What do clients say?
"Steven is a psychologist a cut above the rest. With 110% commitment, masses of character, humour and passion for his work he was a great fit amongst our team of World Champions. He came into my life at a time when it was time for me to perform at a world-class level or retire. Through the work we did together he helped me to understand myself better. Applying this understanding I was able to realise my potential, achieve the World Championship medal I had aspired to and transition into retirement happy with what I had achieved and looking forward to what life would bring next. Nearly 10 years on the insights I gained through working with Steve still form the foundation for much of my success in my new career."
HEATHER MONRO
WORLD ORIENTEERING BRONZE MEDALIST
“Steven has given me a new way of looking at my players and team. The benefits given to me, player’s and staff in terms of collective mindset has been outstanding. It has consistently given me greater understanding of player & team mindset. Steve worked with me at Sheffield United during the record-breaking promotion season of 2016/17 as well as our successful first season back in the Championship. He was also critical during our Restart to the Premier League.”
CHRIS WILDER
PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGER - SHEFFIELD UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
"I first met Steven when he worked with the West Indies Cricket Team in 2017. Many of us didn’t know what to expect as we hadn’t been exposed to such expertise growing up playing in the Caribbean.
He came very excited but optimistic about helping to channel our talents into the right direction to get the best out of each other for the teams success. I personally couldn’t believe how this guy coming from England could be so sure and exited that he could help us to ‘dream the impossible’. But he could and we went on to win our first test match against England (in England) for 17 years. We also benefited working with Steven during the 2019 World Cup campaign."
JASON HOLDER
WEST INDIES CRICKET CAPTAIN
"He is an enthusiastic hard-working positive person who is there to help when you need him. Steve was a big influence during our promotion-winning season to the championship. A family man who has time for anybody. He loves his sports which I have banter with him about, especially snooker."
BILLY SHARP
SHEFFIELD UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
“Steven’s credibility as a top sports psychologist, is greatly enhanced by the fact that he himself, played at the very highest level in his own chosen sport, so he understands, all too well, the stresses and pressures, of playing sport at the elite level. Winning the World Professional Snooker Championship in 2002, has been the highlight of my career and I thoroughly enjoyed working with Steven during that time. His insights and shared knowledge, made all the difference and mentally, I felt stronger than at any point in my career.”
PETER EBDON
WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPION
“I was involved in his (Steven’s) appointment as the team psychologist to the West Indies team to aid our young side.”“The genesis of Steven’s appointment was a request from the Test and ODI captain Jason Holder along with Head Coach Stuart Law.”“(We) both believed that our squad needed someone possessing the appropriate skill set to address areas of team building, and mindset support. Steven completed the application process out of which our panel considered him the strongest candidate for the role.”
JIMMY ADAMS
DIRECTOR OF CRICKET - CRICKET WEST INDIES
"Steven played a huge part with me and the first team in our promotion winning season in 2016. During that time he grilled, challenged, supported and mentored me. I enjoyed his company greatly and consider him a good friend. He has very similar values to myself that underpin everything about him."
NEAL ARDLEY
FOOTBALL MANAGER - AFC WIMBLEDON
“I think what you’ve brought to the world of cricket, the world of sport, with some of your insight and ideas and the way that you try to better us, not only as a sportsman but as human beings is remarkable. It’s been a real learning curve for me over the last couple of years. I know it’s been a tough challenge at times and we are out there to challenge each other but I think what you’ve done for me by being so personable and human about everything, you’ve really tried to make me feel better about myself, better about us as cricketers and as people. You’ve brought out the best in me for sure.”
NICK COMPTON
ENGLAND, SOMERSET CCC & MIDDLESEX CCC CRICKETER
“Talent and hard work aren’t always enough to get to the top in sport and business. Discussions with Steven Sylvester helped me to be open and communicate better with my team, my coach and even my rivals. This led to greater self- awareness, and freedom to perform at my best. It was undoubtedly one of the factors that took me to a World Championship title. I had heard sports psychologists before: I knew about relaxation, focus, and I was mentally tough enough to succeed. But Steven’s unique skill is asking the right questions and looking at the broader picture in performance situations. Steven is also extremely quick and keen to learn about new specialist areas and the specific challenges of each sport, instead of just applying standard knowledge and solutions. Steven’s way of thinking has helped me achieve more in my sport and my working life.”
JAMIE STEVENSON
ORIENTEERING RELAY & SPRINT WORLD CHAMPION
"Steven traveled with the British team and assisted me in my preparation for the European Championships in Helsinki and the Sidney Olympic Games in 2000. I see his psychology as an integral part of my preparation. Steven helped me improve my communication with other divers and my coach. We worked on developing competition routines, creating the right frame of mind, handling self-doubts and getting back on track after terrible dives."
KAREN SMITH
BRITISH OLYMPIC DIVER
"Thanks Steve for the time that you gave me and the support I needed to help nudge me over the line. Steve is constantly is doing things for others and helping them to take the steps they may be afraid to take."
COREY CAIN
WORLD KICKBOXING CHAMPION
"Steven helped me embrace what I am all about," Moeen says. "Steven helped me see the bigger picture and the role of cricket in my life. Cricket, basically, is just a game and, by understanding that I have a greater purpose, I can relax and not worry about what happens on the pitch."
MOEEN ALI
ENGLAND CRICKETER - WORCESTERSHIRE CCC
"Steven's enthusiasm for everything he does is wonderfully infectious. After every conversation, I come away with a renewed sense of purpose. Steven doesn't have any catchphrases or gimmicks. He is one of lifes genuinely good men, whose passion in life is to see people reach their full potential and maybe a little bit more. His advice over the years has always been bang on the money and his ability to get to the nucleus of a problem and offer advice hasn't been matched. Thank you for helping me become a better version of myself."
SHAUN MURPHY
WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPION
"From the moment we met on the driving range at Stoke Park through to the highs of the Open Championship in 2009 and all the way to this day, you have been such a pillar of stability. A man who dedicates his life to empowering others to be the best version of themselves."
JEREMY KAVANAGH
PROFESSIONAL GOLFER
"I worked with Steven when I became the first British player to win the wheelchair men's doubles title at the Wimbledon Championships alongside Michaël Jeremiasz. I have worked with Steven for some time now, and consider him to be a friend, as well as an expert in the field of Psychology. I would like to thank him for enabling me to look at myself in slightly different ways, namely to appreciate the things that I do both on and off a tennis court. I know I have improved both as a person and a tennis player. This has positive impact on my game, as well as my life in general. The work that Steve and I have done together has been invaluable."
JAYANT MISTRY
1ST WIMBLEDON WHEELCHAIR TENNIS CHAMPION
"It's probably nearly ten years since we first started working together at Middlesex CCC where I was Head Coach and Steve became our squad psychologist. My first impressions were that Steve's approach was relaxed and challenging at the same time. Unlike traditional psychologists I had worked with before there were no flip charts or handouts and impressively no script that Steve read from. He worked the room and established where we were from an individual and collective point of view. Steven helped me develop as a professional and totally understood my position at the club, acknowledging my strengths and challenging my weaknesses. It was fantastic to share the experience of winning the 1st Division County Cricket Championship in 2016 at Lords for the first time in 23 years."
