In the initial interview process is key in determining how the athlete is perceiving the performance situation and what they are concerned about with their performance and the direction it's taking. I don't believe that any singular measure can fully explain the situation but a combination of factors can be found & considering how we approach the dynamics of our consolation process. The context & scope of this equation can be defined by first the self evaluation method and then narrow down through mental skills and state anxiety test followed by motivation and goals orientation test and also self-efficacy & confidence test. In a nutshell I think you need to get a full understanding of what you're dealing with and what assessment evaluation you have done

With uncertainty comes in how the person perceived the situation or issue as a challenge or threat and also comes into play is in your comfort zone. So if you view the situation as a challenge and if out of your comfort zone or not, as a professional you need to analyze what type of uncertainty is being imposed and determine if it is a conceptual, relational, ethical or outcome uncertainty. So in viewing this scenario you need to take a layered approach with your client to determine whether the scenario fits into something that you can interpret and understand what is happening, is it cognitive or emotional and behavioral aspects are happening. You need to slow down the process and focus on what you can control and focus on the scope of the task . It's recommended to approach this through the lens of Schon's reflection-in- action which is described as thinking on your feet, that uncertainty is not a problem that can't be solved or eliminated but to be addressed with reflection by your professional ability

Also if you view this outside of your comfort zone and it becomes a threat that is when you fall into avoiding the situation and withdraw yourself from further investigation of the situation and not approach a hypothesis or conclusion for solution

When you are presented a challenge you must first explore what the challenge is and if that's the real challenge or something else. Using the consultants problem-solving arc you first must define the issues before you present a diagnosis for the challenge or solution that you like to apply. In accessing the functional levels you need address the cognitive, affective and behavioral components simultaneously to the environmental and athletes perceptions of the situation. You need to clarify what the conditions of the challenges are in what scope of the consultation. Is if it's a performance development, dysfunction or impairment territory. A clear and concise summary is key in the development process of the application of sports performance mentoring to the individual athlete in question and the path of consultation you should consider in this development plan for your solutions to the specific needs of the athlete

The Core Principle of the Consultant's problem-solving arc is the consultation is threading all of this on the process , but the athlete owns the solution. Our job is to create the conditions, where the athlete can clearly & act with intention. You have to clarify what the specific challenges are that you are working through- performance base, Relational or motivational. Using Keegan Service Dilivery Model - will give you the sequence of steps that you need to follow and Lazarus's model is key in determining the challenges that the athlete is facing and importantly the environmental aspects to determine what the framework of issues to address. In the in intervention process you need to take steps that will help explain the cognitive appraisals distortions, somatic anxiety using arousal regulation and address self-efficacy levels , and what is the motivational drift technique to apply.

I like to present myself as unobtrusive with a friendly demeanor, and approach of curiosity not overwhelming them. Within the intake process I like to be genuinely interested as attentive listener and receptive to what their thoughts are and how we can work together. I believe if you listen carefully to what they are truly saying and reflect back that you are listening and understanding the context of the conversation and then you are building a relationship that is authentic and meaningful that you are trustworthy and beneficial for them

As I'm relatively new in this process but strongly feel that using integrated assessment methodology is key in addressing the client's needs and application requirements for doing meaningful mental performance assessment. I know that the initial evaluation/interview will set the tone for the sequence of your approach using sports psychology techniques. So using will be triangulation of the self-report instruments as a in-depth guide for all relevant realms of cognitive, emotional and personal experience & the initial interview within onboarding process is also key in conjunction with ongoing observation of the individual progress and adaptation to the environment they compete in. I believe that a combination of the big five personalities and the appropriate assessment tools and following Keegan's six-stage foundation will give you the best sequence for the most optimal outcomes