As security professionals commit to safeguarding our nation, their roles are sometimes marked by high-stress scenarios, intense physical demands, critical decision-making, and traumatic events. In light of this reality, the integration of high-performance psychology and mental health awareness is not just essential for the security community, but life-saving.
This is where the insights of Dr. Michael Gervais prove so valuable. A high-performance psychologist by training, Dr. Gervais is considered an industry visionary who has helped Olympic athletes, NFL players, military personnel, artists, and CEOs operate at the top of their game. His passion is optimal human performance and honing the skills that help people face challenges and reveal their true potential. He is also the founder of Finding Mastery, a podcast about the lessons we can learn from people who operate in high-stakes environments.
Is there a fine line between performing with excellence and succumbing to self-destructive perfectionism? How can we transition from a high-adrenaline environment to baseline without experiencing negative mental health impacts? And is there such a thing as “healthy compartmentalization”?
These are just a few of the questions that Dr. Gervais discusses, gleaning insights from the sports world and his own life experience for the benefit of the security community.
Order Dr. Gervais's new book 'The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying About What People Think of You' here.
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About Jessica Lauren Walton: Jessica is a communications strategist, video producer, and writer in the U.S. defense sector. She has written articles on a range of security and mental health topics and conducted interviews with military leadership, CIA officers, law enforcement, psychologists, filmmakers, and more. Jessica recently completed her memoir about her experience as an American woman struggling with mental illness while trying to get into Israeli intelligence.
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