Visualization and Weight Training

[brolleyjj]

Questions:
1. Do most competive weight lifters visualize/use imagery as part of their training?
2. Who are the "go to" people (authors and researchers) on this topic?

I am a sleep deprived, 46 year old, skinny looking looking weight lifting newbie with a PR of 430 on the Dead Lift with a goal of 500 by May.

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

The information I gather will be for my dissertation for a Doctorate (EdD.) in Counseling Psychology.

Thanks in advance,
John