About Me

Virtual Performance consulting across the globe

Teletherapy for athletes in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, Utah, and Idaho

 

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Hello! I’m Dr. Kelly Furr

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

What is my expertise in working with athletes?

Professionally, I have experience working with Division I and II NCAA athletes and teams, as well as high school athletes and teams, and individual youth athletes.  I am finishing up the requirements to be a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). I have many years of experience being a gymnastics and pole vault coach, and now I have three kids of my own who are involved in youth sports.  I have a Ph.D. in Counseling Education and Supervision from Virginia Commonwealth University, where my dissertation focused on athlete identity and how it relates to body appreciation and psychological flourishing in middle-aged former collegiate athletes. I received a master’s degree in Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  As a therapist, I work with many high-achieving athletes and clients who struggle with perfectionism, body image issues, depression, anxiety, and relationship conflict. I also have experience with tactical populations (military, law enforcement) and other professionals working in high stress fields (medicine, law, corporate leadership).

Personally, I have been involved in athletics all my life.  I competed in gymnastics throughout my youth.  In college, I competed for Penn State and Brigham Young University as a pole vaulter and hurdler, setting school records and competing at the highest levels in the NCAA.  I trained post-collegiately for a while after having my first child.   Throughout my athletic career, I have been blessed by excellent coaches who made training a positive part of my life.

My experience as a top athlete, coach, parent, and therapist makes me uniquely suited to help you gain insight into how your issues are affecting your athletics, and how problems with your sport can affect your overall mental health.  I am aware that being an athlete is just one of many intersectional identities that you have.  Other parts of yourself such as your gender or sexual identity, religious identity, and racial or cultural identity are likely highly relevant to the issues you face.

I help athletes reduce their stress so that they can improve their sports performance and enjoy life more.  Athlete Mental Wellness is an online practice which means you can access confidential consultation and therapy services at your convenience.  It’s never been easier to receive great care from the comfort of your home.     

My Approach

 

I am trained in brief therapy which means my goal is to help you work through your problems as quickly as possible!  Athletes seek performance consulting or therapy for a variety of reasons and I follow the client’s lead on treatment goals.

Here are some of the research-based therapeutic modalities that inform my practice:

  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Systemic, relational therapy
  • the Gottman method for couples/relationship counseling

These programs/movements inform the way I approach body positivity:

  • Intuitive Eating
  • Health at Every Size

Many people want help with a temporary or situational issue that may be resolved in a handful of sessions.  Others find that having an ongoing relationship with a trusted consultant or therapist over the course of their high school, college, or professional athletic career is a vital part of their self-care plan.  Both short-term and long-term goals and therapeutic relationships are effective at providing lasting mental health benefits.

I will help you gain insight into why you feel stuck and teach you skills to learn how to cope more effectively.  With a professional balance of compassion, psycho-education, and light-heartedness, you might even find performance consulting or therapy to be a fun experience!