“The pain barrier’s all in your mind, son.”

Parents of children as young as eight are paying thousands of dollars for sports psychologists to help their kids handle pressure and anxiety.

Parents often pay up to $1400 for four to six sessions to help their kids perform well in the big games. And at that price, they’d want to.

According to a report in the Herald Sun, sports psychologists used to only be used by a handful of elite child athletes, but are now commonplace through cities and regional areas. Unfortunately the kids aren’t usually able to recommend their parents to psychologists to deal with their sky-high expectations.

For the wannabe elite athlete, mental toughness is just as important as physical fitness. But the cost of a psychologist alongside coach and personal trainer – not to mention the isotonic drinks - makes kids’ sports these days an expensive exercise.

After all, it’s not whether you win or lose, but whether you give your parents their $1400 worth.

Do sports psychologists help kids deal with pressure and anxiety, or only increase it? Have your say below.