan band and the narrator is Wayne Bryan. Thanks for your continued support.

Special thanks to our sponsor Arrow Concrete and Asphalt Specialties, Inc.  A fantastic group of professional people who do their work with integrity and relationship. See my resource page of court equipment and services for more information.