Processing (not dwelling) helps mental health off the court—and clarity on it Transitions are constant in sport. A teammate transfers.A season ends.Roles change.A starter becomes a backup.A senior plays their last game. And yet—most teams move right past these moments. The assumption is simple: keep going, stay focused, don’t dwell. But that assumption is wrong. Unprocessed transitions don’t disappear.They [...]
Fast games reward clear minds. Whether it’s lacrosse, soccer, basketball, or hockey, athletes consistently perform better when they think less—not more. “Thinking less” isn’t about being passive—it’s about trusting what you’ve trained. Your physical reps are there so your body can act without hesitation. The same should be true for your mind. That’s where the daily Mind–Body ABCs come [...]
Having set up private practice twice (once in Bozeman, MT and then again in Annapolis, MD), and having simultaneously worked in several other settings along the way (e.g., military and America’s Cup) – I think I can share a few pearls of wisdom for others starting out… Am I good enough? Pursue credentials and licensures, real ones like CMPC [...]
The Power of Authenticity in Performance Psychology Why Who I Am — and How I Practice — Both Matter Five years ago, I organized a conference panel around a question many practitioners wrestle with quietly: How do we bring our authentic selves into consulting while remaining ethical, professional, and appropriately boundaried? That question feels even more relevant today. The [...]
Four Stages of Performance Let me preface this conversation by saying we can help our clients manage stress within four different stages of performance: Baseline Pre-performance During performance Recovery We probably want to significantly reduce stress during baseline and during recovery (especially deeper, longer recovery, which becomes our next baseline). We want to optimize stress levels pre-performance and during [...]
When athletes are sidelined by injury, their minds often race backward and forward—replaying the moment of injury, worrying about lost progress, or fearing re-injury. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can be powerful tools for helping them return to the present moment and reconnect with their bodies during rehabilitation. Staying Present During Recovery Injured athletes frequently find themselves stuck between past and [...]
Written by W. Logan Kreisl The Hidden Strain on Student-Athletes High school student-athletes face a perfect storm of pressure: academic expectations, competitive performance, and the pursuit of scholarships or professional dreams. In fact, 91% of student-athletes report feelings of stress related to their sport (Ward et al., 2023). While collegiate programs have integrated mental-health services and sport psychology into [...]
Uncertainty is a constant in our lives—whether you're an athlete, other high-performer, or navigating everyday life. It shows up in our work, relationships, sports, health, society, environment, etc. It shows up everywhere and can come out of nowhere. At times, uncertainty can feel paralyzing and stop us in our tracks. At other times, uncertainty can feel like an annoyingly [...]
An old colleague recently posed this question on social media. I didn’t know there was a character limit (LOL). So I guess it’s a blogpost instead… He wrote: “Ethically is a psychologist supposed to talk to a client in public? AI answer: Generally, it's considered unethical for a psychologist to initiate a conversation with a client outside of a [...]
Adolescence into young adulthood is a period of questioning, including “who do I want to be?” and “who am I?” During this time, between pre-teen and young adulthood, life is riddled with decisions regarding paths and roles. Young people may find themselves identifying as a ”kid,” a “student,” and/or as a “friend” during this time. Some pursue sports, music, [...]
Like it or not, all sport careers eventually end. Age, injury, family decisions, or other factors will determine how your competitive athletic career will end or be adapted. Like many athletes, especially elites, you may feel that the transition is abrupt. Your life and identity may revolve around sport. Your loss may cause emotional, financial, or personal challenges that [...]
Exercise can help modulate stress and anxiety but being an athlete does not necessarily prevent mental health concerns. Anxiety Disorders are some of the most common mental health concerns for elite athletes. Specifically, student-athletes have additional stressors such as staying on top of classwork and grades. Luckily in recent years, elite level athletes have been open about seeking treatment. [...]
Anxiety disorders (there are several kinds) are some of the most common mental health concerns. Anxiety or feelings of anxiousness are normal in day-to-day life, maybe you feel anxious when having a difficult conversation, making decisions, or taking a test, however, anxiety disorders are much more than worry or fear. Anxiety disorders can disrupt daily work, school, sports, and [...]
Excerpt from 5/3/2021 USOPC Press Release The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee today joins the movement to promote Mental Health Awareness Month by announcing the launch of an online registry of mental health providers and unveiling an around-the-clock mental health support line for Team USA athletes. These resources are the latest developments in the USOPC’s ongoing commitment to [...]
How does one athlete’s injury and fear of re-injury affect teammates? In sports like acrobatic gymnastics, group members rely on each other to perform each skill in their routine, and to perform them safely. Season-ending and other traumatic injuries can potentially affect everyone, both psychologically and in terms of performance. Naturally, observing it can lead to unintentionally rehearsing (mentally) [...]
