I have been a mental coach since 2022 and have worked with both individual athletes and sports clubs.
Many elite athletes today work with a mental coach. With me, your anonymity is protected if you wish. In my practice as a sports psychology advisor (mental coach), I use research-based methods rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy and sports psychology.
It will take you between 5–10 minutes to fill out my form. Choose the option that suits you best!
1 SESSION (Low-Threshold Option)
1499 NOK /month
Why
COMPETITION (Progression)
3495 NOK /month
Why
FAST (Elite)
4995 NOK /month
Why
Daniel Osen – from an audio file on a USB stick to a career in mental training
It all started quite simply. In 2013, Daniel discovered mental training for the first time. There were only a few pages dedicated to the topic in his sports science textbook, but those few pages sparked an interest that would go on to shape his entire career. Around the same time, he received a USB stick from Olympiatoppen, filled with audio tracks for visualization, relaxation, and mental preparation before competitions. It wasn’t necessarily the classroom teaching that made the biggest impact—it was the voice in his ear telling him that his thoughts could be trained, and that it could make a real difference.
Two years later, at officer school in the Armed Forces, this interest was put into practice. There, he was introduced to psychology in operational leadership, military pedagogy, and performance under pressure. What happens to your decision-making when the pressure is on? How do you build calm, confidence, and direction in the midst of chaos?
At that point, it was no longer just an interest—it was about survival, leadership, and human capability.
The foundation was laid. The mental aspect had found its place. But the journey had only just begun.
Whether it's building a doghouse or undertaking challenging physical trials, together we will find the solution for optimal performance.
After several years of hands-on experience and academic exploration, Daniel began asking a fundamental question: What truly motivates people? Why do some resist change, while others adapt and grow?
This question marked the beginning of his work on a book about the psychology of motivation—not as a dense academic volume, but as a blend of professional insight and real-life examples. He wanted to talk to those who work with motivation in practice.
Through interviews with professionals such as Sondre Risholm Liverød, Tor Åge Eikerappen, Gyrid Beck Solberg, Line Mari Thorkildsen, and Christian Ytterbøl, he gained valuable insight into how motivation actually works—not just in theory, but in everyday life.
Simultaneously, Daniel pursued a Bachelor's degree in Preparedness and Crisis Management (2017-2020) at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics, and Management. This interdisciplinary program covered subjects such as crisis management, international crisis management, organizing for unforeseen events, crisis response, stress management, and coping mechanisms, among others. These topics intertwine with psychology, decision-making, and performance, forming a nexus that can be linked to motivation and mental training.
In 2021, Daniel self-published the book 'Motivation.' Building on this, in 2022, he commenced work on a new bachelor's thesis titled 'Mental Training in Emergency Services,' slated for publication in spring 2023. This thesis focuses on providing mental training techniques tailored for emergency services personnel who often encounter high-pressure situations requiring composure and swift decision-making. For these individuals, responding to emergencies is not a choice but a duty they willingly undertake.
Athlete Support and Philosophy
Daniel began his career as a mental coach by working with two lower-level athletes during the 2021–2022 period. In 2022, he began collaborating with promising golfer Sander Akeren, who at the time represented the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Sander has three Norwegian Championship titles from Wang Toppidrett and was named Norway’s Junior Golfer of the Year in 2019. He has won six titles in the Srixon Tour, the highest junior golf level in the country, and has been a member of the Norwegian national team since 2016.
Today, Daniel coaches athletes in football, handball, martial arts, sailing, rowing, and ballet. His athletes are both Norwegian- and English-speaking and compete at national, regional, and youth national team levels. In addition, Daniel occasionally holds contracted roles in sports clubs and delivers lectures on mental training for clubs, organizations, and educational institutions.
Daniel’s approach to mental training is rooted in consistency and long-term commitment. There are no shortcuts—mental skills must be trained just like technique and physical ability. His work is based on Olympiatoppen’s model for fundamental mental techniques and is combined with tailored exercises, reflection tools, and strategies for handling performance pressure and critical situations.
Research
At the Norwegian Police University College, Daniel conducted a qualitative study using comparative analysis, where he interviewed personnel from emergency services and psychologists to identify the demands placed on performance under pressure. The study focused particularly on stress management and how thoughts and emotions influence behavior in time-sensitive situations. It resulted in a set of concrete mental techniques that emergency responders and operational personnel can use to improve self-regulation. The full thesis can be accessed by clicking the image.
Alongside his mental coaching practice, Daniel is pursuing a PhD in sports psychology at Health Sciences University in the United Kingdom. His doctoral research focuses on elite athletes and explores the relationships between self-confidence, attention, sleep, and social media use—examining how these factors affect performance and mental health in elite sports. The PhD is part-time and scheduled for completion by 2030.
With both academic and practical experience from Olympiatoppen Midt-Norge and NTNU, Daniel combines research-based insights with hands-on tools and exercises tailored to high-performance environments. His approach is grounded in the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, where the relationship between coach and athlete takes center stage. Despite the wide range of available methods in mental training, Daniel places the greatest emphasis on conversation, trust, and mutual confidence as the foundation for lasting development and performance growth.
In 2023, Daniel enrolled in NTNU's 'Mental Training and Executive Brain Functions' program, spearheaded by a leading expert in sports psychology at the Olympic Top Center and the Department of Psychology in Trondheim.
Furthermore, Daniel has pursued additional courses in mental training under the guidance of Erik Bertrand Larsen, as well as Sport Psychology on Udemy, an online platform with collaborations with esteemed entities such as Nordea and Volkswagen.
"It's about listening and mapping the athlete's baseline to understand where the shoe pinches. Then, together, we'll figure out what measures we can take for you to perform optimally."
Course in Applied Psychology
100-hour course in basic psychology, sports psychology and human behavior
Contact Daniel Osen
Would you like to arrange for Daniel to visit your company to motivate and inspire your employees? A lecture with Daniel Osen can furnish you and your company with the resources required to elevate it to new levels. Schedule Daniel for a lecture and inject your company with a genuine dose of motivation!
