Your mind is part of your training.
Let's make sure it's keeping pace.
Active Health Psychology works with athletes at every level — from school sport and local competitions through to elite and professional performance. Whatever the level, the mental side of sport matters. And it’s trainable.
No referral needed · In-person in Douglas and Railway Estate · Medicare rebates may apply
4+
Years embedded in performance psychology
Reece has worked with Townsville Fire, Mendi Blackhawks, NQ United Netball, Lightning Swim Club, QRL, WNBL, WNBA, Athletes and Olympians
You've put in the work.
Now let's make sure your mind is keeping pace.
You’ve put in the training. You show up, you work hard, and you care deeply about what you do.
And yet there are moments where something gets in the way — where your ability and your belief in that ability don’t quite match up.
“Performance Psychology is one of the fastest-growing areas of applied psychology globally — with a robust evidence base supporting its effectiveness across individual sport, team sport, and high-pressure professional contexts.”
— Australian Psychological Society, Sport & Exercise Psychology Interest Group
Before competition
The excitement of game day is real — and so is the pressure that comes with it. Some athletes feel it more intensely than others, and learning to channel it is a skill worth building at any level.
On the inside
Many athletes hold themselves to a standard that would exhaust anyone. Helping them develop a kinder, stronger relationship with themselves changes everything — on and off the field.
Staying motivated
Every athlete goes through periods where the spark feels quieter. Reconnecting with what genuinely drives them — on their own terms — is what keeps them going long term.
Athletes across every sport
and at every level.
The team works with athletes from first school carnivals through to elite and professional competition. The mental skills that help an elite performer stay composed under pressure are the same skills that help a young athlete find their confidence and enjoy their sport. The level changes. The work doesn’t.
Young Athletes — School & Club Sport
Whether competing for fun or taking their first steps in representative sport, the mental skills built early become the foundation everything else is built on. Parents are welcomed into the process where it's helpful.
School Sports
Club Sports
Saturday morning comps
Representative Sport - Regional & State-level
Stepping up in competition brings new demands. The Active Health Psychology team helps athletes rise to meet them with clarity and confidence — so the jump in level doesn't become a jump in self-doubt.
Townsville Fire
Mendi Blackhawks
Lightning Swim Club
All codes
Competitive Adults — Club & Amateur Sport
For adults competing at club level or returning to sport after time away. Whether the goal is performing more consistently, managing pressure, or simply getting more out of training — this is the work that closes the gap between ability and performance.
Club Sports
All Codes
All Levels
Elite & Professional Athletes
For athletes competing at state, national, and professional levels. The team has direct experience working inside elite sporting environments — the same framework that informs elite performance informs every session they deliver.
WNBL
WNBA
QRL
Olympians
Your coaches cover the game plan
The mental game is something deeper
The technical side of sport is well covered. Coaches, trainers, and performance staff have that handled. What’s less often addressed is the inner game — who you are as a person when you compete. How you talk to yourself when things get hard. Whether you’re performing from a place of genuine confidence or holding yourself back.
Performance psychology at this level isn’t about fixing problems or adding pressure to perform. It’s about helping athletes understand themselves more clearly — their values, their motivations, what genuinely drives them — so that their mental game becomes an asset rather than an afterthought.
The work is humanistic, evidence-based, and built entirely around the individual. Not a templated program. Not a generic approach.
Explore purpose
Understanding what genuinely drives the individual — in their own words, on their own terms. When motivation comes from within rather than from expectation, it sustains through the hard periods.
Develop a positive inner voice
The way an athlete talks to themselves shapes everything. The team helps build an inner voice that is honest, encouraging, and resilient — one that supports performance rather than undermining it.
Find joy and play with freedom
Athletes who perform at their ceiling have almost always found a way to enjoy what they do. The team helps athletes reconnect with what they love about their sport and perform with that freedom.
Redefine what success looks like
Helping athletes measure themselves against something that genuinely serves them — their own growth, their own values, their own standards — rather than outcomes alone.
Build real confidence and self-belief
Confidence grounded in who they are — not just in whether the last game went well. The kind that recovers quickly and shows up consistently.
Simple to begin.
No referral needed.
Sport doesn’t operate on a nine-to-five. Sessions are designed to fit around training schedules, school commitments, and competition calendars where practicable.
In-person at Douglas or Railway Estate · Telehealth available · Medicare rebates may apply with a GP Mental Health Care Plan
Get in Touch
Call 1300 069 955 or submit an enquiry online. The team will match you with the right psychologist and find a time that works around training and other commitments.
First Session
A relaxed, unhurried conversation. Your psychologist gets to know you, understands what's going on, and explains what working together will look like. No pressure, no jargon.
Building the Skills
Structured sessions tailored to you, your sport, and where you are right now. Skills practised in sessions, applied at training, and drawn on when it counts.
Experience at the highest level.
Care at every level.
Reece Danaher has spent over four+ years working in elite sporting environments — embedded alongside WNBL, WNBA, QRL athletes, and Olympians. Every team member at Active Health Psychology is supervised using the same performance psychology framework he brings to elite sport.
That experience informs every session delivered — including athletes working through competition nerves ahead of a Saturday morning game. The principles that help elite athletes perform under pressure are the same ones that help every athlete find their confidence and their enjoyment in sport.
Active Health Psychology works with Townsville Fire, NQ United Netball, Lightning Swim Club and the Mendi Blackhawks — bringing genuine performance experience to every athlete, regardless of the level they’re at.
RD
Reece Danaher
Principal Psychologist · Performance Psychology Lead
Over four+ years working with professional athletes across QRL, WNBL, WNBA, Olympians and across multiple codes.
Reece brings a rare depth of actual elite sport experience to performance psychology — which is reflected in every individual and team program the practice delivers.
Performance Psychology
Active Psychology
4+ Years Elite Sport
AHPRA Registered
APS Member
AHPRA Registered · APS Member · 4+ Years Elite Sport · Townsville Fire · Mendi Blackhawks
Performance Psychology
FAQs
Questions about what Performance Psychology involves, who it’s for, and how to get started.
Does my child need to be competing at a high level to benefit from this?
No. The team works with athletes at every level — from local club sport through to representative and pathway programs. Mental skills training is valuable at every stage, and building these foundations early is one of the most powerful things a young athlete can do.
Is this only for young athletes, or can adults access this too?
Performance psychology at Active Health Psychology is for anyone who competes — at any level and any age. Adults in club and amateur sport, returning athletes, and elite performers are all welcome. If you compete and you want your mental game to match your physical preparation, this is relevant to you.
Is this the same as seeing a psychologist for mental health issues?
Not exactly — though the two can overlap. Performance psychology focuses on the mental skills that affect how you train, compete, and experience your sport. That said, the Active Health Psychology team takes a genuinely holistic view — if other things are getting in the way, that gets addressed too.
Do we need a GP referral to book?
No referral is needed. If a GP Mental Health Care Plan is in place, Medicare rebates may apply — we’re happy to discuss this when you get in touch.
Can I access Medicare rebates for Performance Psychology?
Medicare rebates may apply with a GP Mental Health Care Plan. The team can walk you through what’s available when you make contact — there’s no obligation to book before that conversation happens.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies depending on what you’re working on and where you’re starting from. The Active Health Psychology team will give you a clear picture after the first session. There’s no lock-in and no pressure to commit to a program upfront.
Does working with a psychologist mean something is wrong with me?
Not at all. The athletes who seek performance psychology are almost always the ones who take their sport seriously and want to get more out of it. Working on the mental side of performance is no different to working with a strength coach or a skills trainer — it’s just another part of preparing properly.
Explore Other Services
Signature Service
Active Psychology
Psychology that combines movement and evidence-based intervention — for athletes and individuals alike.
For Teams
Teams & Organisations
Embedded team psychology programs for sporting organisations — pre-season to in-season.
For Practitioners
AHPRA Supervision
Board-approved supervision with specialist depth in sport and performance psychology.
Your mental game is
worth the conversation
Whether you’re a parent exploring options for your child, an adult athlete looking to perform more consistently, or an elite competitor wanting to work at a deeper level — getting in touch is the first step.
A first conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
No referral needed · In-person in Douglas + Railway Estate Townsville · Telehealth available world-wide for athletes living overseas · Medicare rebates may apply