ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with a 38-year-old male karateka who had been selected for the senior national squad and was presenting with competition related anxiety. He attended 17 sessions of individual REBT over a 9-month period. On assessment, unhealthy consequences associated with competitions were loss of focus, negative self-talk, increased error rate in performance and reduced enjoyment. Other negative emotional states were also evident through the presence of unhealthy anger, shame and depression after an anxiety-affected performance, in addition to a secondary chain of anxiety about competition related anxiety. Irrational beliefs such as demands associated with the perceived need for external validation were elicited, disputed and replaced with healthy, rational alternatives. The athlete reported increased energy and enjoyment at following competitions, and the experience of concern but not anxiety was demonstrated by careful preparation and execution of pre-competition routines, ability to manage unforeseen incidents without panicking, increased focus on and attainment of process goals during competition and improved overall performance demonstrated by the attainment of medals in the following competitions.
