Virtual Performance Consulting for Athletes
Virtual consulting across the globe
Teletherapy in VA, NC, AZ, UT, & FL
Hello! I’m Kelly
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
I specialize in working with athletes who want to improve their performance and enjoy their life more by reducing stress.
Stressors may include issues directly related to sports like perfectionism, a difficult relationship with a coach or teammates, navigating the college recruitment/commitment process, coming back from an injury, or body image issues caused by an emphasis on thinness or weight loss.
Seemingly unrelated struggles like academic pressure or scholarship concerns, sexual identity issues, trauma, or difficult family relationships can affect overall mental health and sports performance.
Working with a therapist and consultant who understands the unique pressures and difficulties athletes face can be a game changer.
Areas of Expertise
Sports Psychology
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Getting your body in top shape is only half the battle. Being mentally tough and learning cognitive-behavioral strategies to keep you at the top of your game can give you a competitive edge and keep your sport fun. Techniques to reduce anxiety such as relaxation strategies, visualization, replacing negative thoughts, and problem-solving are all important skills to help you achieve peak performance.
Body Positivity
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You don’t have to have a full-blown eating disorder or extreme body dysmorphia (obsessive focus on perceived flaws) to experience body dissatisfaction or an unhealthy relationship with food. Disordered eating and negative mental health symptoms like depression and suicidality go hand in hand and it’s important to seek professional treatment early. Your coach may mean well, but chances are, if your coach is giving you advice on dieting, this may be having a negative impact on your mental health, especially if you’re female.
Perfectionism
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Feeling like you have to be perfect all the time and it’s counterpoint, avoiding things due to fear of failure, can seriously increase stress and limit your opportunities in life. Learning to change your thinking can make life more enjoyable and can make you more successful at your sport. Finding the balance between pushing yourself to the limits of your ability and being happy with what you have achieved can be difficult to accomplish.
Identity Issues
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Defining yourself as an athlete is an important identity for most people who love their sport. We all have other factors to our identity that we may not have fully explored, and processing the intersectionality of race, gender, sexuality, religion, or being a parent is an important component of solid mental health for many people. Additionally, when you transition away from athletics defining your life, such as at the end of a successful collegiate career, it can be difficult to figure out who you are beyond just being a great athlete.
Life Transitions
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Athletic transitions like injuries, moving up to a higher level of competition, trying a new position or event, or retiring from your sport can all be difficult to navigate. Other life transitions like moving to a new city, a breakup, becoming a parent, or dealing with grief can affect your personal and athletic well-being.
Relationship Issues
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Whether you feel like your parents or your coaches are putting too much pressure on you, or it just seems hard to communicate effectively with them, relationships with people who care about your athletic performance can be a source of stress. Romantic relationships that are not going well also negatively affect overall wellbeing and sports performance.
Helping You Achieve Success
Learn how to reduce your stressors on and off the field so you can enjoy your life more and improve your performance
At Athlete Mental Wellness, improving your performance using traditional sports psychology strategies is only one part of the game plan. Like it or not, the relationships and issues you have in your personal life affect how you do in athletics. How you feel about your body, your coach’s methods, pressure from your parents, or things that seem unrelated like relationship issues or trauma can all contribute to feeling like you’re not at your best at home and at the gym. We will work together to decrease overall stress to make your sport fun again.
Are you experiencing stress or anxiety?
Do you feel depressed or are you experiencing low self-worth, despite your athletic achievements?
Are you having problems in your relationship with your romantic partner, your coach, or your parents?
Are you feeling pressure that you are not thin enough, or do you think you might be at risk for an eating disorder?
Have you been sidelined by an injury that is affecting your mental as well as physical health?
Do you struggle with the feeling that you have to be perfect, or avoid trying new things because you're afraid you might not be good at them?
Not an athlete – just a high performer?
Business executives and other professionals or performers who work in high-stress environments can also benefit from learning new ways to balance priorities and responsibilities; manage stress, strengthen relationship and communication skills; and work towards personal goals and values.
