Motivation hangs on every wall in the room NIU sports psychologist Moira Stuart uses to talk to players.

On the right it’s vision. The left tells the importance of drive. Behind you, the wall reminds to take advantage of opportunities.

But it’s the message on the back wall Stuart likes the best.

Behind a single stand black lamp hangs a picture of a man rock climbing in the desert. Below the image reads “challenge” in bright yellow letters.

“I like that one because I think athletes should not think of challenges as threats,” Stuart said. “They should use them as positives. And that’s where I come in to try and help them realize that.”

Forgive Stuart’s positive attitude, but in her mind, that’s what it’s all about. To Stuart, athletics are more that just one’s physical ability, but their mental ability as well. And it’s her job to help players and coaches overcome their challenges.

That’s one of the reasons the assistant professor in kinesiology and physical education received an e-mail from softball coach Donna Martin two years ago.

Martin had a few questions about how to make her a better coach. And after Stuart e-mailed her back some answers, Martin knew she wanted her players heading to Stuart’s room.

But in order for Stuart to help players and coaches overcome their challenges, she had to overcome one herself. Her problem: the stereotype of being a psychologist.

Many players don’t want to go to a psychologist because they don’t want to feel they have something wrong with them, Stuart said.

But that’s not what sports psychology is about. And as the seasons pass, more and more of NIU’s athletes have decided to make a visit.

“Players have to realize it’s not about you being broken and [Stuart] having to fix you,” Martin said. “It’s about just wanting to improve.”

That’s exactly what NIU basketball player Anthony Maestranzi wanted to do.

After Stuart spoke in front of the men’s basketball team prior to last season, Maestranzi’s curiosity took hold and he set up a session.

“I wanted to see what it was all about,” Maestranzi said. “She helped me work on a few key points which have really helped me through the season.”

Since his first session, Maestranzi has gone back a few times to see those posters in Stuart’s room to both learn new mental skills and to check his progress.

Yet that room and its posters serve a two-fold purpose for those who enter it. The coaches and players visit that room for advice to help them on the playing field. They leave with skills for life.

“When an athlete comes for a session I can teach them skills to help them deal with the stress and pressure of being a college athlete,” Stuart said. “But for the rest of their lives, they will benefit from these attitude skills – because attitude is everything.”