Performance Anxiety Support for Musicians & Performers in Calgary
Master Your Mindset. Feel Calm and Confident on Stage.
At Core Psychology, we help performers of all ages strengthen the mental side of their craft so they can perform with focus, confidence, and emotional balance, on stage and beyond.
If you or your performer…
Freezes up in auditions even when they nail it in practice
Struggles to recover after a missed note, cue, or criticism
Gets caught in perfectionism loops that make performing feel stressful instead of joyful
Wants to walk into every performance feeling grounded, focused, and ready
$125 / 50-minute session 8–10 sessions
In-person or virtual
Covered under most Benefits Plans
Provided by Leah Callao
Why Mindset Coaching Changes Everything for Performers
Talent opens the door, mindset holds it open and keeps it fun.
Performers spend years perfecting technique. But most receive almost no guidance on managing nerves, perfectionism, or the emotional pressure of high-stakes moments.
Performance Presence Coaching teaches the mental skills that support calm, confidence, and consistency under pressure, practical, evidence-based tools you can use before, during, and after every performance.
Meet Your Performance Anxiety Coach: Leah Callao, BMT, MTA, CT
Performance coaching is most powerful when the person delivering it genuinely understands what it means to live inside a creative practice. Leah does.
Leah is a Counselling Therapist and Certified Music Therapist whose background sits at the exact intersection this program is built on. With a background in supporting individuals through music and creative expression, she understands performance pressure not as an abstract concept, but as something she has worked with up close, in real sessions, with real performers.
Her approach is warm, patient, and deeply attuned. She knows that for many performers, the hardest part isn't the performance itself, it's the inner critic, the fear of mistakes, the weight of expectations from others. She works with that layer directly, using evidence-based tools alongside the kind of human-first presence that makes the work feel safe enough to actually do.
Leah works with performers who:
Struggle with audition anxiety or nerves that don't match their actual skill level
Get caught in perfectionism or self-criticism that makes performing feel heavy
Have difficulty recovering after mistakes or negative feedback
Want to build a pre-performance routine grounded in psychology, not just habit
Credentials:
Counselling Therapist #1805, Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta
Certified Music Therapist #1106, Canadian Association of Music Therapists
What’s Included
Personalized Pre-Performance Routine and Performance Recovery Plan
Personalized 1:1 sessions with a Registered Psychologist or or Counsellor
Mindset training based on cognitive neuroscience, performance psychology, and nervous system regulation
Techniques for emotional regulation and focus under pressure
Visualization and grounding tools for auditions and stage moments
Education on the mind-body connection: sleep, rest, nutrition, and creative recovery
In-person or virtual options (age and fit dependent)
What You'll Walk Away With
Train your mind to perform your best, before you ever step on stage.
✔️ Emotional Regulation & Focus: Learn how to calm performance anxiety and stay grounded in high-pressure moments.
✔️ Confidence & Presence: Build the internal steadiness needed to perform with authenticity and impact.
✔️ Resilience After Mistakes: Recover quickly from slips or critiques, and return to flow.
✔️ Mental Rehearsal & Visualization: Train your mind to perform your best, before you ever step on stage.
✔️ Performance Routine: Develop pre-performance rituals that anchor focus and reduce anxiety.
✔️ Wellness Foundations: Learn the role of sleep, rest, and emotional self-care in sustaining creative performance.
Program Structure
8–10 sessions (single sessions available)
Covered under most extended health benefits plans (psychological services)
$125 / 50-minute session
In-person or virtual options (virtual option age dependent)
Customized to performer's age, craft, and objectives
Why It Works
Personalized for Performers: Every performer's stressors and goals are unique. This program tailors the tools to your craft, your stage, and your personality.
Evidence-Based Tools: Grounded in performance psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and CBT principles, the same skills used by elite athletes, musicians, and artists at the highest levels of their craft.
FAQs
How is performance and mindset coaching different from therapy?
1
Performance Presence Coaching is focused specifically on the mental skills that support peak performance — managing nerves, building confidence, and developing pre-performance routines. While it's delivered by a registered psychologist or supervised mental health professional and is covered under most psychological benefits plans, the focus is on performance goals rather than clinical treatment. If deeper mental health concerns emerge during the process, your coach can help connect you with appropriate support.
Do I need to be a professional performer to benefit?
2
Not at all. This program supports performers at every level, from students preparing for their first recital to conservatory musicians, competitive performers, and working artists. What matters is that performance is meaningful to you and that you want to show up to it feeling more grounded and confident.
Can mindset coaching help with performance anxiety?
3
Yes, this is one of the primary reasons people come to the program. Performance anxiety is one of the most common and least-addressed challenges performers face. Using evidence-based tools from performance psychology, CBT, and nervous system regulation, the program directly targets the patterns that drive anxiety before and during performances.
What ages does this program serve?
4
The program serves performers of all ages. Sessions for younger performers (typically under 14) involve a parent or guardian in the process. Virtual options vary by age. When you inquire, we'll make sure the format fits your performer's needs.
How is this different from working with a music teacher or performance coach?
5
A music teacher focuses on technical skill. A performance coach often focuses on stagecraft and presentation. Performance Presence Coaching focuses on the mental and emotional layer underneath both — why technique breaks down under pressure, how to recover from mistakes without spiralling, and how to build the internal steadiness that lets your skills actually show up when it counts.
Is a referral required?
6
No referral is needed. You're welcome to reach out directly to inquire about the program or book a session.
Can this help specifically with audition anxiety?
7
Yes. Audition preparation is one of the most common focal points of the program. We build a personalized pre-audition routine, work on managing the mental patterns that interfere with performance in high-stakes moments, and develop recovery tools for after, whether the audition goes well or not.
Ready to Enrol or Have Questions?
Fill out the form below and we'll be in touch within one business day. No commitment required.
Give us a call 403.488.8912. We are happy to help.
Core Psychology offers Performance Presence Coaching for musicians and performers in Calgary, Alberta, with sessions available in-person at our Marda Loop clinic and online across Alberta and Canada. The program is delivered by Leah Callao and is covered under most extended health benefits plans that include psychological services.
Where you can find us.
Located in the heart of Marda Loop in Calgary, our office offers a tranquil
space where you can take a breath and focus on you.
