Reframing is about how we see and understand things based on the context we’re in and our beliefs and values (Watzlawick et al., 1974). When we reframe, we try to change our way of looking at something by becoming aware of our current limited view. It’s used in therapy to help people see their experiences from a different perspective and change how they think about certain aspects of a situation.
Reframing was first used in family therapy (Satir & Baldwin, 1984) and later in hypnotherapy (Erickson et al., 1985). In sports psychology, reframing is a common technique to change how athletes think and improve their performance. It’s not just for clinical cases but also for addressing performance-related issues and building excellence in sports (Anderson, 2000).
Examples of reframing in sports psychology include normalizing nervousness before a competition, turning anger into constructive feedback, replacing negative self-talk with positive thoughts, finding new meaning in a sport, involving parents in an athlete’s environment, helping athletes with eating disorders, and assisting with career transitions (Anderson, 2000).
Anderson, M. B. (2000). Doing sport psychology. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Erickson, M. H., Rossi, E. L., & Ryan, M. O. (1985). Life reframing in hypnosis. New York, NY: Irvington Publishers. Satir, V., & Baldwin, M. (1984). Satir step by step: A guide to creating change in families. Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books.
Watzlawick, P., Weakland, J. H., & Fisch, R. (1974). Change: Principles of problem formation and problem resolution. New York, NY: Norton.