About Clinton Gahwiler

Clinton Gahwiler - Synopsis of applied work

Qualifications: BA Hons MA (Couns. Psych.) - University of Cape Town

Since 1995, Clinton Gahwiler has run the psychology practice of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) in Newlands, Cape Town. His main interests lie in the related fields of sport and health psychology. Clinton’s passion is helping clients to develop, implement and maintain strategies which optimize performance and well-being, on a sustainable basis.

A: Sport psychology

Since 1994, extensive work with individual athletes and teams. Confidentiality precludes the mentioning of most clients. Interventions / positions which are however of common knowledge include:

  • Psychologist to overall Team South Africa at the Athens Olympics, 2004.
  • Psychologist to overall Team South Africa at the All Africa Games, 1999.

  • SA mens & womens hockey teams

  • SA Canoeing
  • SA Cricket - Proteas
  • SA Rugby - U21, U19, development squads

  • Psychologist to International Cricket Council’s High Performance support team. (Including work with national squads of Holland, Kenya, Canada & Namibia, and coaching staff in Pakistan).

  • Psychology consultant to Macsteel Maestros programme.

  • Scripting, narrating & Co-Executive Producer of 'Under Pressure' sport psychology documentary.

  • Positions held, include on the United Cricket Board of South Africa’s medical committee, NOCSA Medical Commission, and Sports Information and Science Agency’s national sport psychology committee.

  • Guest lecturer in various UCT academic departments, including Physiotherapy, Sports Science, Organizational psychology and Dietetics.

In his private practice at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA), work with many other private individuals and teams seeking psychological services, from a wide range of sports, 1995 – present.

B: Health Psychology

Since 1995, Clinton has worked with many individuals to help them them make positive changes to their health and well-being, in a way that they are able to maintain over the longer-term. This has seen him consulting, training, and supporting in amongst others, various burnout, stress management, healthy weight and cardiac rehabilitation programmes. 

He also runs a monthly Lifestyle Support Group for those needing the structure to help maintain a heathy, effective lifestyle, and blogs on issues of lifestyle change at ready2change.co.za

 

C: Corporate & other applications

Clinton has a special interest in applying sport psychology principles in other areas of human performance, especially in the corporate environment. It is in fact in the business context that his expertise in sport and in health best come together. His 'IN THE ZONE' seminar is run in companies around the country to help executives overcome mental blocks, and to optimize their performance and well-being.

As guitarist and song-writer for SA band Flat Stanley, he has had to apply both his sports expertise (overcoming mental barriers, coping with performance nerves etc) and his health psychology knowledge (balancing family, work & music) in his own life.