Sports psychology and neurodiversity in sport
I help athletes, coaches and parents create better conditions for both performance and well-being in sport.
My work focuses on two areas:
sport and neurodiversity, and sport and performance psychology.
All children and young people have the right to meaningful leisure activities.
I support sports clubs, coaches and parents in creating sports environments where children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions can participate, develop and thrive.
I offer, among other things:
• Lectures for sports clubs and parents
• Workshops for coaches and leaders
• Guidance and support for sports clubs and schools
Practical tools for coaches working with ADHD, autism and neurodiversity in sports .
Performance in sport is not only about technique and physical ability – it is also about focus, motivation and the ability to handle pressure.
I help athletes, coaches and teams develop mental tools for sustainable performance, enjoyment and long-term development in sport.
I offer, among other things:
• Lectures on mental training and performance psychology
• Individual sessions for athletes
• Workshops for teams and coaches
My name is Cecilia Wahlgren and I run CISU Sport Psychology.
My goal is to contribute to sports environments where both performance and well-being have a place – whether you are an athlete, coach or parent.
I have extensive experience in sport, both as an athlete and through various professional roles. In my work, I combine knowledge from sport psychology, neurodiversity and leadership to provide coaches, clubs and athletes with practical tools they can use in their everyday work.
My educational background includes:
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work
• Further studies in sport psychology, public health, leadership in sport, and sport and mindfulness
During 2025 and 2026 I have also collaborated with several organisations within sport and neurodiversity, including:
• Swedish Equestrian Federation
• Swedish Shooting Sport Federation
• RF-SISU
• Guest lecture on sport and neurodiversity at Mid Sweden University
Interview on Sveriges Radio P4 (Swedish public radio) – Project in collaboration with Duveds IF about sport and neurodiversity and why knowledge about this is important in sports clubs.
Neurodiversity in focus: making equestrian sport more inclusive.
Making sport accessible for everyone – sport and neurodiversity.
Visualization that supported development despite injury
Ramma, BJJ
Challenge: A period of injury with a risk of losing the sense of progress.
Approach: Mental training and visualization.
Result: Continued development and a sense of progress despite time away from physical training.
"What helped me the most was learning visualization. I use it often now – I can ‘train in my head’ when my body needs to rest."
Köla Sport Shooting Club
Challenge: Uncertainty about how to support members with neurodevelopmental conditions.
Approach: A lecture combined with practical advice for the club’s leaders.
Result: Increased confidence among leaders and improved inclusion within the club.
"Very helpful and practical guidance – it’s important to have this knowledge when members with neurodevelopmental conditions join our club."
A new perspective on sport and exercise
Anna-Karin Arnald, Speech and Language Therapist
"I often say that I love exercise but tend to avoid all forms of organised sport. Exercise is an important part of my life today, but I have never really been interested in – or involved in – sport.
As a child, I believed for a long time that I simply wasn’t good at it. In reality, it was the environments around sport that I struggled with, and I never met anyone who helped me find motivation and enjoyment in it.
I believe things could have been very different if I had met someone like Cecilia while growing up.
Do you know a child who is like I was? If so, I recommend watching Funka Mera Play with Cecilia and Linda – about sport and neurodiversity (released 21 August 2025)."
I have developed visual support materials on sport and neurodiversity for the Swedish Equestrian Federation, available for download since March 2026. You can find them here.
I have started working on the topic of neurodiversity and competition in sport. More information to come during spring 2026.
From February 2026, CISU Sport Psychology offers fully digital mental training and written coaching sessions for those who prefer to communicate in writing rather than meeting in person. Contact me to learn more.
The handbook Sport and Neurodiversity for Young Athletes will be published in spring 2026.
Here we talk about sport psychology, mental training and personal development.
A new episode is released every other Monday.
The See it podcast is produced by me and MMT Mental Training.
Contact
cecilia@cisu.se
+4670-530 16 76