Mental Health in Sports

Bringing Attention to the Mental Health Side of Sports
It is not spoken about enough in the sports world how much mental health impacts an
athletes performance, relationships, and self-esteem. As athletes, you are expected to “just do
it” as the Nike slogan says, but sometimes it simply isn’t that easy. There are so many factors
that are embedded in sports performance and as many athletes know, it is never a perfectly
smooth line to our goals.
How Mental Health Services an Affect Athletes on the Field and Off
Stress Management
When athletes seek mental health support, it often benefits them in learning & utilizing
coping skills in order to best manage their stress during a multitude of situations they
experience both on and off the field.
Enhanced Performance
Engaging in therapy can lead to improved focus, motivation, and help athletes to refine their
goals and set realistic expectations for themselves. As athletes, we are often consumed by the
“go go go” mentality with little emphasis on the “stop and think” mentality. When athletes
are fully engaged in therapy, it instills thought reconstructing & thought reframing which in
turn helps to alleviate negative thought patterns and works to instill a positive & constructive
mentality.
Building Resiliency
Therapy supplies athletes with strategies to navigate road blocks, failures, and frustrations
they encounter. Athletes often experience pressure from the expectations set by themselves,
coaches, and oftentimes parents & teammates. As many athletes know, mental resiliency is
pivotal in sports; where the ability to recover from disappointment or feeling as though they
have not met certain goals and expectations, can make all the difference in performance.
Learning to apply appropriate techniques on how to navigate these pressures during games,
practices, and other and other emotional times, can help the athlete choose healthier routes
and boost their self-esteem & performance.
How to find the right therapist
Athletes seeking therapy should look for professionals who can understand and oftentimes
relate to the challenges they face. Therapists with a background in sports can provide custom
approaches that address both mental health and performance enhancement. Additionally,
when seeking the right therapist, make sure to find a professional whose personality and
demeanor helps to make the environment feel warm, comforting, and safe.