Coaching for Performing Artists

Performing artists may have needs that are somewhat different than other populations. There are three main points of emphasis for performing artists which are addressed aggressively in my work with biofeedback and neurofeedback.

1. Performers depend heavily on the physical condition of their bodies. In fact performers use their bodies as instruments, therefore not just the psychology but also the physiology of performance is addressed in therapy.
   
   
2. Musicians have been found to have a high prevalence and incidence of psychiatric disorders*, including mood, anxiety, personality, somatoform, substance use, sleep, psychotic, and eating disorders. The field of applied psychophysiology is dedicated to the research and development of clinical applications for mind-body, stress-related phenomena. Under this paradigm, psychiatric and or psychological problems will produce stress-related somatic issues.
   
   
3. Psychological stress produces overall muscle tension and physical stress which in turn predisposes the performer to injury. Denial and avoidance coping for performance anxiety in musicians lead to depressed immune responses.

The role of psychophysiology in performance appears to be of utmost importance. Usually a person who is affected by an illness or disorder can still function in his job and doesn’t lose his status as a professional. However, when an artist has any type of disease or disorder his performance is usually greatly compromised. As a result the artist may not be able to perform. Therefore any type of disease process that threatens the artist's ability to perform threatens the artist's primary source of income, undermines the career, and lowers the status of the artists. This is the reason why it is particularly important for performing artists to have psychophysiological coach.

*Nagel 1998;Ostwald et al 1998.