Coaching the Whole Person: How SWI’s Approach Transforms Performance and Wellness

Written By Curt Rosenthal

At the Sports Wellness Institute (SWI), we believe peak performance isn’t just physical. It’s mental, emotional, and behavioral—and it starts with understanding the whole person.
Whether you’re an athlete, a coach, part of a team, or an active adult navigating life transitions, our methodology is values-driven, stage-based, and grounded in the science of behavior change.

Every client begins with clarity—often through tools like the Wheel of Life to identify what matters most—and from there we build skills, habits, and cultures that last.

For Athletes: Out of Their Head, Into the Game

A 14-year-old nationally ranked tennis player could hit flawlessly in practice but froze in competition. Her Wheel of Life revealed imbalance—her “fun & enjoyment” and “self-confidence” slices were nearly empty.

Instead of prescribing more drills, we matched our strategies to her readiness for change (TTM) and focused on internal motivation:

  • Values clarification to redefine success as personal growth, not just winning

  • Diaphragmatic breathing and pre-performance routines to regulate arousal

  • Self-talk scripts to replace intrusive thoughts with confident cues

By season’s end, she was competing with composure—and enjoying it again.
📖 Research spotlight: Over 60% of adolescent athletes experience performance anxiety linked to reduced enjoyment (Gerber et al., 2021). SWI’s approach builds self-efficacy, helping athletes trust themselves under pressure.

For Coaches: Coach the Athlete, Coach the Human

Coach B, a D3 cross-country coach, was on the verge of losing half her roster due to mental fatigue and pressure. Our initial Wheel of Life session revealed her own “coach well-being” score was low—burnout was trickling down to her athletes.

We introduced:

  • Motivational Interviewing (MI) to explore athlete motivation without judgment

  • Shared decision-making frameworks for training load adjustments

  • Weekly wellness check-ins to monitor both athlete and coach well-being

Within a semester, athlete satisfaction rose, retention hit 100%, and Coach B reported feeling more aligned and less reactive.
📖 Research spotlight: Values-based, person-centered coaching improves empathy, communication, and motivation in sports environments (Jordan et al., 2020). SWI’s Coaching the Whole Person™ curriculum gives coaches tools to lead with purpose and presence.

For Teams: Culture Over Chaos

A high school varsity soccer team had talent but no unity—midseason dropouts, stress injuries, and a “grind at all costs” mentality. Their Wheel of Life assessment (done collectively) revealed huge gaps in “team communication” and “recovery culture.”

Our stage-based process included:

  • Team values mapping to align purpose and priorities

  • Peer-led recovery circles for open emotional check-ins

  • Coach modeling of vulnerability and consistent recovery habits

Eight weeks later: more trust, fewer injuries, and a five-game win streak.
📖 Research spotlight: Teams with strong communication and psychological safety show lower burnout and higher performance (Sutherland & Kliethermes, 2023). SWI helps teams design systems that protect and enhance their people.

For Active Adults: From Stuck to Aligned, One Habit at a Time

Derrick, 52, had tried countless fitness programs. All ended the same: burnout, guilt, and starting over. In our first session, his Wheel of Life revealed deep misalignment between his values (health, family, energy) and his daily routines.

We used a stage-based, values-driven coaching process to:

  • Define a wellness vision tied to his “why”: being an energetic, present parent

  • Set SMART, incremental goals—starting with a 15-min post-lunch walk, then layering in protein-focused breakfasts and a digital sunset

  • Use habit tracking and weekly check-ins to reinforce self-efficacy and celebrate progress

Six months later, Derrick was sleeping better, down 15 pounds, and—most importantly—felt in control of his choices.
📖 Research spotlight: Habit-based, values-aligned coaching leads to lasting health behavior change and improved well-being in adults (Wolever et al., 2022).

Why Health and Wellness Coaching? Why SWI?

Across athletes, coaches, teams, and active adults, one principle holds: sustainable change requires coaching the whole person.

We don’t just deliver programs. We:

  • Clarify values and vision before setting goals

  • Match strategies to readiness using the Transtheoretical Model

  • Build self-efficacy so change sticks

  • Focus on incremental progress instead of quick fixes

  • Integrate mental, emotional, and physical well-being into every plan

Whether on the field, on the sidelines, or in daily life, our mission is to help people move from overwhelm to clarity, burnout to balance, isolation to connection.


Ready to Coach Whole Person Wellness?

Whether you’re an athlete aiming for your best, a coach leading a team, part of a squad wanting to build culture, or an active adult seeking vitality—SWI’s coaching offers a proven, evidence-based path forward.
👉 Schedule a Free Discovery Call to explore how we can support your journey.

“At SWI, coaching is about more than skills. It’s about the person behind them.”
— Curt Rosenthal, Founder, Sports Wellness Institute

If you want, I can now pair this with an SWI-branded Wheel of Life graphic so the values-based alignment is visually tied to the method, making it an even stronger blog post or lead magnet.

Do you want me to create that version next?

Curt Rosenthal